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Itsy Bitsy
I was awake at the usual sort of time but I had no time for a swim , other matters beckoned. Today was a day for a haircut, window cleaner, house cleaner, windscreen glass finishing off. It was all together too much to contemplate. I took H for a swift early walk- at least one…
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Another Pear Shaped Day
A decent sleep was had but I awoke at the usual time fully aware that a swim beckoned. I didn’t have to go too early because the cut off time was 10.30 this morning so I booked for 08.30. Not the most sensible time to choose because of school run traffic. Wisely, I had chosen…
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Quiet Day
It was another of those miserable, grey days which makes weather forecasters timid and embarrassed when they can’t promise anything better. Except … the gloom may lift soon. We don’t seem to have had many of those bright, sunny wintry days this season. And there do not seem to be any anticipated. Not much joy…
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Dreadful start to the Day
Having intercepted a text that landed at 01.30, re car insurance payment being declined I phoned Barclays and took them to task over this in the early hours. They could offer no sensible reason for their actions. As a result, was awake for the remainder of the night, stressed and angry at the summary decision…
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Boring Day… and I’m off on one …
Nothing of significance happened. The weather was awful. I walked H and read and watched some TV. I discovered a new series of Unforgotten. And there was the Throw Down and CTM. I managed to get in touch with Tracey to find out what she wanted to do tomorrow . That wasn’t easy. Blood out…
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More of the same
Yes… more cold, wet unpleasantness. I experienced a rather dozy morning, not doing anything much, before giving up on waiting for the rain to stop. H and I went on our familiar stroll around Cholsey Meadows which is just about the only nearby place where I can walk without getting stuck in mud, wrecking my…
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Cold, Wet Unpleasantness
That was the theme for the day. I could add grey skies and sleetiness at times. The diary showed the day was empty. That was good. Too much early frost deterred me from swimming so instead I still got up and sorted the dish washer and the washing machine. And set them to work. Eventually…
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Frosty and Sunny
The day dawned at the usual early hour. The car was covered in one of those very hard thick frosts. I contemplated a swim and initially decided against it because of the thought of defrosting the car, as well as the thought of icy roads. But the swim got the better of me and whilst…
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Final Art
I was up early ish after catching up on the final Silent Witness episode of the series. No spoilers … but … at last … H and I were out early for a short, pre-art stroll across a frozen Rec. The car required de-icing – the early morning was very chilly. 2°C all the way…
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Busy busy
A reasonable night on my scale of reasonableness. But I first awoke at the usual early o’clock. I made a mess of my puzzles – or of at least one of them. Too many choices and wrong decisions made by me. I was up and out with H round a section of Streatley Rec quite…
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Almost a New Windscreen
Another windscreen day has come and gone. First – cancelled because trim was not sent; second – cancelled due to rain; third – windscreen partially installed but clips missing so side struts not located. Once they are received the repairer will make yet another (4th) appointment and return to finish the job. In the meantime,…
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Very Quiet
Quiet – Except for a squeaking fire alarm and a door bell that rings when no one is there. I slept quite well. Awoke. Got up. Sat around. I prepared some beans and almost burnt them in the instant pot. Not enough water. I rinsed them and set up the Boston baked beans recipe to…
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A Disappointment
I enjoyed a good night with few interruptions, but also some deep sleep. Nothing much has happened today and I’ve tried repeatedly to catch the end of the new Death in Paradise. All the detectives are quirky in some way. The latest may be more so than others. After a little while dissecting the behaviour…
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Dreadful Night
Yes- an awful night where I found sleep did not come easily. My watch reflected 0 hours. Don’t know why. Sleep was just not on the agenda. Luckily I had Raynor Winn’s second book- The Wild Silence to read. That was quite absorbing but not a happy read at this point. ( It is Saturday…
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Another Day rolls by
And another tricky night with an early wake up was passed. I got myself up and out to the car to go for a swim. Day light was just beginning to help me make sense of the outside world. But it had failed to reveal the hard frost in the car. This took sometime to…
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Squeak
I didn’t sleep that well. I will be glad to get back to more regular swimming again. Today was Art Day when I have to be in Newbury by 10.00, so I did not dilly dally in bed. The weather was much better. It has been dry all day but also dull. I managed to…
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Pear Shaped all over again
Not a great night… but hey… onwards and upwards. On another wet, miserable day, it was around 04.30 when I woke up. And made tea. Lovely ginger and lemon tea which has temporarily supplanted coffee in my affections – a Christmas tea pigs gift. We could go nowhere because I needed to be in for…
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Beyond Disgusting
Was how the day greeted me this morning. Because I had to catch up on Throw Down and CTMW, I was late going to sleep. And despite that, I’m afraid I was awake at some silly o’clock. The weather was horrendous- strong winds and heavy rain. So heavy it was battering the windows, or so…
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Aubergine
I passed a reasonable night but, one that was not without interruptions. Yesterday had been a beautiful day but a combination of looking outside, and reading the forecast, hinted that today would not be pleasant, and it wasn’t. In fact, storm Herminia would arrive late morning and of that there was no doubt. In order…
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The Calm after the Storm and before the next one Tomorrow
Although it was only wet and windy yesterday, it had still felt stormy. And I had a difficult night when I found it hard to settle and sleep. The reason? Who knows! So sleep was intermittent. I was desperate for a hot drink, around 04.30. Not a great time to be awake. However a cup…
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Sting jet
Tonight is the last episode of the Traitors… who will win the money? I’ll find out later. The night was not that great – fired up by the penultimate episode of the Traitors, watched after my trip to Oxford, and that was late. The day was pretty wretched – miserable and dull. Our walk was…
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The Day that went Pear Shaped
At last I had a good night’s sleep, having caught up with the Traitor’s that I had dozed through yesterday. No swimming because I had to be at home for the windscreen repair. But the repairers rang soon after 8.00 to say they had the screen but no trim had been sent. So the repair…
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Arty not
I had a bit of an interrupted night which meant I slept longer into the morning until my repose was disrupted by the rather rude alarm clock. I had to get up H had a brief trip outside before I gathered up my possessions for my trip to Newbury for my art course. I had…
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No Peace for the Saintly?
I passed a decent night with a short interruption at the usual wake up time. And then I drifted off back to sleep until the alarm shocked me with a bump. It was after 07.00. Oof! I needed to go swimming because I would not be able to on Wednesday or Thursday. So I moved…
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Swimming
I awoke to skies that were at their darkest, but which later, carried a little bit of hope as they lightened acceding to the new day. But I only realised this after my swim. I was booked in for my swim 07.30, and left home at 6.50, in the darkness. I was contemplating whether to…
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Catching Up
I seem to be getting good at catching up. 2x. With Anne and on sleep. All those weeks of missed sleep. It was tough. Now, I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open if I do much as sit down in that chair. I must pick up knitting again, or go to my craft room, it…
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January is dragging
Sleep is definitely improving. The difference is I am able to get to sleep again after a wake up, whereas for weeks and weeks, I was finding this very difficult and would lie awake for hours. I think this probably dates back to August when the first kidney investigation took place and the stent was…
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Car service
A reasonable night was passed and the nice Honda man came and picked up my car soon after 08.00. I was up and ready. To cut a short story long, I learnt this afternoon that Honda had actually MOT’d the car for me ( despite me cancelling the MOT) and it had passed, despite the…
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Sorting the Windscreen
Amazingly, I had quite a good night’s sleep. I thought I would be awake worrying about the windscreen. I woke just before 05.00 but had slept well with limited interruption. It was a drizzly, damp and generally, unpleasant, day. The dogs had both been quiet and calm. I had telephone calls to make: to check…
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A Day of Disasters
Well at least I had a decent night’s sleep. No swimming today because I had to be in Newbury for 10.00 for my art class; or more precisely at Hobbycraft for 9.15. I couldn’t find my oil pastels anywhere/ So I needed to replace them. But first I had to get H up to the…
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Construction
I had quite a good night’s sleep… maybe the additional exercise is relevant. However, I was still awake around 05.00. And I fought my way through the foggy depths of dawning consciousness and into my swimming costume. It was another fairly unpleasant drive, in the dark, to Didcot – and there was plenty of other…
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Ladies who Breakfast
The later hours of the night were alright, but having dozed off during Throw Down and also CTMidwife, since the programmes are virtually simultaneous, I caught up at bedtime. And then dozed, woke and dozed. I had to get up quite rapidly if I was to deserve my brekkie with the ladies who swim. I…
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Fogless
Eventually, by mid morning, it was a fogless day, but it started somewhat murkily. And the night was not great. I was in no hurry to get up. In fact I awoke quite flummoxed, thinking it was Monday morning and I was supposed to be going swimming. Thank goodness it wasn’t! I’m having to psych…
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It was chilly …
Yesterday it was chilly, but this morning the ground was ‘hard as iron,’ it being the somewhat bleak midwinter. All frosty and crystal white layers of this frost are beginning to build up. It was -3°C when I / we awoke. There was also a thick fog which obliterated everything familiar except shadowy hints of…
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Friday
I passed another of those wakeful nights which was interrupted by a few intervals of sleep. The day appeared to be dull and miserable and very very cold. Not a day to want to be out and about. I was expecting the lovely Sharon at O9.30 to do my cleaning so there was a need…
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Instant Pot
Just one of those nights not without interruption. I fell asleep in the chair and woke up at about 21.30 – halfway through Traitors. I revived myself and caught up with it in bed. Last week, it was sometimes on at 20.00 which suits me better than 21.00 because I’m usually still awake at the…
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Utter Rubbish
The ideas were good; my output was not . At my art course today. Overnight, I had caught up on some sleep, thank goodness. Mostly between 21.00 and the early hours. But that was a good solid block of it. I whiled away a spell of unwelcome wakeful time and then drifted off again. The…
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Lunch Out
I passed a very difficult night with only a few minutes of sleep. Despite me being awake all yesterday. Hmm. I did catch up a bit as morning dawned. We were promised a dump of snow around 08.00, which never materialised. However it was very chilly, but also, sunny. I needed to get myself going…
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Toes without the heads, fingers, knees and …
I passed an Interrupted night but got through it. I amused myself watching Playing Nice on TVX. It is a recent offering and was absolutely slated in Guardian reviews – for its plot. Far fetched, true, but how often do you watch far fetched plots on TV! I found it quite irresistible and watched the…
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Not a very nice Day
The expected snow never arrived in Moulsford although Newbury had quite a covering , I believe. When I peered outside at about 05.30, there was still the remains of the icing sugar dusting that we had received but rain was already taking control. So from a temperature around freezing first thing in the morning, by…
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Another Blank Day
And so 2025 drifts by …the sun has disappeared and ‘dismality’ has taken control of daylight once again, There are all sorts of things I could be doing, but none are urgent, so time hangs heavy. I don’t think I have ever noticed this period lasting from Christmas to Epiphany pass so slowly before. I’m…
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A waiting game day 2.
Yes – waiting was carried forward from the distant past of New Year’s Eve when UPS were supposed to deliver a package. Their website provided no useful tracking information until very late, when I was informed delivery was delayed and would arrive next business day. Of course NYD fell in the middle. It didn’t arrive.…
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Even more Quiet
Practically no communication with anyone today, apart from a phone call with Pen who was out and about on Glorious Dartmoor; a discussion of Traitors with Eleanor and a text exchange with Brenda. And a message from Fleur who is not insured to drive her car until Monday – or if earlier, at a cost…
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Quiet
Passed the usual sort of night with the usual silly wake up time. Decaf brewing, I invited H outside but she did not fancy it . I left the door open for her, but unbeknownst to me, she slid inside and I was hunting around for her, thinking she was outside somewhere. Only to find…
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Home Alone
Yes, today has not been a day for socialising but I’ve been fine with that. A non day really. It started early enough as usual with a decaf and some Christmas cake and then fruit for brekkie. The, now elderly, Waitrose sourdough baguette was too unappetising to attract me. Not that it tasted good to…
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Three Down and One to go
Yes, three grandchildren have now passed their driving tests. Only George to go and he is only 15 years and six months old. Well done Fleur, the trip all the way to Bridgend was worth it. Top place, Bridgend. The morning dawned at its usual early hour and I managed to make myself busy. I…
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Normal Service Resumes
Yes! For the first time in around three months, I awoke to a (normal, dismal, grey,) morning with no sewing, knitting, painting, buying or wrapping to do. The day stretched ahead of me to do with as I pleased. I clearly need a new challenge. Perhaps I should take up learning a musical instrument. Don’t…
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Up Early
I was up at 04.00 making preparations for my visitors for lunch today. I was expecting three carer friends plus one caree- Anthony. I had a ham to cook, a salmon to prepare. When Marie arrived, she was practically tearing her hair out over Anthony. It’s all very familiar to me and I feel so…
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Jam ( no Jerusalem)
Yesterday’s blog failed to deliver itself via email. Consultation with my personal expert revealed no obvious reason for this, so it remains recorded , published, but not delivered. Sorry folks. For once, I enjoyed a decent night’s sleep which is a rare event, and this, despite various dozes yesterday. It was daylight when I eventually…
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Recovery Day
Christmas Day was so lovely, but I needed today to recover and bring me back to normal. Had the usual restless intervals during the night with a bit of sleep tucked in between. Today has involved various dozes during the day. I was first downstairs today, so I took the dogs out for their early…
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Christmas Day 2024
It has been an ace of a day. Last night’s sleep was fairly fractured although it started off very well with a good three hours that was undisturbed. Frankie’s bed is very comfy and H loves the bedroom. She loves it so much that she keeps sneaking up there during the day. I have now…
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Christmas Eve
From Moulsford to Devon in one easy journey. And that is what happened. The day started early around 4.00, I think when I decided to ice the cake. I will not repeat what I have written about that elsewhere. There was packing to do, the car to load, some clearing up in the kitchen and…
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Raping the presents
This only took me around 5 hours! The Sabine women probably got away with it more lightly than my presents did. But then without them, the course of history might have changed and Rome might not have become the great power it did become. I blame Romulus. Anyway I am wandering off piste. Back to…
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Missing blog
Eleanor alerted to me to the fact that Saturday’s blog has gone awol. It was called Dinner Out, later renamed to Dinner Out version 2 . It was hand typed with love as it was a great work of literature. But the email system does not seem to have transported it anywhere. Another wakeful night…
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Dinner out … version 2
Below is how my iPhone expressed my thanks to the Illis for a great evening… Thank you for a slovenly meal and evening … (Or perhaps I typed a lovely meal and evening!) 🥰. The night was another lively one and I was up and about earlyish. H and I were at Waitrose at 08.00…
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Got there!
Almost no more needles thank goodness. I spent much of Wednesday thinking it was Sunday and being relieved it was not Sunday, and most of today thinking it was Friday and being grateful that it was. I was up and choring quite early. I got slightly ahead of myself sorting Peter and Freda’s Christmas gift…
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Contact made
Posted late. Another similar night to recent ones past. However, I awoke late, even missing the racket the bin men make as they pass by, which is usually around 07.00. But I moved quite quickly once I was awake. And I took H out for a short walk round the local Rec because I needed…
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Another Day
Another difficult night succeeded by another pleasantish day during which I largely kept myself to myself. Quite a successful day. The day itself was the usual misery of grey skies and some annoying winds. I had an early request to see if I could help out with Minnie . So, after an initial dose of…
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Sedentary
A tricksy might which I survived. Again not helped by the pre-bed chair doze. A bit of busy brain during the night contemplating the tasks and chores ahead of me. And I thought I was so well organised. Once. I thought it. Once I was ahead of myself. I have cards to write and things…
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Knitting
Not a great night. But I was looking forward to a peaceful day ahead. Which was what I ended up enjoying. The start of the day seems so long ago now, I can hardly remember it! Much of it was spent on my backside involved in some frenetic knitting. And watching various things on catch…
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All Change
A difficult night where sleep was hard to come by, until the later early hours. Another result of a chair doze. But I amused myself and felt sort of lively when I got myself out of bed. It was now or never … put up the tree and Christmas outside decor front of house. Never…
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Angelic
Another full and miserable day dawned. But it cleared up and there was blue sky and sunshine to be seen later in the morning. But not for me to enjoy because I was being angelic. Not a quality I possess, but an art focus in my half day workshop. I felt very tired when I…
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13th December
A year on. Thanks T. I miss you. The day started at the usual sort of time that my days do. But then I fell asleep again and awoke somewhat later. I was due to gather up Pen from Ali’s around 10.00, which I did. She took Minnie and Heidi through the woods to the…
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No lunch
No lunch today, to speak of, saved myself for the evening meal out with my two daughters. I was up quite early because I was awake with jobs to do. Some tidying up before Sharon arrived to clean, which would be much later in the day – after 13.30. Normally she is here around 11.30.…
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Lunch in
I feel as though I have wasted today, but I probably have not. I have probably just not achieved as much as I would have liked. I had a really good night’s sleep, but was awake just before 05.00. I suspected that it was another dark and miserable day looming, and I was not wrong.…
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2nd Day out to Lunch
A reasonable night again if you don’t mind waking up at some silly o’clock. But an early cup of coffee ensured that I returned back to sleep for a couple of hours, waking much later. I didn’t have time to enjoy a lie around because I needed to do ‘stuff’ and then get H out…
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Calm
Well almost calm; I thought it was completely so until I went outside… But there was still quite a vicious chilly breeze. And the usual rain. Monday morning always brings a host of puzzles, including special weekly ones, that require more brain strain. Today went well apart from the Waffle Special which was a step…
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Darragh Day 2
It was another of those nights that fit my current pattern. I couldn’t hear much of the continuing storm outside. But it was going on, because before I went to bed, although I couldn’t hear much, I could see that my winter greenhouse had migrated to be pest pals with the garden shed.. Doh! That…
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Darragh’s Day
Another early wake up after a chair doze. It would be quite alright if I lived in a different time zone. The sleep would be the correct amount. I eventually made sense of the dark of the early morning and did some tidying up and found other jobs to do. Including securing the back gate,…
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Wallingford Tsunami
I was awake at a stupid time again – probably due to the chair doze that preceded my getting into bed. Early in the day, the sky was blue, washed clean by the terrible weather the previous evening. But storm Darragh is on the horizon, heading towards the West Country, Wales being its main target.…
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Goose Chase in the Extreme Wild
Now … does the original phrase derive from chasing a wild / undomesticated goose, or from chasing a goose that is out in a wild location. The former I think. I was involved in the latter this evening. I did not sleep particularly well and was awake quite early as usual. H had a complete…
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Painting
I forgot the barbed wire. (aka ‘BBC airbed’ offered by the incompetent Typo Police) I’ve had a nice peaceful day which involved painting, a two-dog walk, a snooze, and returning G’s shoes that he left in my car last night. The day arrived hinting at miserable weather, and I scrabbled around to get myself a…
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What I learnt today
I enjoyed a reasonable night with the usual silly wake up time. I didn’t lie around too long because I wanted to get on with today’s painting – a composite picture incorporating what I have learnt about snow scenes, composition, colour and triads, tonal values and a local landmark. Not forgetting sheeps. Maybe, if I’m…
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Trump’s False Teeth…
i may have misread a headline… It was pouring with rain when I woke up. But it was not cold, though forecast to get much colder during the day. I didn’t really do that much today unless you count loading the dish washer and then the washing machine, tipping out the rubbish, considering the leaves…
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Peaceful Day
Quite a good night as far as sleep is concerned. I didn’t need to hurry to get up. Mindful, however, that Minnie had a mega drink at bedtime, I invited her outside as I hunted out a drink for myself, soon after 05.00. H just slept on. I busied myself with the usual domestic chores…
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Frankie is 21 years old
Happy 21 years old today to Frankie. I hope you have had a fabulous day. Frankie wearing my family heirloom – my charm bracelet- my gift to her. And below: with Evie and Martha. I did not sleep well. I don’t know why, but I was awake too early once again. Consequently I awoke feeling…
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Sort of Busy
The third of my three day art workshop foundation days on watercolour is tomorrow. I shall be sad when these are over because I have found them really helpful. It is also Frankie’ s 21st Birthday. Happy Birthday to Frankie. But hey, 14 December, I am attending a half day on Christmas angels and on…
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Bit of a Scramble
I had dozed off in the chair last night which led to a bit of a patchy night with awakening at some really silly o’clock. Once daylight approached, I could see there was quite thick fog outside and a white covering on the grass. Ha! -2°C. Chilly then. H agreed, showing no interest in the…
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More Interruptions
I had a really good sleep with one main interruption when I thought I’d done my share of sleeping. But I was off again before I had drunk my hot drink. And I awoke around 07.00. It was to be a day of more annoying chores.And a few useful jobs done, all of which took…
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Messy Day
Too many interruptions and distractions from what I had planned. But, hey, two good pieces of news landed. Firstly, Evie passed her driving test… no recent lessons to help her either, because locally instructors were booked up. Her approach to driving has been a bit like my day- interrupted. A bit stop… start with a…
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Home Sweet Home
Another reasonable night at Trefeddian Hotel, but tonight, I will be very glad to be tucked up in my own bed with my own pillow. I took little H out for her early wee and, whilst I was about it, I took two bags down to the car. H’s personal bag and a bag full…
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Blockage
I had a good sleep last night with my new pillow arrangement in place. But somehow ( better not to ask) I managed to block the loo. And then trying to clear the blockage with the loo brush not only did not clear it, but also made things worse. I pondered the situation, took H…
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State of Shock
The day started off extremely windy and wet -or so it seemed when I peered out of the window. I had battled for sleep once again. This time it was down to the lovely thick hotel pillows. I sleep best with very little pillow . And I just could not get this pair of pillocks…
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Raw
I had a bit of a tricky night because I kept thinking I was going to fall out of bed! Doh! A single room like this is great, but a single bed not so… even though I sleep on a single bed at home, it is pushed up against another so not really a single.…
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Glorious Wales
It has been a glorious sunny day and Wales was on its best behaviour- everywhere I went was beautiful. The only pain was the tide was high late morning, which was a bit inconvenient for our beach walk. There are ways round it, but H was being a bit untrustworthy. Slow to respond. Too many…
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Building Bridges
I slept really well yesterday evening until about 03.00 this morning. Serves me right for falling asleep before Bake Off had finished. The Inn was very comfortable -I would go again. The day dawned raw and chilly, but my room was very cosy. There were grey skies in Usk which quickly were transformed to blue…
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Good Behaviour Today
WordPress is behaving itself so far today so I am able to type directly. I passed a reasonable night; it was only when I awoke that I started to feel a little weather-related stress. The forecasters didn’t really have a clue what was going to happen over the next 24 hours and got it all…
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Chasing a Tail
WordPress is not allowing me to type into it. This is via Evernote, because I’m on my phone. Today, I took an early swim. The night had been plagued by heavy rain, the first in a while and there were poodles everywhere. There was also a low lying and heavy mist which created spooky landscapes…
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No procrastination today
The day dawned dull and miserable. What I really wanted to do was paint another/ some more water colour wintry scenes, but I was sensible for once, and ignored temptations. The little winter greenhouse flat pack kit has been sitting in our hallway for over two months. Time to do something with it, so I…
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Art 3 possibly or maybe 2 or 4
There was no time to hang around this morning. I awoke at 04.00 for a bit, then fell asleep until 07.00. I needed to be in Ipsden for 09.30 for my art workshop and I had little H to exercise first. It was another dull misery of a day, preceded by a chilly night. But…
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Culinary Mystery Tour
This is about Friday, posted late. A good night was passed, on the whole. But I made the usual mess of one of my daily puzzles, once I was awake. Quordle Extreme is the one; It nearly always catches me out. I searched outside for the sack of dog food I had ordered under the…
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On a Mission
Not me, I have easier things to do. But Pen was. On a mission. Successfully. I had not had a good night. Sleep was a stranger last night… one that did not visit me. Or that is how it felt. It was not helped by my feeling too hot! The CH was now working overtime…
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Got my feet back
I enjoyed a reasonable night and lay around whilst I psyched myself up for leafy tasks, which I knew would be lightweight but backbreaking. I was not wrong. Art was abandoned for the day. It was a chilly start followed by a beautiful, sunny and quite warm day. A golden day. I procrastinated for a…
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Out to Dinner
I was up and about quite early again but I had had a decent sleep. When I invited H to go outside, I had to look twice due to the presence of something horribly suspicious in the grass. A white patch. Just a patch. Later in the news, I heard that there had been hints…
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Brenda
A reasonable night passed once I awoke in the armchair and took myself to bed. In the morning, I had a bit of a domestic mess to sort out, as I discovered, when I went walk about. No time to swim today, or tomorrow probably. Today, Brenda came for lunch, and also for some Christmas…
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Out to Lunch
I was up and busy quite early. Enthused by yesterday’s water colour workshop, I decided to work on my ‘homework.’ I planned it out, drew a sketch and practised painting a couple of sheeps, then set about the real thing. I think I shall begin it again because I’m not happy with it. Too much…
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Composition
The early morning was all a bit of a rush, despite drinking my coffee at the usual early hour. Because I had a busy day ahead, I was up for being active early. Well , no choice really. So my shower was early, then I decided the early mad rush was a bit excessive and…
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Quiet
It has been a quiet day. I enjoyed it. I’ve been busy in a quiet sort of way. I was on my way towards the kettle at around 05.00. The coffee was good as was the toast that went with it. I have new decaf coffee supplies from Amazon as well as a toilet paper…
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Changing Day
What was a quiet day turned into something else, and then back again. All change. It started off with a swim. It was another greasy, grey and spitty morning. I took my life in my hands and travelled to Didcot via Halfpenny Lane and its hazardous road junction, rather than via Wallingford. This is thanks…
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So be it
For those who live in the US as well as those of us who live beyond its borders. May you yearn for the prosperity you had under Biden before ‘Hate defeated Hope,’ in the words of one commentator. You have forgotten the 400,000 Covid deaths, the instructions to drink bleach, the relief when Trump’s term…
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Not as intended
The day did not go as intended. It was another dull and uninspiring day and more such are promised in the immediate future. I went swimming. That didn’t go as intended either. I swam further than I meant to due people gathering to chat at the pool ends so no space to carry out water…
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Craftwork
A wakefulish night due to sleeping in the chair the previous evening. But still with an early wake up after I did eventually fall asleep. During my wakeful moments, I watched ‘Until you kill me’ based on true events. I also watched the additional programme ‘Until you kill me, the real story,’ narrated by the…
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Queues
I was awake far too early – around 04.30, but soothed myself with a drink etc. Whilst preparing it , I performed a chore or two such as emptying the dishwasher. Boring! And I may have drifted off again for a little while. H and I took ourselves around the larger meadow at Cholsey and…
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Home
Happy 22 years of wedlock to Ali and Dave. 30 years together, if you count the 8 it took them to get themselves to the altar. Usual sort of night, awake early ish, but because I’m not in my own home, I delayed showering until around 07.00. And then packed my bag and took H…
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Sleepy
I had a better night last night, thanks to the nasal spray, but it was still interrupted. I awoke and took H downstairs and outside at around 07.00 and helped myself to a coffee. And was brought delicious crumpets somewhat later . Pen’s cleaner was scheduled to visit, so I was evicted from the snug/…
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Seals
We enjoyed a little bit of magic at Exmouth Beach today. I had a rubbish night with a stuffed up nose, which did not help. I had forgotten my nose spray which helped even less. H lay quietly through my travails and came downstairs with me around 07.00 and we went for a short walk…
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Devon
I slept quite well, but was awake early again. I needed to get ahead of myself today because Sharon had switched her cleaning days and I didn’t really want to be packing up to get away, while she was trying to clean. Even if I am not going to be away for long, everything takes…
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Quiet
A much better sleep last night although I was awake at the usual early hour. Despite the hour falling backwards a couple of nights ago, it seemed that daylight took a while to arrive. I breakfasted… H lay around quietly sleeping but Minnie was edgy, making her desire for a walk clear to me as…
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Sedentary
Too much of a sedentary day which includes snooze catch ups, probably thanks to the awful night of a couple of days ago. I shall probably regret it tonight. No swimming thanks to the presence of two dogs – I’m not sure about leaving two of them together before they have been walked. And it’s…
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Social Sunday
Well – a little bit. I was out early with the dogs. Around 07.30 I think. Of course the hour fell back (as they might say in the States) But I failed to appreciate an extra hour in bed, but I did enjoy the lighter morning. It won’t last long. We walked at Pangbourne, but…
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Showery Saturday
And the showers ranged from light to heavy, but it remains mild. I had an absolutely dreadful night, probably my own fault for dozing in the chair the previous evening. I remember feeling dozy, but also thinking it would have been too early to go to bed. I should have just bitten the bullet and…
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Half cut? Last Cut?
Another interrupted night, but one which left me to catch up on sleep in the late/early morning hours. The late awakening was, in fact, good timing for me to go up to the Illis to say farewell to P and F who are returning to Leeds today. In fact, they might even have arrived by…
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Most laid back
Not me… I slept more comfortably now the stent has gone, but I was still awake somewhat earlier than I would have preferred. But I went off for an early swim, earlier than usual. I arrived at the pool just after 07.00 and found my lane busier than I have ever seen it. There was…
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Dryish
Today has been dry with sunny and cloudy spells. I made a right old mess of my puzzles this morning which was rather annoying. No swim today because I had things to do before leaving for Reading. I decided to allow a couple of hours to find my way there and get lost, which has…
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Sort of sunny
Yes, it was one of those days with sun, but when there could be a shower at any moment. I was sad to hear of the train crash in Wales, not far from Machynlleth, one of our favorite towns, situated at the head of the Dovey Estuary. I don’t really understand how it could have…
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Busy
I was up at a decent time so I could go swimming. And that is what I did. In a beautifully quiet pool for the first 20 minutes, and then the snails escaped their bonds to cause chaos. For the first time since the end of August, and intrusive stents, I clocked up 1000m. And…
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Windy
We were warned today would be stormy. The morning was quiet, but the middle of the day (when I walked H a short distance) was rather wild and, earlier, it had been very very wet, and was still wet. By the afternoon everything had cleared up, except for the wind, and had gone elsewhere. My…
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Visitors
posted late The usual sort of night followed the day before… I slept quite well after partying. But awoke to rain. Lots of it. It was nice not to hear a river pouring from the gutters. The clearance has made a difference. However DCI explained that they had been disturbed during the night by the…
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Partying
I slept pretty much as usual – with interruptions. When I finally awoke, it was towards 08.00, so too late for a swim. I arose and busied myself with various chores and domestic activities before taking H out for a stroll, at Pangbourne again. The day had started dull and unattractive but worked itself up…
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Swam!
Yes! I managed to get myself up and out for an early swim. I have felt a bit of ‘tension’ lately with this newer stent so I didn’t want to force unnecessary strain. I swam 700 metres, which was enough today, given the floating snails that occupied my lane, I had driven to Didcot, in…
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Spectacular
I became quite absorbed in some arty crafty stuff so did not make it for my early swim . Must do better tomorrow. I spent about an hour fiddling and then abandoned everything to collect my new glasses from Boots in Didcot. Oh everything is so clear, I can read the TV subtitles amongst other…
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Peculiar
Now that WordPress is finally co-operating, I can report on a weird sort of day. It was an up and downer of a night. I shall be more than happy to say goodbye to this stent in a week’s time. Having arisen and prepared myself to face the day, I explored where I would spend…
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Busyish Domestically
Usual sort of night passed me by. I was up and about at an early ish sort of time and headed for the craft room. It was not a day to want to be outside. Who likes grey cloud and rain? I hoped it would pass. In the meantime I got on with some more…
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Uncomfortable
It’s late! Whichever way I tried, including via a restart, WordPress would not allow me access to do my blog earlier this evening. I just kept getting the same silly page which did not allow the keyboard presence. ( On my phone) However, three hours later, Bungo! I awoke at the usual silly hour, feeling…
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Vaccinations
And that was the day. Saw no one and did nothing of significance. I was awake at the usual stupid time, and drank the usual hot drink before drifting back to sleep again. But I had to be careful because I had to get to Woodcote for O9:25 for my flu and Covid jabs. I…
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Sunshine
Yes! All day sunshine today. And very welcome too. I was awake around 04.00 when I had a hot drink and then went back to sleep for a bit. But I was finally up quite early because I was not sure what time our nice window cleaner would be round to clear the gutters. On…
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Ha!
Ha! And not before time. I slept well for the first half of the night, which seems to be the way things go these days. Or maybe I should say nights . I toyed with the idea of going swimming and not much seemed to be going on in this McGeorge household so I threw…
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More Rain
Today dawned at the usual early time as far as the cup of decaf coffee was concerned. The sky was dull and grey again just for (not) a change. No swim this morning, because I thought I might grab one this afternoon, after my trip to the optician, which is in Didcot. Tracey shamed me…
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Showers Weighty Ones
When I awoke, I could hear the rain dripping from a blocked section of gutter. And that was the theme for the day, rain, very very heavy at times, interspersed with sunny spells. I have now booked my window cleaner to clean my gutters. I decided to swim, but I travelled to Didcot the long…
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Busy
Last night was not great, which is par for the course. But I awoke with enough time and a bit of determination to get myself to the swimming pool. It was raining but I decided to go via the rural route, the one I avoided a week ago, due to flooding. Well the flooding was…
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Hockey
Another not great night, but at least I’m feeling OK. The day dawned miserable and uninviting so another day when I did not rush to get up. Nevertheless , H and I were out strolling Cholsey Meadows soon after 09.00. The weather was threatening by now, so the raincoat went on and I needed it…
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Art
This last night was a bit interrupted. I think the morphine they gave me in hospital must have kept me under the covers a couple of nights ago. I even got up and made my picnic lunch in a wakeful moment. Today dawned sunny, but I had to get myself ready for my art workshop.…
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What a Great Day
Well … what a difference a month makes! And the sun helps! I am now back at home after the removal of my kidney stone. I am busy slopping liquid around internally after my daily additional 3 pints of water though I am still struggling to add this to my normal consumption. But I am…
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Kidney stone and weasels, or maybe stoats
What an exciting day! I did not sleep too well last night, mainly because of a busy brain, dreading the day to come. But as usual, come the later, early hours sleep arrived. I had bags to pack, dogs to walk, a kitchen to tidy and rubbish to put out. And clean sheets to put…
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Very very wet
I did not sleep well, until it was time to get up, that is! Busy brain and all that. My oversleep put paid to my swimming intention. Life is a bit of a mess at the moment. The early part of the day was ghastly – a grey/ yellow color. And it was not long…
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Stuff of Nightmares
I was awake unreasonably early – around 04.00. A bit early. I eventually arose and got myself out and about for a swim. Because it had rained quite heavily overnight, yet again, I thought it prudent to drive to Didcot avoiding the usual country roads where there had been considerable flooding last week. This was…
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Windy later
My watch told me I slept for over 9 hours. Tricky to believe because there were one or five interruptions. Stent – thank you. I awoke around 05.00, as usual, but soon dozed off again after a hot drink, until around 10.00!!! I had a disaster with my early puzzles today. Must have given Eleanor…
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Wet morning, dry afternoon
It was a bit of an up and downer of a night. This stent is leaving me feeling generally quite worn out and I’ve had enough of the discomfort it imparts. Trouble is, I know that I will get another one next Wednesday for another two to three weeks. This morning was too wet to…
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When things don’t go to plan
Well I had a reasonable night’s sleep apart from a headache that required a dual intervention to get rid of it. Brenda was quite poorly yesterday with a headache and nausea so maybe it was the same bug. But I slept late so did not have time to get myself up for a swim –…
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Difficult Day
The weather has been dreadful again, although there was a dry and almost sunny break in the middle of the day, the rest of the day has been unreasonably wet. After a patchy night, I set off for a swim at Didcot, only to have to turn back near Blewbury due to the road being…
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Fun!
Today has stayed dry! The night provided a really good night’s sleep. And I awoke for a hot drink at the usual early time, but couldn’t be bothered to make one, so ended up drifting off again. Until around 06.30. That was too late and I was too dopey to consider preparing myself for a…
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Frustrating
It has been a very very frustrating horrid day. The rain was horrendous overnight, my garden furniture is soaked, luckily I brought the cushions in a few days ago but the protective cover can’t work with this volume of water that has been cascading from the skies throughout most of the day. It forms pools…
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Lunch Out
I had a great night’s sleep, waking briefly at around 05.00, then falling asleep again until some embarrassingly late time. This meant I had to waste no more time in getting myself and Heidi up and out and in our way to Southrop, and its pub called the Swan where I was to meet Anne…
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Party Time
I found it tricky to get to sleep last night so watched ‘Death on the Blackpool Express’ which is an undemanding spoof on the Orient Express murder of Agatha Christie fame. Quite enjoyable and starring a few well known faces. It is one of a trilogy in similar vein. Others being Death on the Tyne…
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Storm! Happy birthday Fleur.
Fleur turns 17 today which means only one thing L Plates!! Her brave Dad has taken her somewhere or other. i don’t have any happy memories of teaching my lot to drive. Yet they all passed their test first time. Unlike their mother, but like their father. I slept quite well, but awoke rather too…
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Dry, Sunny, very Warm
I slept nicely and fully, awaking around 05.00. I actually had time to do my puzzles this morning. There was no hurry to arise because I was expecting lovely Loren, and her friend, new cleaner, Sharon. They cleaned the Illis first, or Loren did , and I was sad that it was Loren’s last clean…
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Warm and Sunny
I slept better last night- thank goodness. Far from perfect, but better. There was a loo paper thief in the night. The roll had disappeared. I hunted in the bathroom looking for a new roll, completely missing the cupboard containing several. I stumbled downstairs into the loo there. Again, I completely missed the spare supply…
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Crazy Morning
I slept badly at the start of the night- not sure why. Despite it having been a long day, I just could not settle. Strange bed, possibly, but then I realised I was on the wrong side of the bed. So I swapped myself around and things improved. I showered around 07.00 and slipped downstairs…
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Long Day
It started after a crap night’s sleep… Outside things were looking hopeful weather wise. Off I went to Didcot, which was quiet and peaceful, apart from the lady in blue who had mixed things up a bit by wearing black. Her effect was still the same – a stately, floating slow moving island. Then I…
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Nicely warm and sunny
I had another reasonable sleep so awoke with more energy than of recent weeks. The sky was blue although the air was chilly again. I was soon showered and out with little H. I had F to pick up at 10.00 so expediency made Lardon Chase our destination. It was a perfect morning out there-…
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More autumnal sunshine
Yes autumnal colours and sunshine but without the showers of yesterday. I felt stiff and achey when I awoke , the reason being nuclear. Or even less likely, unclear. So I did not rush to arise. There is a big improvement since last week in how I feel. It was last Friday I cancelled my…
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More Sunshine
Oh it felt chilly this morning as I invited Heidi to inspect the garden. She usually steps outside, parks her backside on the patio and sniffs the air. Then if I’m lucky she might wander across the grass, relieve herself of excess fluid and then come back inside. This latter is important because at around…
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Sunshine
What a relief to awake to blue sky and sunshine after the last few miserable days. But it felt very chilly at 10C. The whole day has felt sharp and chilly. The night had passed with a brief interruption in the middle. I succumbed to temptation and listened to some of the Harris -Trump debate.…
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Windy One
The night started well until I awoke in the early hours and there followed a short interval of wakefulness and then another sleepy period. Daylight, which is now after 06.00, revealed more gloom and a damp mist was busy settling on everything. This was later exchanged for a sharp and chilly wind which necessitated sleeves…
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Dry
Another of those up and downers of a night. The moment I lie down, the stent kicks in sending me urgent, but untrue messages that a trip to the loo is needed. This annoying communication only stopped in the early hours. Sitting up reflects more comfort. Anyway, the morning was pleasant enough, starting off with…
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Heavy big Drippy
I awoke, after an interrupted night, to very very heavy rain, lightning flashes and a few rumbles of thunder. During the day, the rain has tracked in a horizontal streak, roughly south of the M4. I am told Peterborough had blue skies and so did western Scotland where temperatures reached 27C. Their hottest day of…
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Big Drippy
I had an absolutely terrible night because I realised I was quite dehydrated. I’m not supposed to let myself get dehydrated but all the happenings of yesterday made me want to limit my liquid I take at various times of the day. The knock on effect was I did not want to go to the…
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Busier
Today, I was much more active. I bit the bullet and took an early swim. I swam for half my usual distance and felt no noticeable after effects. I took it easy, breaststroke all the way, instead of the usual contribution from front crawl. But I managed to not need the loo while swimming and…
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Lazy version 2
Yes, it’s been another lazy day, taking things easy. But tomorrow will be much busier. I did not have a great night, continuing issues with general discomfort. But I caught up on sleep as morning dawned, which was another dull and uninviting one. I got myself up and going and then got H up and…
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Home 2
Second Day at home. There was some disturbance during the night, but I slept each side of it, not helped by having to take a monster of an antibiotic tablet at 02.00. The ones that are keeping sepsis at bay. Hopefully. And it was not so painful lying flat any more. But as for loo…
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Home!
Today’s blog covers the remainder of Saturday 31/8 and all of Sunday, 1/09. Pen was mother-sitting on Saturday afternoon whilst the Illies were busy escaping to do other things. She had driven especially all the way from Devon in post- bank holiday traffic just to make sure I was supervised and not up to mischief.…
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Double Jeopardy
A tale of two days -29/8 to 30/8 2024. Not a happy two days! I had a kidney stone diagnosed a few weeks ago that required removal under general anaesthetic. A procedure I did not anticipate with any pleasure. Before I go further all the family have been totally amazing, caring for me. Particularly Alex…
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Penny
I slept really badly, fretting over this and that and Thursday. No point in it, I told myself but it did not help me sleep. I tried really hard to relax and breathe deeply etc. No electronic stuff etc but to no avail. As a result, I felt really tired when morning arrived. But I…
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International Dog Day
Yes, today is International Dog Day so little H got extra cuddles and kisses and a treat or two. The idea is to draw attention to dogs who need rehoming. It has been a pleasant day – warmish, dullish, nothing specialish about it. It started around 05.00, as usual. With a hot drink. Then I…
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Wind
Today was just that, full of wind. I slept until around 05.00 and dealt with my need for a hot drink and fell asleep again soon after. But then, the day beckoned and H and I wandered around the big field at Cholsey Meadows. Outside, it was cloudy / sunny and definitely windy. There were…
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Flooded
The weather forecast was correct – 90% rain and windy. The rain was heavy and the wind was tiresome when I awoke. Not a day to want to be out and about. And it did not look like stopping anytime soon. My night had been somewhat disturbed by the ‘watch’ (monitoring my sleep patterns) which…
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Recovery
The weather recovered from its bad mood of wind and rain yesterday and was sunny and windy today. I also spent much of the day recovering from the stresses that yesterday involved. Nothing much was on the horizon for today, apart from the presence of the lovely Loren and a meal out at the Beetle…
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Manic!
How can I describe today? A bit bipolar maybe … Fleur’s exam results were due out early and she had been asked to go into school because Meridian TV would be filming. Around 08.30 they were due out. At the same time I would be at the dreaded Royal Berks for a pre-op assessment. All…
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More of Windy
I slept reasonably and was awake reasonably early at the usual sort of 05.00 sort of time. It rained in Crete today. For the first time in months. Definitely newsworthy. I managed to get myself to the swimming pool good n’early. But my watch was down to about 30% battery and swimming usually gobbles up…
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Windy
We had a damp start following a decent night with a short sleepless patch in the middle. I booked a swim and set off around 07.30. The pool , my lane was busy at the start with a very slow procession of floaters who were not going to give way. However by around half way…
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cool
I slept reasonably . And anticipated a swim. And then I got past the anticipation bit and arose. I invited H out for a stroll up Underhill and then cruelly imprisoned her in the house while I went out. The pool was very pleasant and fairly quiet with a few familiar faces. I ploughed my…
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Warmly Pleasant
I had a good sleep but awoke at the usual 05.00ish. The dogs were quite peaceful so I busied myself with the dishwasher and other chores ready for our visitors later. The dogs and I departed for Pangbourne which was litter free . Fishermen were out in force, occupying every spare bit of access to…
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Exhausted
Me, not the weather, a sleepless night, an early start and a busy day. All conspired to leave me wrung out. Even though I was stuck on my backside for a lot of the day. I took the girls round the Cholsey bigger field, now that the gates are unlocked and it is a cattle…
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Warm
It was a golden morning when I awoke and peeked out of the window where the sunlight was playing on the houses opposite. Very inviting. But I realised it had rained in the night – that old give away – puddles on the furniture covers. H and I were out earlyish, lest it became too…
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Breezy
I slept very nicely until 00.30. It was then that I was awaken by flashing lights and various voices. That was the end of the power cut. So all the lights etc came on. I switched them all off and returned to sleep. I was up around 05.00. Today was not a swim day so…
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Wet
And quite a few Last Straws … Well that makes a change after recent hot and dry weeks. But, hey, I had a really good night’s sleep and was awake around the usual 05.00. It had clearly rained over night as the outdoor furniture covers were weighed down by puddles. It wasn’t long before it…
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Same as…
Yes hot again, same as, same as. Perhaps not quite as hot as Monday, and the mid- morning was definitely cooler with a pleasant breeze. I slept really really well, almost without interruptions. Perhaps the swimming helped, I had wondered if increased exercise might make a difference. But, I didn’t get a lie in because…
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Sizxling
Today has been hotter than yesterday by a degree or two. In fact it is the hottest day of the year. 34C in Cambridge. But it is forecast to be dry, but cooler over the coming days. I had my usual fractured sleep awaking for a while and then falling asleep again. But I needed…
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Hot again
A reasonable night where I slept better once the early hours had passed, than I slept before midnight. I shall be glad to get swimming again. Maybe the extra exercise will help. The walk was magic this morning. It was sunny and bright, not too hot around 08.00 and with a pleasant breeze. Lots of…
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Clouds
It was another slightly disturbed night and Netflix’s ‘Wicked Little Letters’ helped me through it. Such language! My ears were red, but Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley seemed to be really enjoying it. The filming of it must have been fun. The dogs and I were off and out before 08.00. I think. It was…
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Warmish later
I did not sleep well …. No idea why but however hard I tried squeezing my eyes tight shut, sleep just did not happen as it should. I amused myself watching Dawn French in The Trouble with Maggie Cole on Netflix which was very enjoyable. As I eventually awoke, the day was dull with a…
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Dull
I had a really solid sleep last night. Maybe to do with being active later than usual. That meant a fairly late wake up. And a fairly late walk – after 09.00. But- oh dear, life is never straight forward. A strange orange warning icon appeared on the dash board, along with various warning bleeps.…
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Breezy
I slept quite well but was awake again rather earlier than I would have wished, around 04.30. When it was light enough to work out what the weather was doing, I realised the sky was blue and the sun was getting itself up. But it was chilly. A hint of autumn in the air perhaps.…
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Sunnyish
A very pleasant summer’s day. I had a decent sleep, awaking at the usual early hour. I prepared myself and the doggies for an early walk, again at Pangbourne, though I am reconsidering returning to Castle Meadows. The problem there is the presence of cows in the meadows, and volcanic craters down the approach lane.…
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Nice
I slept much better, though still awaking early, when I invite the dogs to go out (invitation not always accepted) make cuppa, drink cuppa, check and post blog, contemplate day ahead, complete puzzles, and, sometimes, go back to sleep. Sometimes, flex. Collect any deposit that the poo machine may have left. Flex? Well sometimes. Today,…
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Cooler
I experienced a rather fretful night. I couldn’t sleep in the early hours so watched Netflix: Mrs Harris goes to Paris. A feel good sort of thing, just the job for the early hours. No tension and you can work out how it is going to finish. No brain needed. There was drizzle when I…
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Hot still
I expected the temperature to have taken a big drop but it has not – around 27C today. Because I was expecting it to be cooler, I was deceived into going for a slightly later walk, leaving home around 08.00. That was quite a mistake because it was really warm down at the Meadows. Very…
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Storm!
I did not enjoy last night, it was much interrupted , I seemed to be up and down every hour or so. I had set the alarm for 04.30, but it was not needed because I was awake anyway. Why so early? Well I was to drive Ali and G to Reading Station so they…
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Hotter 3
A fairly peaceful night with two well behaved doggies. Silence reigned until I awoke at some silly hour that I am becoming accustomed to. I was later out with the dogs this morning – it was after 07.00 when I reached Pangbourne and it’s scattered litter. There was not so much today but still enough…
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Hottest yet
I slept not badly. It was 15C when I awoke around 04.30 and I contemplated the days ahead. For a bit. The dogs and I were out a little bit later today but it was still very pleasant. We went to Pangbourne again, but I was dismayed at the amount of litter scattered around, it…
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Hotter 2
I had a good sleep and the cool air of the morning was very welcome. It was around 12C at 06.00. (But over 30C 12 hours later) All was silent and I was mindful not to disturb Fleur or encourage Minnie to get herself up and about. But I made myself a drink and opened…
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Hot
I was awoken a bit early by a persistent headache which sent me to the kitchen drawer where I keep the paracetamol. I then drifted in and out of sleep whilst my brain worked out the order of activities for the day. The sky was bluish although the morning was cool, so I decided to…
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Warmish and Busy
I was up and out with little H quite early today. I had a busy day ahead of me . The night had not been easy due to a busy brain disturbing my peace. Instead of being asleep, I was busy worrying about parking in Wantage for Anthony’s 90th birthday party and I was also…
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sunny /cloudy
A lovely day so far with no rain and plenty of warmth but with a breeze. Just how I like it. I did not sleep that well but arose to do some tidying up before Loren arrived. And then I was off for my swim. It started off fairly unpleasant because the slow lane was…
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Cool
I slept too well, after waking around 06.00, getting a drink and performing some flexing. I registered the noise of the bin men clattering their way past at 06.50, and the next thing I knew – it was nearly 10.00. That was rather careless and indulgent of me. A modicum of tidying up followed. More…
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Warm, dry, dullish
I had a terrible night’s sleep stressing over going to SW today ( bite the bullet gel) and various other uncertain arrangements. But hey, I had a swim booked with Fleur and I was a little bit early to pick her up, just before 08.00. It was G’s last day at school today, and he…
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Dull
A dullard of a day which did nothing to encourage me to get going. And since my nighttime sleeping patterns are improving, I awoke later than usual. I did a bit of stretching to make up for my early inactivity. And it was only a while afterwards that the day became exciting. Or that is…
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Dull, damp start, sunny and warm end.
Another good night’s sleep without any significant interruption. I think. Having someone else in the house seems to keep me better confined to my bed. The plan had been to visit the Illis and Pen, Dave and Mike early this morning around 08.00. After G was safely on the school bus and not to be…
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Quite a sunny Day – eventually
Another good night’s sleep, mostly, apart from a short wakeful period during the night. A blocked up nose was the cause and the need to find a new bottle of nasal spray. H followed me out to the kitchen and took a long drink and a sniff round the garden. I had no trouble getting…
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Cooler
Thank goodness, I had a really great sleep, probably something to do with being awake all yesterday. And it was so much cooler overnight and a gentle breeze tickled my calves via the open window. ‘Quite a comfortable night,’ I thought to myself as I made my cup of coffee soon after 05.00. We arose…
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Fiery
Today has been very very hot up to 32C and very humid. Too hot and too humid for me. And for H I think. We were out at Pangbourne at around 06.00 and it was very pleasant. It was a sleeveless day but the temperature was very pleasant. Only a few dog walkers were out…
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Hot
I did not enjoy a very restless night. Trouble is, I slept too well before I went to bed. So I was quite wide awake after I went to bed. But I found ways of amusing myself. It was forecast to be a very hot day, and it was. So I planned it out quite…
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Summery
I slept well, waking for a hot cuppa around 05.00 and promptly falling asleep again until much later. I was still feeling really, really tired when I woke up and was not inclined to go swimming. I slowly surfaced. Today, is Tony’s birthday. He would have been 78 years old . It was a warm…
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Dryish
I slept quite well but was awake at the usual early time. A swim beckoned so off I went to Didcot. And the swim was pleasant enough. The Journey home was not, due to sudden road closures and general delays on the diversion route, which was via Wallingford. It should have taken me 20 minutes…
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Not Dry
Rain was forecast and so it did. Not surprising really because I hung the washing out and then watered the plants. Bound to rain after that. After abandoning the chair at done ridiculous early hour I finished off my sleep in a very satisfactory manner and awoke again at around 06.00. I took a fairly…
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Dry 4
It is good I’m keeping a record of all the recent dry days. Reminds me of how dry the plants might be getting. I had a rather awake night where I watched one or two episodes of High Country. It’s not just the plot that interests but some of the photography is very scenic. I…
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Dry 4
So far, it’s been dry and warm and marginally sunny. Though I must mention I felt a tad chilly as I sat in the garden this morning. Briefly. It was a busy morning. I had a reasonable sleep, once I shifted myself from the chair to the bed. Having had the house cleaned yesterday, it…
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Dry 3
A good sleep followed by a good wake up and a decision not to swim. It might have spoilt the moment! I managed to get various chores done and myself dressed etc before lovely Loren arrived. She has been poorly all week so was struggling a bit today, but she got the job done. Tonilitis…
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Dry 2
The day dawned with a rather uninteresting sky that did not do much to tempt me out of bed. I knew it would not remain peaceful for very long because the bin men would soon crash their way along the road. I was not wrong! I decided to take a quick swim. So I was…
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Dry
Today dawned early at 05.00. I did not swim today – too much going on. But I was in no hurry to get up because that meant being confronted by chores. Which I did in the end anyway. I took H for a walk to the coffee morning which was pleasant enough as usual. I…
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More rain
The rain must have been very very heavy overnight because the roads were very flooded as I drove to Didcot and one of the dried up ponds at Cholsey has water in its basin again . I did not sleep well. My own stupid fault for too long a sleep or two during the day…
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Showers Continued
I had another good sleep not waking very early. This was the first morning in over a week when I awoke without a thumping headache and mushy brain. Has normality returned? Well my thoughts turned towards a swim and there didn’t seem to be much point in not trying one out. So, off into the…
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Wet
I had a very long and very satisfactory sleep with only a couple of interruptions. One interruption was long enough for tea and toast and then I fell asleep again. Waking again around nearly 09.00 came as quite a shock. One look out of the window quickly told me that there was no hurry to…
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Showery
Just a word missing – heavily. Heavily Showery. It would appear to have been heavy rain that fell overnight with lightning not far away. I awoke still feeling quite grim. Headache and muscle aches were largely responsible. I last tested for Covid on Tuesday and I tested again today but am still clearly positive. Not…
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Rain
Well we need it! Despite all my complaints of a few weeks ago, it has not rained much in the last month as my hose and I can testify, and so can the brown patches in my grass which has suddenly stopped growing. But rain brings a certain dullness with it. It has not been…
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General Election
And Labour are lots and lots of points in the lead- forecast to have a huge majority varying between a hundred and 300 seats. Who knows. I find election nights incredibly exciting. The last one went pear shaped because of all the idiots that believed the lies that Boris and his cohort of lying sycophants…
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Drab
Another drab day. A day where I woke up thinking I might have a bit more energy but the thumping of my head and the mushyness of my brain soon removed that idea. Never mind the needles that were worming their way into my joints creating achyness. This is not a gentle version of Covid.…
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Overcast continued
I knew something was wrong overnight because I could not settle to any sort of sleep. I was very very achey, my nose was stuffed up, my throat was sore, my brain was wrapped in a thick fog and my head hurt. Couldn’t have been worse really. I knew it was probably Covid ( thank…
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Overcast
I was awoken with a horrid start when the alarm went off just before 07.00. I was quite disorientated. Then I remembered I was at home and had no commintnents. So I got the cuppa and relaxed. H was feeling similarly inactive. I showered and prepared myself for the day ahead which I had previously…
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Today
Today Penny is 50 years and one day old. I can’t remember my 50th birthday, perhaps someone else in the family can. My 40th is very clear. But not number 50. The main event of the day in sunny Devon – The Roberts family were to hold a BBQ for close friends and family. So,…
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50!
Happy Birthday Penny Roberts! 50 Golden Years of my favourite eldest daughter.( It’s soon the turn of my favourite youngest daughter in less than two years. ) What a magical day! For me, it started well, but early. H and I were out and about walking along a golf course buggy track, which began with…
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Devon
A pretty rough night’s sleep, my brain occupied by thoughts about Friday. I was up and making a hot drink and toast before 4.00am so that says it all. I think I fell asleep again but it was all so long ago that I can’t really remember. I had an early text from Pen reminding…
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Cooler
Not in THE cooler, just lower temperatures and quite a strong breeze. Much more pleasant for everything apart from dehydrating my runner beans. It was their turn to go all floppy. The night was unremarkable except for the fact I had quite a good sleep. And when I awoke I was faced with a bit…
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Hot hot hot
Yes another baking hot day. So hot, that one of my courgette plants took on a real droop and I had to rush out with emergency water. I was up and out for our early walk around 06.00. H was able to dash around the meadows at Cholsey. There were plenty of other early risers,…
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Burning
Yes, at one point today, the heat was too hot too tolerate, you could feel it burning your skin. After yesterday’s sloth, I decided that today needed to be better. Therefore Heidi and I were up and walking at Cholsey around 06.15. The temperature was very pleasant. Cool enough for H to break into a…
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Sweaty
It has been a hot day, a sweat inducing day, if I was doing anything active. Which I was, at times. I awoke at a reasonably early time, so I was able to be out and about with little H before 09.00. We went to Pangbourne Meadows which were serene and peaceful with a few…
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Lovely
That has been our weather today – lovely/ warm and sunny. Although, at 06.30, when I hung the washing out, it was quite drizzly. But I still decided the washing was going out! I had a very difficult night due to arriving home in the early hours. And getting to sleep very late. But after…
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Summer!
I had a really good night’s sleep at good old Gayot, followed by a weepoo walk for H and a brekkie full of delicacies. Then onwards and northwards towards that beach at Ouistreham. For old times’ sakes, I took in the lake at La Ferte Mace to give H longer to stretch her legs and…
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Mixed
After two wonderful days by the seaside, wonderful despite being nearly blown away, today I travelled south to old haunts. I regretted it almost straight away. Because the further south I went, the greyer it became. It had been wonderfully sunny at Ouistreham first thing. I was in no hurry to leave! The roads were…
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Windy
So far, today has stayed dry, but it has been very very windy. And this morning that wind was extremely chilly. My fingers were cold and a wooly hat would have felt good. In fact when I was on the cliffs above Arromanches, the wind was so strong and so noisy, I felt completely battered…
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Wet/Dry
I slept really badly which is not what I was hoping for after my 03.00 start on Monday morning. No reason- everywhere was quiet and the bed was comfy. I arose to the hissing sound of tyres on a wet surface . It poured for most of the morning. My powerful power pack kept my…
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Early weather
Yes early weather was beautiful and I was up and out soon after 04.30and down at Streatley Rec where I took H for a quick spin before setting off for Portsmouth. When I joined the A34, it was mainly Lorrie’s using it, but as the morning drifted on towards Southampton, there was the beginnings of…
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Sunshine
Today is Fathers’ Day. We remember happier days. Sunshine – Not quite wall to wall but quite a lot of it and with it has come warmth. But I was busy. The girls and I were off early down to Pangbourne Meadows. Other people were out and about early too, with plenty of dogs chasing…
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Showers
Today has been more like a showery April day, cool with really really heavy showers, so heavy it was tricky to see to drive and spray was constant hassle on the motorways. It was raining when I awoke and I procrastinated about getting going and out with H in the vain hope that the rain…
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Unchanging
Today the weather has been unchanged – sunny/cloudy with some exceptionally heavy showers. Exams are over for those sitting them. Thank goodness. Just have to wait for the results now. I did not have a very good night, which made it quite hard to leave my bed. So I decided to make use of the…
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Changing
A decent night was passed but I awoke to grey skies. I knew rain was expected later in the day so I didn’t hold my breath. I flexed for a bit and then dozed for a bit. Eventually I tacked a few chores and eventually got going out and about with H, at Pangbourne. I…
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Deteriorating
That’s what the weather will do and there are suggestions of rain for tomorrow. Today has followed recent standards. I was able to walk H in short sleeves. I awoke a little later than I would have chosen but decided that a swim was a possibility. And it became a certainty … peaceful today… very…
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Stable
The weather has a stable air about it currently. Cool, sunny, cloudy. Perhaps yesterday’s rain was a blip. This morning was busy, H and I were out and about early. A quick swing round Cholsey Meadows did it. I had matters to attend to before I went to my ‘sketching in ink and wash ‘…
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Wet start
Happy 15th birthday to George. It tipped down with rain overnight and during the early part of the day . But hey ho, it has not rained for a while so the damp was quite helpful. And it cleared off to leave the rest of the day dry. I dragged myself off to Didcot to…
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Ditto
The weather remains stably cool with sunny intervals. I actually find it quite pleasant though it is difficult to sit and enjoy the great outdoors due to inconsistent temperatures. However, as far as activity is concerned, it is pleasant. And- it has stayed dry. Today, for me, seemed to arrive a little later than usual…
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Same
That’s the weather – same as the last two days …uninteresting. But not unpleasant, despite being unseasonably cool. I was up and busy trying to book a short trip to France, which was not straightforward. No pet cabins available, blips in the process etc, so H will have to travel in the car. That meant…
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OK
The weather was OK today but chilly out of the sun. And it did not rain. I was awake at the usual early hour and drinking my early cuppa. After an embarrassingly disastrous puzzle day yesterday, today was better. And Eleanor treated me to some photographs from a family wedding yesterday- a happy event. I…
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DDay 80 Years on
The day dawned reasonably. The night was chilly but sun warmed the day and it was quite pleasant when I finally arose. I did a little flexing and got myself up in order to take H for a walk, before I met Fleur, after her second English Language exam. Events conspired against me in the…
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Sunnyish – D-Day +80 years minus 1 day
The weather may have tried its best today, to appear summery, but as the till lady in Waitrose commented “Could do better! It is June after all!” Not really warm enough to wallow in heat in the garden. The night passed reasonably and I was awake quite early for a cuppa but dozed off again.…
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Drab
Drab was the day. Grey, dull and it started to rain. Bonus- means I don’t need to water plants. At least, I won’t need to water them, if it rains a bit more. I continued feeling tired this morning so I opted out of a swim and did a short bike ride instead. A very…
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Boring
Yes, boring weather today, mostly grey, not cold, but not warm either, dry, very little sun. I felt very tired when I woke up but I managed to get myself up and out for a swim. I all but gave up because the lane was populated by some very very slow people… and there were…
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Summery
After chilly yesterday, today has been a lovely summer’s day. A day when the sky was gold and blue once it had shaken off the early morning grisaille which presented itself around 04.00; a day when the red kites swooped using the thermals to wheel and drop, uttering their plaintiff mews; a day where the…
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Unsummery
Καλώ μήνα …it’s the first day of June (and of U.K. summer.). And, as I woke up at some ungodly hour, I could see summer had arrived. The blue skies and sunshine were a bit of a giveaway. However, by the time H and I were off out for our walk, there was no blue…
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This and That
This and That was our how our weather presented itself today. Cool, breezy, cloudy, grey with whiffs of damp. I was awake early and knew I ought to go swimming, but getting myself up to do so was entirely another matter. But I was down there soon after 07.00 and carried out my regulation 1000m.…
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Grumpy
The weather is quite grumpy today. It started off dull, breezy and damp and is about to end that way. It has also been quite chilly. I was unable to go swimming because I had to get George to Oxford by 10.00 for some hockey function or other. Well… I could have swim at 06.30…
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Up and down
The weather was a bit up and down today. Sunny and pleasantly warm in the morning and dull and cloudy this afternoon. I have just read of a forecast where we are promised 50 days of rain this coming summer, which is a lot. Apparently. I overslept big time, which was unsurprising because the earlier…
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Weary
Today the weather seemed as weary as I was. The day appeared too tired to wake up at the start. Grey and sleepy. Damp and wet which was a bit half hearted. The sun never did get itself up. Pretty much how I felt really. With some fixed determination, I managed to get myself out…
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Mixed
The weather was fairly mixed today. Not warm, not cold, but mainly dry with sunny intervals. There was a short sharp dose of heavy rain as I drove south from Leeds. I had read that Moulsford had 9mm of rain yesterday so I was hoping that kept my plants ticking over. I did not sleep…
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Celebratory
The title does not refer to the weather today but to the main event. (The weather was fairly grim. The morning was awfully wet, as the night before had clearly been. There were poodles in the car park.) My whole reason for travelling up here was to celebrate the 60 years of marriage enjoyed by…
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Dull
The day started off with blue skies and looked as if it would be all bright and sunny. It it failed to live up to its expectations and became cool, and dull and gloomy during the afternoon. However, the day itself was exciting and made up for the limp weather. I exercised H round the…
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Tired
I could pretend the weather was tired. If a grey, still, dry day where nothing much is moving signifies tired weather, then that will do. Or maybe it is just tired with not being summery. But it is actually myself who is tired. Sitting in the car in a traffic jam is wearisome. So is…
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Improving
Today’s weather is definitely an improvement on yesterday’s revolting effort. I was awake quite early which was helpful because I had to be at the doc’s quite early for a routine blood test . That was all quickly done and dusted. There is no escaping Wendy and Burt – who should pitch up in the…
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Drab
Drab is the single word the weatherman used to describe the coming day’s weather. He was a bit conservative in his choice of vocabulary. It has been very very rainy all day. And grey. Revolting might have been a more accurate description. I didn’t feel much like getting up and going for a swim, but…
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Miserable
That is today’s weather – utterly miserable, cold, drizzly turning to heavier rain. And the grey is back with a vengeance. But all my precious plants could do with a damp day. However they do not need cold! And nor do I. I had a reasonable night’s sleep awaking around 05.30, when I steeled myself…
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Hot
Eventually, it became hot, now that can be quite uncomfortable if you fall asleep in the sun. It was shady when I eventually sat down. But not when I woke up. Today started at the usual 05.00. I didn’t feel much like a swim but booked one for 08.00 but rolled up at 07.30. The…
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Sunnyday
Sunny Sunday, although the sun was a bit unpunctual in its arrival. There was thick cloud at the start of the day, and it was still there whilst I walked H. I had enjoyed a good night’s sleep with minimal wakefulness. We visited Cholsey ponds again and a few people were out and about, but…
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Clouds
Yes… there were these blobby things floating high above which occasionally allowed the sun to peep through. Otherwise, a pleasantly warm, and sometimes sunny, day. I thought the day ahead lay free of anything much but forgot I had my watercolour expressive bluebell class to attend. The realisation awoke me for the second time, with…
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Warm
A good night’s sleep was had followed by a lovely, warm, dry and sometimes sunny day. A busy day too. A day where travel has been severely compounded by roadworks. A 20 mile one way trip was the only way to reach Streatley and the Illis. I was surprised to read a sign saying that…
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Summerish
Still struggling to get that summery feeling from the weather, although today has been very pleasant, warm enough and cloudy/sunny. I did not sleep that well. Wrongish… I slept quite well until 03.00 and then busy brain followed, along with patches of sleep. I was trying to work out where all my plants might be…
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Cloudy
Cloudy was how the day started and very darkly cloudy with heavy rain was how it finished as the evening drew on. The temperatures hovered around 16C which was quite cool and quite convenient for me. I was lazy; I flexed but did not swim. And I got up and showered a bit later than…
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Nice
The weather has been nice today – cloudy – sunny and quite comfortably warm. But not hot. Just as the title weather word suggests. The night passed, also quite nicely, and I was awake at the usual early time. I did not feel inclined to go swimming but decided it might be a good idea…
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Same as…
Yesterday- yes the weather has been the same as yesterday, and as most of last winter, after heavy overnight rain. The day has brought blustery winds, but perhaps a little warmer than yesterday. Not that I would want to sit out in it. I had a really bad night’s sleep for some reason or other.…
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Deteriorating
That’s the word the weatherman used to describe the weather for today. And he was not wrong. What a contrast to yesterday. Today has felt very chilly despite the car thermometer indicating a warmth rating of 18C. It didn’t feel like it. And a chilly wind that became more blustery as the day drifted on…
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24C
Another good night with a decent stretch of sleep . We were awake quite early and, armed with coffee, I set about doing my puzzles. A better day today. Today was forecast to get hotter than yesterday and I believe it was. It made at least 24C, probably warmer in the garden and I feel…
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23+C
I had a really really good sleep that was more or less uninterrupted until I awoke just before 05.00, whereupon I treated myself to some coffee, did my puzzles ( badly) and contemplated a shower and clothing. The talk of the morning was the fabulous aurora seen all over the UK last night. Moulsford Tidmarsh,…
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23C
Another very warm and very lovely day. It started for me around 05.00 and with a banana and then I booked swimming for around 08.00 and off I went. H is always invited to go outside when I awake, but sometimes she can’t be bothered to get herself off her bed. I have to watch…
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Hotter
I had an hour or so when I was awake around 04.00. I caught up with Race Around The World and promptly fell asleep again. It was the alarm which finally awoke me. I think. It was around 06.00. So, I decided to swim early so that I could enjoy more of the sunshine later…
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Hot
I had another reasonable night’s sleep and an interrupted day ahead. I had intended to swim, but decided to enjoy the rare sun instead. The temperatures reached 23C. H and I went for a walk at Pangbourne, in the meadows. It was a silly idea because they were still very very wet and the mower…
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Bright
What a lovely bright and warm day. There was a bit of an interruption to these delights mid-afternoon, but the day got itself backon track again. I awoke around 06.00, long enough to do some flexing and then fall asleep again. So I think it was nearly 08.00 when I actually properly awoke. Great sleep!…
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Dreary
Bank Holiday drearyness describes today. The day started dull and rainy. Then the dullness seemed to lift, conveniently, whilst H and I walked. But by early afternoon, the rain was really heavy and the day beyond dreary. Our walk was very pleasant at Cholsey Meadows once more. The vegetation seems to have become very very…
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Oppressive
I had a reasonable night and awoke to blue skies… I was quite excited. But looking at the forecast, suggestions were that it would be cloudy later. Correct. So H and I got ourselves out just before 09.00 or thereabouts. We were out for about an hour, some of which was spent with my backside…
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Warmish
Today dawned chilly and dullish, but once the sun had made up its mind to break forth, the day was dry, pleasant and warm. I walked Heidi earlyish and intended to do all sorts of chores. But my heel pain rather got in the way of my intentions so I sat down for a bit…
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Same
More dull, grey and very rainy weather. The rain was not constant and varied in intensity. It was certainly inconvenient. My night had been unusual. Having arrived home late last night, I dived straight into the remains of Question Time and then local election coverage. And from there I drifted in and out of sleep…
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Tedious
The weather was tedious today, dull grey and boring, quite Misty too at the start of the day. I heard rumbles of thunder in the early hours and was notified of lightning strikes a few km to the south. I was awake for an hour or so in the night and then dozed off until…
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Deceitful
Today, the weather has been deceitful. The day started off grey and dull, with some warmth promised. That bit was entirely correct during the morning. But by the afternoon, the sky became overcast with some quite unpleasant dark clouds. Late in the afternoon, the rain fell. And I was cold. And we are promised torrential…
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Typical
Weather wise, today was what I would label a typical April day with warm sun at times, breezy and dry. (No showers.) All very pleasant. I awoke with a slight headache but I managed to dispose of it. Outside was all so pleasant, that I arose early, carried out a few chores and promptly dozed…
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Bluster
We had a lot of bluster from the wind today which was a very cold wind. And quite annoying. H and I walked around Cholsey ponds, three of which had disappeared, but have now reappeared. The wind whistled round my legs but sitting in the fresh air was quite pleasant. Returning pond below. I returned…
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Duvet Day
Disgusting was how the day dawned. Pouring with rain, relentless rain. Cold. Horrible. I eventually got up and dressed but H had already made her feelings clear about going outside. I carried out a few chores but fell asleep again. When I awoke, the day had changed and it was no longer raining. No excuse…
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Grey
I think it has been another grey day. I have been inside doing my art course (trees) for most of the day so it is possible the sun might have popped out. I was up with H quite early and we whisked round Streatley Rec at slow speed before I took her up to the…
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Satisfying
The weather was satisfyingly dry all day – very chilly this morning at around 6C but with hints of warmth later. But the Day itself was quite satisfying in terms of my achievements. I was busy all day and have only just sat down at 18.00. I’m not used to days like this anymore! It…
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Deluge
A good night was passed. And I was able to get H out for a decent walk before departing for Hermitage to meet Carer friends. Hopefully when this tricky week is over I will be able to find the time to resume swimming. After my return from walking H, I paid a quick trip to…
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Indoors
I spent large chunks of the day inside so can’t really comment on the weather, except it was a damp start to the day. Indoors in the house, in the solicitor‘s office, in the shopping mall (Apple shop) and there is always the car. I was out quite early with H because things were stacking…
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Dryish
There was a shower in the early afternoon but that was it. The day dawned dullish but offered sunny intervals. But it also remained very cold. Unseasonably so. I had to go to the tyre place and we were there before 09.00. The nice man found the naughty tyre with the lower pressure, but also…
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Sprinkly
A disturbed night- pressures of the week to come I think. The day had dawned horrible- all grey, and, upon further inspection, rainy. I did not rush to arise in the hope the rain would stop. But it did not, so H and I strolled in the gentle wetness at Cholsey. And got sprinkled upon.…
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Bracing
It was not a good sleep last night. For starters, it was around 01.00 when I hit the sack after my shenanigans as a taxi, and by then I was quite highly wired. So it took me a while to settle, but I still awoke at the usual early hour. I had a day of…
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Alarms
It became a day of alarms and reminders. But it started sunny with blue skies though the temperature hovered perilously close to zero. The only commitments were a phone call to Brenda around 15.00 and then a taxi service to pick up three of the Illis after a hockey social around midnight. Then added into…
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Cool
i slept reasonably with only a little shoulder pain. The early day was not very exciting. It had rained overnight, but how much, I can only speculate. I got my act together rather slowly, starting with a phone call to Honda about the annoying service warning light. It is booked in next Friday. Loren arrived…
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Calm
After several days of chilly, blustery, but dry weather, this morning dawned calm and serene, but with a little less sunshine, early on. By mid morning, when I was at Porlock Weir, it was really beautiful and warm. I had not slept well. My first two nights were really good sleeps, but not last night.…
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Unseasonal
Today, the chilliness of the weather made it unseasonal, although the amount of sunshine was probably inline with expectations. The wind continued to be a nuisance at times, especially on the beaches. I had another very good night’s sleep here at the Luttrell Arms. Again, I did not doze during the day or evening which…
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Blustery
I slept really well last night. Probably because I was up late due to our Scrabble game. H seems to have slept well too. I arose and showered taking H out around 07.00, up the steep, private steps and out of the garden gate and into the NT grounds of the Castle. It was lovely…
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Surprise!
I slept very badly last night- mostly because my shoulder / arm was very achey and Icould not get comfortable. I took an ibuprofen which is very rare for me. It didn’t make any difference which is probably why I don’t take it. A paracetamol helped later. The weather was a surprise too. Another torrent…
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Mixed
I awoke at some silly o’clock, but did get back to sleep again. But waking properly later, I felt tired and had a heap of chores to do, which rather put me off getting out of bed. So I made a list of them all in ‘Reminders’ on my phone. Does anyone else feel that…
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Spring Again
published late I had a good evening in the chair followed up by the left overs in bed. I awoke after 06.00. Again. Outside, the sky was looking hopeful with scattered clouds- perhaps we would be treated to another Spring-like day. H could barely bring herself to the back door and then she just sat…
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Spring!
I wish I could believe that Spring has sprung but it’s not really warm enough. April showers – yes. Lots of them although today has stayed mainly dry. It might not remain dry, however, dark clouds loom on high. This morning was doomed to be busy. I did not have time to swim. Just as…
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Precipitous
Yes – yet more precipitation and accompanying wind later. Having put away the garden cushions because the wind kept lifting up the protective cover, I felt satisfied that they were in the dry. H was not very interested in going out first thing. But then, neither was I! It was around 06.30 when I awoke……
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Gusty
A reasonable night when I awoke around 05.00 and then dozed and re-dozed. And booked a swim . And I faced up to some ghastliness outside where the wind was restless and indiscriminately vindictive . And the rain only added to the misery. The covers on the garden furniture were billowing dramatically. I ignored it…
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Calmer
A bit of a patchy night, last night, but I managed to sleep between disturbances and resisted the urge to visit the kettle at some silly o’clock. I finally woke after 06.00, feeling tired already, in the knowledge I needed to go for a swim. We made it before 08.00. It was another cloudy day…
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Windy 2
I had a reasonable night. The grey skies were greeting me this morning. From inside the strength of the wind is not apparent, but one quick squint down the back garden reveals all. The cover over the furniture gives it away as it billows in the wind. We had our brekkie and then set off…
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Windy
It was forecast to be windy and warm, and it was, although the warmth was masked by the wind. It was good though, to be out sitting in it ( watching hockey). I was in no mood to be out and about early, although my taxi and its bookings were reorganised by those requiring my…
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Diffident
Yes, the sun was diffident today. Rain had been heavy again, overnight, but the day was forecast to be cloudy and windy which was correct. But the sun did its best to pop out and greet us. Not all day, just at times. I was awake at some silly o ‘ clock but fell asleep…
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Boring
Today, the weather succeeded in being boring, in that it was no different from the previous few days, and was, as it has been for much of the winter. Dull, grey, damp. Windy. No swim today because I was taxiiing George to Harwell so he could get a lift to Oxford for something or other…
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Moody
The weather has been moody today, swapping grey clouds which completely obliterated any hint of blue in the sky, for limited sunny spells. There was also a very cool wind. I awoke, for the first time, around 05.00, but felt all snuggly and warm so I was unwilling to take myself further than the kitchen…
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Transformed
The day was transformed from the blue almost cloud-free skies I woke up to, walked in and enjoyed in the garden, to ghastly rain and glowering, grey skies. I dragged myself to Didcot for an early swim. It was quite busy for the first 20 minutes then it became quiet. The sun was blinding as…
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Disturbance in the Force
I woke up a bit early, but was able to drift in and out of sleep. The sky was blue when I finally opened my eyes – daylight arrives a bit later these days. Quite inviting really. So, after performing the usual rituals, H and I wandered down to Cholsey, where we walked in warm…
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Easter Day
I dropped the Sun bit from day because there wasn’t any. It remained dull. Dull but dry. As usual, I was confused by the loss of an hour, but felt under no pressure to move from the bed. Of course I did eventually, and H and I wandered the tracks at East Hagbourne and into…
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Lovely
It has been a lovely, sunny and dry day. No complaints. It was also on the warm side of cool. Though the early morning was definitely cool at 6C. My weather word for today. Lovely. However I will complain about my night’s sleep which was not great. Consequently I woke up feeling very tired. Washed…
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Messy
My gardening attempts have christened today – or rather my attempts at repotting and planting are responsible. The sky did not even bother to appear blue at the start of the day. It was unattractive but we arose and walked out at Cholsey. More heavy overnight rain has had the predictable effects of swelling the…
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Stormy
Be in no doubt that today has been a day of really evil weather. And my photo matches the description. Greenham Control tower – all weather shelter ⬇️ And to think the day started so beautifully with blue skies, and drifting light cloud as I drove to Didcot for my swim around 07.00. The sun…
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Scrumpled
Pen doesn’t want any more weather words. She wants titles that go with the photos. Instead. So scrumpled it is. Which apparently is how my face was in the photo. But then I swapped the photos. But the weather words will still prevail. Today the weather was obnoxious. It started all fine and sunny after…
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Moist
And that is an understatement. The day started off dry and almost sunny, but by the middle of the afternoon rain was falling which became more and more heavy. I had hosed my bedding plants, which is probably why it rained. I was off and out swimming around 07.00. It seems a very long time…
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Ungiving
It was a grey sky from dawn to dusk with a scattering of raindrops this morning. The day promised nothing and stuck by its promise. It gave nothing. I was off out with H at a fairly reasonable time for a quick stroll round Cholsey ponds. she scampered and I supervised. I had booked a…
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Cool
I could add the word ‘dry’ to describe today’s weather. But it has been a pleasant day. What I saw of it! And, as it started, I was so full of good intentions for the rest of it. I flexed, drank coffee soon after 05.00. And H and I discussed our walk and decided it…
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Deceptive
Back to weather words now that the pages have turned on the last few days. This morning, I awoke to blue skies and bright sunshine. But when I opened the back door, I realised the sun was deceptive because outside was 1. Windy, and 2. Very chilly. H investigated briefly and we both went back…
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Chaotic Start to Day
I was out for the count overnight after a busy no-nap day yesterday. But if I was to swim at all, it had to be early because of getting over to Ali’s for brekky. This was to allow Pen to depart at a sensible time in order to arrive back in Devon during the afternoon.…
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Another goodbye
Possibly the final goodbye. But Tony will live on within me because I spent most of my life with him. I was 22 I think, when we got married. So, today, we four girls ( and H is one) took him for his final walk along Lardon Chase and laid him to rest amongst the…
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Anniversaries
Today is our 53rd wedding anniversary. Here are a few pics taken around 20/3 over the last few years. Le Manoir du Lys 2015 T booked a night at Le Manoir du Lys as a real treat – Michelin starred restaurant etc. Very sweet. 2016 – I think we stayed here with the Robert’s family…
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Tedious
Tedious describes today’s weather. Same old, same old… Clouds, some wet spits and spots, cloud, occasional glimpses of the sun. I had a pretty rough night because I was awake for an hour or two at some silly time and then fell asleep in the early hours around 04.00. And then I was awake again…
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Mild
That was the weather forecaster’s chosen word to describe today, so I decided to borrow it. Fairly mild , it has been, with sunny intervals and clouds. The sun is warm when it is allowed to shine. Around and about, magnolia trees are magnificently showy. I’ve only noticed pink varieties so far. We had a…
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Almost
Today has been almost springlike. It started damp but rapidly improved and the sun appears to have more warmth in it now. I have also noticed rape fields are beginning to turn that ghastly neon yellow. I have known years when rape coincides with blue bells which usually bloom in April. This photo was taken…
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Unexciting
The weather excited me a little this morning when I was out with H because it was sunny and warm. But as we were strolling back to the car, the day changed its mind about being warm and welcoming and the clouds rolled in and dullness descended. So it became unexciting. I had not slept…
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Pleasant
The weather has been very pleasant today, mostly dry, after a damp start, and the sun ventured out and hung around for much of the day. Apart from the odd heavy shower , that is, and there were a few of those. It was a busy day which started with an early swim. The pool…
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The Usual
Today’s weather became the usual damp, grey cloudy stuff. However, the morning started off with some sunshine and warmth, but this changed during our walk. I performed a little flexing because I was unlikely to swim later. And I tidied up the roses and other plants at the front of the house. The early part…
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DRY!!!
We have had a dry day. A day not over blessed with sunshine, but one without rain. Small steps towards summer. What a sleep, apart from a short comfort break, it was the alarm that awoke me around 07.00. Unheard of. But then I did fall asleep in the chair after my sprouts. H decided…
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Grum
I expect I’ve used the word grim to describe recent weather. So I’ve taken a sideways swipe and I hope the word grum conveys the feeling that today’s weather has not been pleasant. Grey and damp also describe it. The day started with very very heavy rain until mid morning, when H and I ventured…
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Bright
Today was a bright and dry day. Not particularly warm. I slept quite well, my stuffed up nose remained unstuffed last night. When at Pen’s , I have to manage the stairs so I have as little involvement with them as possible. Thus, I showered and dressed and prepared most of my possessions for departure…
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Rewarding
Yes… the weather rewarded us today for being patient through the heavy rain and other misery that was yesterday. We started with sun, which transformed to warmer sun and then to rain. But more sun vanquished the rain and the afternoon and evening were beautiful. It is also Mothering Sunday and I have been spoiled…
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Changing
Today I woke up to decent skies and it looked as though it was set to be sunny all day. But by the time I was around 40 minutes from the Roberts’ house the rain was absolutely tipping down. And it had tipped all day in Devon, I was informed. Things were a bit of…
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Sunny
Today was a sunny one – all day. It was also a bit of a lazy one in that I did not intend to swim. I had another very good night. Waking not at 05.00, but around 06.00. Even the 1litre of sparkling water I drank the evening before had no significant effect. I did…
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Dull
I slept very nicely thank you very much, first of all in the chair and then in bed. I am told by my watch that I slept for 7 hours, even if I was awake around 04.00. I resisted the urge for a hot drink until 05.00. I enjoyed another bit of a lie in…
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FOG
That’s how the day started – murkily. But the day improved and we enjoyed brilliant sunshine from mid morning onwards. I was out with H around 09.30 in the murk. And then off to the dentist. My teeth are intact and not rotting. I received the usual nag about interdental brushing. I came home for…
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Glum
That’s the weather word to describe how the day started, although it did improve from a cloudy, misty, wet and drab start. My swim was earlyish and accomplished with just a bit of hassle from very very slow swimmers. Three of them. I even managed to overtake and complete a few lengths in front crawl…
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Gusty
Yes, gusty is the weather word for today. But the day hinted at very little breeze early, in fact, I woke up to blue skies and sunshine. Silence prevailed and a chill had sprayed the grass with a glisten. After a very good night, I booked a swim and we headed out to Didcot. To…
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Sunny
I awoke to see a blue sky peering at me through the Venetian blind. Outside the grass was frosty. Goody, I thought, no rain. So, that is my weather word for today. The afternoon things changed a little, in that quite large clouds appeared adding the word ‘intervals’ to‘sunny’. I checked whether I could take…
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Fresh
Today the temperature had a very fresh feel to it. In fact to everyone’s surprise, including professional weather people, there was heavy snowfall on the M4 and M5. Or, in other words, the West Country. I was awake early, to the noisy drips of heavy rain. By the time H and I were ready for…
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Drenching
Oh dear… how long can I keep these weather words going… Today’s forecast was unpleasant which matched the day. Torrentially heavy and cold showers interspersed with the odd break in the sky providing a sunny spell. I call it drenching. The night was good but I was awake at the usual early hour. One of…
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Miserable
Miserable is my one word (in the role of someone who is living through the weather, rather than the role of a forecaster) to describe the weather today. It was grey and raining early on and raining less later on and it was actually raining heavily much later on. I opted for a lie in…
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Grey
On one of the radio stations, the weather forecaster has to describe the weather for the coming day, in a single word. My word for today is Grey. I suffered a disturbed night, when I awoke at around 02.00 and could not settle back to sleep. No idea why, no busy brain. So I watched…
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Mud
A decent night was passed. I awoke just before 05.00 to scurry to the kitchen and make myself a hot drink. H did not stir so I left her for a bit. And then I had to stir her and I’m not sure she did what I expected. OK then, I thought, cross your legs.…
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No Rain… well only a drop
I had a really good sleep until around 03:00 when one of those night time discomforts disturbed me. It was a brief awakening, and I fell asleep again until after 06.00. So there was a slowness about my getting going and I booked a lateish swim. Outside did not excite me, or Heidi for that…
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Another Lunch Out
Another good sleep until around 05.00 followed by coffee, blog and e-mails etc. And then I fell asleep again and when I woke up, it was daylight. And time to get going for our walk. There was white outside – quite pretty but far from warm. By 09.30 ish, we were dressed and on our…
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Hockey Day
A very good night’s sleep and an 05.00 cup of coffee sorted me nicely as another grey day emerged from undercover of darkness. It was not raining! But it was chilly, which was reflected in H declining to investigate the garden. We both enjoyed a bit of a lie in before unloading the dishwasher and…
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Friday
What a great sleep. Must have been exhausted after all that throwing yesterday. Left for the swimming pool extremely early and in the dark – at 06.00, to be precise. The heavy rain of yesterday had clearly continued overnight and it was also cold. I knew bits of the road near Hagbourne would be flooded,…
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Throwing
Happy Birthday baby daughter – 48 today! Today started around 04.00. Quite early for that cup of coffee. I drifted to and from consciousness. I had to prepare myself quite early as I needed to take H out at around 07.30. The day was gloomy and dull as we wandered around Streatley Rec and the…
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Gritty and Snotty
I drifted in and out of sleep in the early hours…and awoke with a gritty eye – dust in it suppose. However it felt like a large speck of dust and was very uncomfortable, verging on painful. Now, previous experience tells me that irrigating (as if in the shower) the eye or dunking it in…
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Out to Lunch. Again.
This is about Tuesday but is posted late. On Wednesday afternoon. Been busy. Feeling tired! i slept quite well but awoke around 04.90. This was not good. Coffee kept me ticking over, while I watched the first episode of The Way in order to pass the time. This was a recommended watch in the Guardian,…
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The Resolution
I slept quite well until the usual 05.00, which as usual made me lurch towards coffee. And then I drank it. I booked a slightly later swim, which was not entirely wise because it meant I was driving amongst rush hour and school traffic. There had been yet more heavy overnight rain and the roads…
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Not so Sunny Sunday
I awoke around 05.00 and headed towards the coffee making machinery. And I was hungry too so dug some more frozen fruit from the freezer and smeared yogurt and granola over it and ate it. I briefly contemplated a swim but thought I deserved a bit of a lie in after all that sitting around…
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Watercolour skies
I slept well. No swimming today because it is a Saturday. And I had an art workshop to attend in Ipsden. It was led by Denny Webb a local professional artist. She is a very good teacher and taught me all sorts of things I did not know. Not just about water colour as a…
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New ponds with a bench
Posted late… I passed a good night and awoke in time to book a latish swim. I was a bit wary because the number of spaces seemed to indicate a busy pool and swimming in a cluttered lane with choppy water is never fun. The morning revealed there had been heavy rain overnight with growing…
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Snoozy
I slept well yesterday evening which meant I was awake in the middle of the night. But I amused myself and dozed off again. Finally getting to the end of Episode 1 of the enjoyable Murder in Provence. I hope they make a series 2. Of course Series 1 was probably made pre pandemic and…
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What a Morning
I was not intending to swim today due to various events – notably needing to be at Slimming World for thé 09.30 session, due to the Moulsford Coffee morning later on. But my conscience gave me a good kicking and I was at the swimming pool around 07.00. This was at least an hour earlier…
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What a difference a Day makes
…And so the heavens opened. Well I had quite a good night and my personal body alarm clock awoke me at around 05.00. I booked a late swim for after 08.00. The day was another grey, grumpy and damp one. But the drives were in daylight. The pool was quite busy and that made the…
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Sunshine
What a good night’s sleep in all its various places. I didn’t really awake until around 05.00 and like always, I pondered what time to go swimming. I decided on a later time so that I could enjoy daylight driving. And there was nothing in the calendar requiring my attention. I devoted some of the…
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Badbury and Sunday Lunch
Last night was a bit of an up and downer. Perhaps salad and watery veg and strawberries are not the best things to eat before going to bed. I drifted in and out of sleep, eventually getting up and leaving home around 09.00. The idea was to get to Badbury Clump, an NT woodland area,…
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Out and About
The early morning dawned very very wet again, but as the day drew on, the skies cleared and, just before sunset, there were some spectacular skies. Especially just as I arrived home. I enjoyed a little bit of a lie in as I have decided not to swim at weekends. But it was not that…
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Even more Rain
The weather was horrendous today. Warmer than yesterday, it was a day of very heavy showers and occasional dry intervals. The drive to Didcot for my swim was even worse than yesterday, because between Blewbury and East Hagbourne, deep water lay across the road. It was dark for my drive today which meant I could…
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More Rain
Quite a decent night and awake at around 05.00. I managed not to tip over my cup of coffee this morning. I booked a swim for 08.10. The drive to the pool was really horrid. The rain was very very heavy and the roads were awash. It was also that tricky time of day when…
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Washing the electrics
I had a very good sleep with only limited interruption until around 05.00. Then my woes began. I hate spilling drinks, but today I excelled myself and watered the carpet really well by pulling my cup of coffee over. Losing my coffee was bad enough but seeing it all over the carpet, filling my extension…
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Car Park
I found one. I had a really good night once I shifted myself from my chair sleep to my bed sleep. So annoying to fall asleep in the chair! If I’m lucky, I will have already put my bedtime kit on – (nightie) so I only have to put H out and wait while she…
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Reservoir
i had another decent night unless you count waking up around 04.30 as a disadvantage. A cup of coffee slipped down nicely and I resurfaced again around 06.00 I think. I then contemplated at what time I should book my swimming slot. I decided on 08.30. I can work out how busy the pool will…
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Sociable
A reasonable night but with another very early wake up. This led me to contemplate a swim though I prefer not to at the weekend. Instead, H and I went for an early walk at Pangbourne, just as daylight was descending. This revealed there had been overnight rain. I had hoped that we might see…
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Door Bells
Another reasonable night’s sleep and a 05.00 ish awakening. And a morning off swimming because it really was Saturday. I did nothing much for a while and quite enjoyed it. But then, I decided it was time to get H up and out. It was such a lovely morning with light clouds filling the sky…
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Saturday? Or Friday?
Another reasonable night, some of it asleep until just before 05.00. Then- a cup of coffee. And a think. To swim or not to swim? Well it was Saturday wasn’t it? My day off? But it wasn’t Saturday, it was Friday. So I checked out the swimming for fitness blocks and aimed for 07.50. I…
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Jobsworth
Probably sexist and agist into the bargain. My night was alright and I was awake around 05.00 and contemplating a swim. I was mindful that Halfpenny Lane would be closed between 09.30 and 15.30 so I needed to be back from my swim before 09.30, otherwise my drive would be a long way round. The…
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Goings on going gone
Another reasonable night, followed by a swim. This one was slightly earlier than yesterday and the pool was delightfully quiet. But my ears are unsettled – they need syringing, blocked full of compacted wax which will need the oil treatment. U.K. Doctors no longer do syringing. You have to go to a designated centre where…
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More Mysterious Goings On
I was awake for a while in the night after a decent sleep through the evening. But I managed to sleep on. I booked a latish swimming slot and was quite dismayed to find that the pool was quite busy with 6 or more trying to swim in my lane. On my previous visits, there…
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The Mysterious Goings On
I had a magnificent sleep last night, as my phone informed me, totalling around 8 hours. I awoke towards 07.00 wondering about a swim. I eventually booked one for later in the morning, to finish around 10.30 so that it could dovetail into an aqua session that would start at 10.45. This would not be…
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Day of Rest
And I took it literally. A reasonable sleep in my bed followed the one in the chair. I had been watching a film called the Decoy Bride, the story line looked fair, but it also starred David Tennant – a young David Tennant. Another good reason to watch it. It was silly but watchable. Because…
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Muddy Minnie
I slept well in the chair – right through the Traitors’ Final but caught up with that later around 22.30. In bed. The day was not an attractive one and I felt in no hurry to do anything. I woke up well after 06.00 and the swimming weekend timetable is not great for me. Adult…
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Boring…
Yes I went swimming again – yawn- another 500m + – three times in three days – but I will probably take the weekend off. I met Loren, my new cleaner today, she is very lovely. She works paramedic shifts and I think, originally, the idea was that she might be able to keep an…
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Swim Time 2
Another bit of a restless night but not too bad otherwise. I awoke to take in caffeine and decided that after the success of yesterday’s swim, I would repeat it. But I deliberately left home a bit later, in order to drive there in daylight. My swim was booked for 8.10 so I had cleverly…
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Swim Time
Another reasonable night where I awoke around the usual 05.00. That allowed me to book a swimming slot at Didcot Wave, for 07.40-08.30. The times are quite loose, fortunately. And then I returned to bed for a bit of relaxation before departure time around 07.00. I had forgotten it would still be dark for the…
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Evie Lola turns 18
Grandchild number turned 18 today. Happy birthday Evie Lola- hope it was a good one. Another dubious night’s worth of sleep. Awake at some silly o’clock again and another early cuppa, and a bit later, yogurt and fruit. There were some pressing admin things I needed to deal with, including some French utility items. Apparently…
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A bit of an Adventure
I slept well in the chair and not so well in bed- but then I caught up with some TV and started reading my latest book which is about Cyprus. More later. There was no hurry to get myself up, though the day had dawned dry, with hints of sunshine. H was not in a…
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Coffee and Tulips
Another decent sleep, until I was overwhelmed by desire for a dose of caffeine. I staggered up and sorted it out and prepped some fruit and yogurt for brekkie. I’ve had a couple of weeks off Slimming World philosophy but am slowly picking it up again. Because of the stormy forecast, I wanted to get…
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Bone Idle
Yes! That’s me today. I’m quite ashamed of myself. I had quite a good night though I am back to waking up around 05.00, desirous of my shot of caffeine. I have a troublesome left foot with a sore or something near the ball of it. I am temporarily keeping away from the barefoot look.…
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The Return
Another good night’s sleep, but I was awake quite early again. I got myself showered and prepared my possessions for my departure. It was another blue sky morning but with a very very heavy frost. Pen took H for a nice long walk after she dropped Evie off at school. H has become Pen’s new…
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Thursday Treats
I slept quite well and have done since I have been here. Not always in the right place though. Last night, I survived until most of the way through Traitors but missed the last few minutes. I caught up with them later. Penny had prepared my bed very nicely for me with a hotty, and…
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Wednesday
Today was to be a resting day with nothing in particular taking place. The sun of the last few days had disappeared, replaced by familiar grey skies. At least it was not raining. Pen took H out for a longish walk whilst I lingered behind in case the Ch engineer turned up. He didn’t but…
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Watered and Massaged
The night was somewhat interrupted by my howling dog. I thought she was going to accept her fate and slumber quietly on her lovely new fluffy donut bed in the kitchen. What a silly Billy I am, after an hour or so of intermittent doggy wailing , I gave in. For the sake of others…
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Aylesbeare via Charmouth
I had a good night last night. Fast asleep until around midnight. A quick wake up to watch Call the Midwife. But it only sent me to sleep. I had failed to realise that brekkie was served from 08.00 today, and not 08.30, due to it not being the weekend any longer. Coastal Lounge My…
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Holiday2
I packed in a good sleep early on in the night and then was awake for a bit so I finished ‘After the Flood’ – no spoilers. Thereafter my pinched nerve bothered me but I couldn’t bring myself to fill the hotty that I had brought with me which surely would have relieved the problem.…
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Holiday
I had a really good sleep in the chair and awoke at some really silly time and so I went to bed and caught up with the Traitors. It was another chilly and grey morning but I had jobs to do: a bed to change; the spare bed to make up with clean bedding which…
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Out to Lunch (again)
This time it was with my Basingstoke friends/ ex colleagues. Having parted company at school around New Year 2021, we have been meeting for 23 years now. Not bad going. I slept quite well- to around 05.30, I think, though I did fall asleep in the chair and caught up with Traitors afterwards. There was…
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Tony comes home
My hot water bottle worked nicely in holding the arm pain at bay during the night. But having fallen asleep in the chair for a chunk of time during the evening, I was then wide awake. Catching up on the Traitors took a while, and after that I dipped into ‘After the Flood’ which is…
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No Spanner in the Works
I awoke at the usual silly o’clock. Having stuffed a hot water bottle under my neck and shoulder, that seemed to put paid to the arm pain that has been troubling me. And I was soon back asleep until around 06.30. I got my act together reasonably quickly to get myself out to SW, where…
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Travel Travails
It was the dreaded 03.30 again. But I drifted off afterwards without too much trouble. And was awake around 06.30. The cleaners were coming at 09.00. I needed to be showered and up. I’m in a bit of a quandary about whether to retain or dismiss them. They are not thorough enough – they leave…
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Meeting
This afternoon we had a meeting with Sur Ryder staff about the palliative care T did not receive. Or, alternatively, inadequate attention he did receive. I was awake at silly o’clock again. And whiled away some time concentrating on the very watchable Mr Bates and the Post Office. It is nearly a month since T…
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Action Replay
Despite enjoying a naughty, but nice, daytime sleep yesterday, I still dozed on the sofa to find myself awake mid-Tourist, but goodness knows which episode, or what had preceded it. I was easily asleep back in bed, for a while, until the usual 03.30. And the night was frittered on after a cup of coffee…
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Saturday
I slept nicely until some silly o’clock. Thereafter, sleep was not so great. I was awoken by messages that my gut was receiving which did not bode well for the rest of the day. My tummy messages became more urgent and definitely not to be ignored. And so some of the morning passed in discomfort.…
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Departure
I awoke on the sofa at about 02.30, returned to bed and slept until after 06.30. I needed to get myself up. T and V wanted to be at Cholsey station for around 07.50. No time for puzzles this morning. I was all set to be out and about with H early. Our visitors were…
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The Aftermath
Shattered, I enjoyed a very good sleep until around 05.30. It was another day of very wet weather, the rain pouring down this evening. There were. Multiple reports, this evening, of flooding and road closures, including of the A339 to Basingstoke. Of the 42 years we lived in the area, I have never known that…
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Farewell Tony
My husband of over 52 years. Your physical presence may have moved on but you are present in my heart for as long as it beats. So today was the day of T’s funeral, at 4.00pm at West Berks Crematorium. Just for a change, it was another wet and horrid day, although the sun did…
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The Day Before
I did the usual, sleeping, in T’s armchair on this occasion, and then waking up to go to bed. And then being awake a bit too long. Then getting distracted by things going on on my phone. I had restarted the phone earlier the day before, due to its rebellious behaviour connected with my wordle…
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Heidi Recovers
H was very quiet all night, sort of frozen in time, a bit like Sleeping Beauty(fully). I was awake quite early. And enjoyed the start to the day, not doing anything much, except listening to rain and stormy conditions elsewhere for a change. I got myself a hot drink and fruit and drifted off back…
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Heidi goes hiking
Last night was odd … I felt as though I was awake for long periods of time, but I know I really wasn’t. I know because I wasn’t watching TV or reading or phone fiddling. But I didn’t feel asleep. By now you are probably thinking that I have gone completely potty. Maybe you are…
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Slippery – a second retirement
I slept better! Yes I did awake in the night at the usual silly o’clock, but I drifted off again. I could put it all down to the Yogi bed time tea that Pen bought. It tastes nice and obviously contains some sleep inducing drug or other. The pulled muscle in my side is still…
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Lunch Out
It was another of those nights where I was awake at some silly, early time, around 02.30 I think. I tried quite hard to resettle myself but failed miserably. I did eventually get up and carry out some chores which included getting dog towels out of the tumble dryer. I was quite horrified at the…
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Tech Tangles
I awoke at some silly o’clock once more, and thought, after a loo trip, that I was sleepy enough to fall asleep again. But I was wrong – it was not to be and I spent most of the next two to three hours trying hard to get back to sleep. And failing miserably. I…
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Gerrit
Storm Gerrit has made the day very windy and very wet. Unpleasant really. I had a difficult night, one way and another, which meant sleep was patchy though I did catch up later in the early morning, and again, later in the day. I reawoke in time to realise that I had time to get…
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The Parting of the Ways
I enjoyed a good sleep, which started almost as soon as I arrived home on Christmas Night. But I was awake again a bit earlier than I would have wished. So another virtual walk ensued which allowed me to renew my energy, make a hot drink and get in with the job of going back…
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Such a Lovely Christmas Day
I have to thank my whole extended family for making this such a lovely peaceful Christmas Day. The gifts I received excelled all normal generosity and were thoughtful and much appreciated. For the last few years, it had fallen upon Alex’s shoulders to spend T’s money on ‘stocking’ gifts for me, luxurious, and large ones,…
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Christmas Eve
I think I had a reasonable night waking at around 05.00. I performed the usual rituals, which are fewer now that T is no longer here, beside me. His bed is, which gives me space, peace and comfort. After all, if I can’t have him, I may as well have where he used to be.…
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Muddled
I muddled my way through today, still struggling to buy presents for a couple of people. It not help when Amazon claim to have handed parcel to resident when the only resident (me) knows this is not true. And then delivery dates are changed from Prime to after Christmas. I suppose I could donate the…
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Quiet
I passed another night actually sleeping in my bed. For quite a long time. Morning arrived and I flexed, but for not as long as my watch indicated. It was a grey, miserable day. With the occasional moment of break through sunlight. H and I walked a quick circuit round Streatley Rec because we had…
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Registrar and Christmas Shopping
The day went on for a long long time. It started quite early despite an extensive sleep which meant I was in bed before 21.00pm. Once sleep ceased, with my cup of coffee beside me, I indulged in a little more of Vigil. I keep saving it up, like you save up a treat. I…
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Fraught Day
I had a bit of a wobble this evening between 18.00 and 18.30. Hopefully, next week will be better. I don’t want to forget, but yet I do. It’s looking back through photos and how Tony looked before 2017 and how he looked post 2017 that tears me up. The last 7 years or so…
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Proper Busy – Totally Knackered
Three bosses was never a good idea! I had a terrible night last night. No sleep for the wicked they say. Well I had obviously been very wicked. Because there was no sleep. I was exhausted come the morning, and trailed out with H round Pangbourne Rec in the pouring rain, just about managing to…
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Sort of Busy
Season’s greetings! I had a decent sleep last night- no waking at 03.00 for the first time in weeks. I awoke at 05.00 after several hours. And flexed, but my watch cheated. I also downed a bucket of coffee, but chose not to have brekkie or lunch. I dropped off some Molton and Brown goodies…
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More Visitors
It was the sofa again that did it. Off to bed late having had a few hours sleep, and awake again around 03.00. This is getting to be a habit and a bad one at that. Naughty but nice! I then flexed and had a hot drink and fruit and re awoke around 09.00. Crumbs!…
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It’s the little things
It’s the little things that are beginning to flag up that Tony is no longer here, and that I am stepping out onto a new footpath of a life lived alone. The toilet seat stays down! He never was much good at lowering it after a trip to the loo and I have obviously acquired…
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No peace for the wicked
Tony’s funeral January 3rd at 16.00. Thatcham Crematorium. Followed by TBA Last night I slept quite deeply until about 03.00. My early evening dozing was probably responsible for the early o’clock awakening. Another virtual dog walk dealt with those wakeful moments followed by some flexing. It was about 08.15, by now and I thought I…
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Missing You
Today is the first day without T around. I will have to get used to it. But I already miss the sound of his voice and the noises that indicated his presence. And there were plenty of those. From the messages we have received, it would appear he is already missed by many. Frankie’s blog…
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Tony died today
My wonderful husband of over 52 years died today. This was not a calm or peaceful death precipitated by his lung cancer but one accompanied by a full on haemorrhage. We had been warned. Dr Panakis was correct. However, paramedics assured us he would have known nothing. And it was very quick. The whole family…
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Still Medicated
For me, the night was very good compared with recent ones . But for T it was another restless one- he spent a lot of time in the bathroom, turning the taps on and off. We had a bit of a lake in there by the time T had finished. I’ve no idea what time…
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Medical adjustments
Last night was an utter nightmare. T was brought home in the early hours, by Tracey, who found him wandering outside in the road, wearing only thin pyjamas and socks. I was on the phone to the Sue Ryder Nurses at 08.00 which is when they open. Tried to explain I was at the end…
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Early Festive Meal
The night was absolutely awful. Pen had helped us get T into bed the evening before but he found it difficult/ impossible to get to sleep so there was a knock on effect for me. I tried all sorts – sleep music, comedy, and we eventually drifted off towards midnight. But at some point in…
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Round and round in circles ( an extra blog)in real time –
This is a real time diary of events last night (06.40 Monday morning) It’s 01.30. I’ve been trying to get T into bed since he went to the loo at midnight. He can’t get further than sit in the edge of the bed. Then stands up and moves off. He’s put the bedroom lights full…
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Where to begin …
The day has seemed so long, I can’t quite remember the order of all the various happenings. Last night was peaceful after all the initial difficulties of getting T to take his medicine, getting him out of his chair, out of the bathroom and into bed. I awoke around 06.00 and I was surprised to…
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The day after yesterday
This was a night without significant coughing and without significant bleeding. Whether it is a one-off or as a result of increased doses of medicine, I have no idea. I did my ward round early enough to preempt trouble. But trouble there was because although T took the medicine that mattered (TXA and morphine) he…
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Hospital again
We awoke to another coughing fit this morning , and associated blood. It was all over the loo seat, the carpet (in places) and anywhere else it could be. The morning was a bit tricky to organise because H needed a trip out before Ali picked us up at 09.45. All a bit compressed. H’s…
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The machinations at Slimming World
T had a very explosive coughing fit in the night where he distributed his blood quite generously over the loo. Panic set in and it took him a while to calm down and recover. But he did. It then took me a while to clean up and calm down and recover. Which I did, Thereafter…
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As far as days go…
It’s not been a bad one! And it didn’t start until 07.15. Take into account that I fell asleep in the sofa at around 21.00 and that makes it a really good night of sleep. Apart from sleep walking to bed and a trip to the loo etc. So the ward round was a little…
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Slow going
The day seems to have passed slowly and peacefully which is no bad thing. Unfortunately it started early- too early . A cup of coffee helped me hang on to what little sanity I have at that very early time of day. T actually ate the piece of toast I produced before I did the…
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A BIT BETTER
The night past fairly smoothly. And I think I was awake very briefly at a silly o’clock and then again at a more sensible time for brekkie. T has passed a quiet night which was more or less cough free. I performed my ward round in good time because I was anxious to keep a…
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Coughing
The day started off quite well and, for once, not at 03.00, but quite a bit later. Around 06.00 I think. It still meant I performed the usual ward round and other routines. The morning had started at -2C so I was not in a hurry to get dressed or go out anywhere. Though I…
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Dorchester Abbey
This is such a beautiful building, so calm and so peaceful. Just the place for a Christmas concert/sing along for those with dementia. They call it a ‘relaxed’ performance. Happy Birthday to our oldest grandchild – Frankie – no longer a teenager. All grown up and just completing her first term at University in London.…
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More Peaceful
The night was not great. Another awakening at 03.00, coffee, ward round, flexing, and another snooze. And then the real wake up. T was as compliant as possible and stepped into the shower, which I, now, always set going for him. He managed to put on the clothes, that I, now, always put out for…
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Manic Morning
I woke up on the sofa but without blocks of ice in the place of my feet. It is good to have working underfloor heating. Having slept some of the night on the sofa, I performed my ward rounds and finished off the night in bed. It was undisturbed by coughing. T was awake quite…
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Warmth!
I was up at some ghastly early time due to T coughing. Not an explosive coughing fit but just regular chesty attempts. That made it time for a cuppa. I did my ward rounds an hour earlier than usual. And T’s chest eventually calmed down and he slept on. I was in no hurry to…
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More grey with rain
It was not so cold this morning – no frost but wet and miserable. I was awake early and in need of an early cup of coffee. T was quite full of beans and quite chirpy, so I quickly medicated him lest he lose the impetus. He had the choice between a bath and a…
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Grey – a non-day
I awoke around 03.00, nudged into consciousness by a certain person who was feeling hungry. I gave him cheese and crackers, mini flapjack and grapes which kept him quiet until my ward rounds in the morning. He rejected his toasted fruit bread for brekkie but I wasn’t too bothered after the midnight snacking. After loading…
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Christmas Cake and Peas
We had a goodish night and a lazy, relatively cough-free morning. Florence Nightingale did her ward round, administering different medications. However tonight is a little different … a cough every few seconds. Not explosive, just regular. The night had been very cold and morning brought the first full frost and white lawn of the season.…
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A Goodish Day
A little coughing around midnight and then in the early morning, but nothing too significant. T was reasonably compliant this morning and we were at Daycare in good time. He was all medicined up to take him through to 2.30pm and was apparently a bit wheezy but otherwise fine throughout the day. He came out…
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Tripped Out!
There was some minor disturbance in the night accompanied by some absolute gibberish that made no sense to me nor to he who contributed it. We were awake at the usual time and I was quickly on to TXA, Oramorph, inhalers and paracetamol. This morning T appeared very tired and ill tempered and abusive if…
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No Daycare
Last night was so much better than the previous two. So was the early morning. No horrid bloody coughing fit and no cough/ spit / flush, on repeat. The pre-emptive medicines I gave him last night may have helped. I had to leave home early to get to Slimming World in Wallingford for the 09.30…
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Out to Lunch
We did not have a good night. Another coughing disturbance occurred at some point after midnight which was very unsettling. Then a horrific wake up in the morning with a lot of coughing and quite a lot of blood lost and T in a loud panic. I remembered I could give him a tranexamic acid…
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Back to Daycare
We had a disturbed night, around midnight, when T was really not very happy and descended into a couple of hours of coughing, despite all the medicine I could give him. In the end, I found a comedy radio programme in BBC Sounds – ‘I’m sorry I haven’t a clue’ and this was enough of…
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Happy Birthday DCI
It will soon be the big one! We had a good night and awoke around the usual 05.00 for coffee etc. And then followed some flexing and some dozing and some chatting – ear to ear and via text. It was a damp and gloomy start but then there was some steady improvement. Tony’s cough…
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Medications
The day dawned wet. Very wet. H didn’t even bother to look outside … she sort of absorbed what was going on. And didn’t like it. I felt very tired and achey this morning. I awoke to struggle with the thought that we were supposed to be somewhere and that would mean getting T up…
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No Dressings just Vaseline
I was sooo tired yesterday evening, that we were both in bed and asleep quite early. No more wound dressing done as I had given up on that. Due to the dishwasher malfunction, I had abandoned a stack of dirty plates from our supper that the five of us had shared last night. The kitchen…
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Dressings
Having spent what seemed like half the night dressing and redressing T’s wound, I finally caved into the inevitable and left it undressed . Ali was going to redress it this evening but has not for some reason or other. I think she reached the same conclusion as me – that with 12 hours of…
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Operation D Day
I didn’t sleep particularly well because I knew we had to be up good and early because T was due back in the Dermatology Dept at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. We would have to leave home at 07.15 at the latest. Pen was driving down from Devon the same morning and Ali would drive…
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Miserable Old Day
Oh what a miserable morning was outside to greet us. The rain was tumbling down and deep poodles flooded the roads. It was definitely not a day to want to be out and about. H made herself scarce after my initial invitation to investigate the great outdoors. I flexed as it was the next best…
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Seven Hours and Thirty minutes
Apparently that’s how long I slept! I hit my sleep goal last night. A first. It is probably something to do with the fact that I was wearing my watch all night instead of putting it on charge. Of course there was another consequence to that – the watch battery went flat, mid-walk. Today has…
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More hospital
I awoke too early but I hung in there until I could decently make a coffee and give T a crumpet or two. Much to his delight. H and I took a stroll out around Streatley Rec and beyond in depressing drizzle. It was not pleasant but I knew we would be out a while.…
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Taking Brenda
A decent night then only a little persuasion was required to get T up and out. The three of us tucked into the car to pick up Brenda from Newbury. We were there on time after a trouble free drive on A34 which was then followed by a more wiggly drive through lovely autumn colours…
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Nurse Clare Visits
A reasonable night again, except for waking at 03.00 ish and wanting a cup of coffee! That was fine except we were just about out of milk, and I didn’t want black. Coffee. But T and I each had a drink and he ate cherry cake. And then we went back to sleep until a…
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Bedroom swapsies
I didn’t sleep that well last night. But I performed the usual early routines and fed T some brekkie. Today was a day when I had to be in because the hospital bed was being delivered. Therefore I had to separate the two beds which are not joined by fancy zippers or any such luxury.…
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Dismal
I had a lovely sleep. T woke up in a positive and quite chatty mood but it soon changed to not feeling well, headaches and tiredness. But I did get him up and out to Daycare. It was an utterly dismal day – the rain was pouring down and I had two dogs to exercise,…
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Penny Day 2
What a lovely deep sleep I had! I awoke quite early and did some waggling and then I went back to sleep again. But not for long. I was disturbed by a phone call at 08.30. It was Pen telling me she was on her way over from the Illis, and was bringing Minnie for…
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A bit better
Tonight would have been fine had it extended to a bit later than 03.30 when T was awake again, inadvertently obliging me to join him. I was swept into the kitchen because, I too, felt the need for a hot drink. So whilst I was about it, Iprepared a plate of snacks for T: chocolate…
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Tricky Day for T
He awoke coughing at about 03.00. This is unusual because we have been lucky enough to avoid coughing disturbances at night, and T normally sleeps well. So I made him a hot drink and proffered inhalers etc. But by the time things had settled it was around 04.00 and sleep had fled for me by…
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Saturday
I had quite a good night. And awoke at the usual silly o’clock. I fed T his brekkie. He was coughing less this morning but has remained wheezy. He spent a large chunk of the day in his bed. The weather was pretty miserable and uninviting, so I was in no hurry to leave the…
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Dry
I had a reasonable night. I was awake at around 05.00 when I went and found T some brekkie and me some coffee before I had the usual fruit/ yogurt/granola. It was not raining. T was not too good this morning- his cough was bothering him – more blood today. Not a huge amount, but…
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Ciaran
Ciaran was the name of the storm, the cyclogenesis of a storm that was supposed to cause havoc and disruption far and wide. Destruction might have come into it somewhere. The storm certainly was destructive, in some locations, but not in Moulsford, as far as I know. Here, it was a bit of an anticlimax.…
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All Over the Place
I was awake at some really silly o’clock around 03.30 and found it tricky to settle again. I had slept deeply until then. I eventually fetched brekkie for T at the usual 05.00. He was quite biddable this morning and I dropped him off at Daycare. On the way to walk H, I received a…
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More Doom and Gloom
I had a really good night’s sleep. With little in the way of interruption. We had hot drinks around 05.00 and T received toasted current bread to make a change from bagels. A lie in followed before I took on the early chores. H and I returned to Pangbourne for another squelch. But it was…
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The Day After
I slept badly – not sure why because there is no obvious reason, but it was a patchy night. Lurking at the back of my mind, was clearing up I had to do. But Ali had dealt with most of that and it was a matter of emptying the dish washer which has never been…
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Gathered together
The hour fell back and I enjoyed the extra time but I still had to get up. There was preparation to do. The Cambridge group were to visit (Farooq, John, Neal, Anne, Anne W); and some of family – Pen and Dave and Ali and Fleur. That made 11 of us. Catering for so many…
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Summer Fades
Birthday girl today. Who? H, of course, and Minnie x 2, Charlie and Millie, Oskar and Benny. Such a gorgeous family. Today started for me around 06.00 which felt rather nice, so I did some exercise and fed T a bagel and coffee. Today would be a busy day doing various jobs including organising furniture…
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Shattered!
Today ( Saturday) Heidi is 8 years old and so are her scattered brothers and sisters and Lab Minnie. Happy Birthday all of you. Back to Friday… Had a good night’s sleep which started the evening before, a bit earlier than I would have liked, and which finished around 04.40. And then it kept trying…
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Touring
Yes, today was a day when I toured the Oxfordshire countryside as well as a little bit of West Berkshire. The day dawned pretty mucky, with wet roads and lots of poodles. This made it easy: no need to call on my detective skills: it was obvious that it had rained plenty in the hours…
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Pounds
I slept very nicely. I started on the sofa, became nearly strangled and eventually overheated by my oodie, and I concluded the matter in the bed. It was dark ( as usual these days) when I woke up, which translated into dull. And wet. And uninviting. T was very compliant about getting up which took…
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Everything Slow
I slept very nicely on the sofa, bolt upright until about 23.00, when I awoke with cold toes. Thereafter sleep was patchy which is unsurprising I suppose. There was no hurry to arise and do anything much. But I did get T an early cup of tea, tablets and brekkie. At this silly early hour,…
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Entertaining Again
I had a good night and we were awake at around 06.30 whereupon I went to prepare brekkie. As a change from toast, I thought I would offer T the other two choc studded little brioches and a few of the mini flapjack biscuits. I had already given him two of these during the night.…
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The Day after Saturday
The night was not too bad and I awoke with one thing on my mind: more prescription chasing. This was for T’s cyst which had taken a turn for the worse over the last few days and grown in an angry fashion. So it looked red and malevolent (as opposed to malignant). Yesterday, Ali had…
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The Day things went pear shaped
I had a fairly good night all things considered. I like it best when I awake early and can have a little lie in. Or even a long lie in. T was not in a good mood this morning and it grew worse as the day progressed. He was quite surly and definitely needed a…
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Alien Encounter
Not such a great night last night but I weathered it with a little help from Boiling Point. This is a weird collection of episodes and a short and a longer film. The latter are pre pandemic and the former are current. They follow a chef and events from a busy kitchen, sometimes in real…
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Curry
I had another good night. It’s becoming a habit. And it’s definitely the snuffly congestion that sometimes keeps me awake. Our cleaners were quite late today – T wouldn’t get up but they hoovered around him. He now has a nice smart bin for his rubbish, so his mucky tissues are not all heaped up…
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Weighty Matters
I was up early today – around 04.30 and didn’t really get back to sleep until just before it was time to get up. T was entirely compliant and I was able to drop him at Daycare and give H a short walk round Streatley Rec -into the field. Just as we started our walk,…
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Lazy Morning, Busy Afternoon
Having fallen asleep in the evening, I had a little wakeful period towards midnight so I started to watch Payback which was recommended to me and is quite watchable. I then awoke early enough to do some flexing, and drifted off again, until quite late. I dragged myself up to go on the prescription trail…
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It’s Monday
I was a bit wakeful in the night probably because my extremities were chilly. Must do something about changing the duvets over, was what I thought to myself, and so I did. Later. Tony was somewhat reluctant to get going this morning and confusion definitely reigned. But he did get off to social club and…
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Time’s Up!
The summer duvet has to go! I love the feel of our Devon Wool summer duvet, but when you wake up with cold toes and fingers, it’s remaining hours are definitely limited. For the current season. Apart from duvet troubles, I enjoyed another decent night. I think my recent wakeful nights are not helped by…
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Another day of Visitors
Well, last night was another alright sort of night. And as I awoke quite early, and presented T with his brekky, I reminded him that Devon family would be visiting. The day was a bit more complicated than that, but a little information at a time was best. I had lunch to prepare. The lump…
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Out to Lunch
I had another reasonable night, awaking around 06.00 which suited me better than oversleeping. I tended to T and managed to get him dressed and ready for Daycare, proudly wearing his new belt to keep his trousers up. He has two or three belts but can I find them? And his weight loss means he…
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Easy
A reasonable night and quite a restful day when I did not do the main chore of the day – sorting my wardrobe out. T’s wardrobe does not bear thinking about – it is full of random things that should not be in there – eg towels and is generally disorganised. Trouble is, he can…
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Toilet Tales
I had another good night, sleeping until nearly 07.45. This put me under quite a bit of pressure because I had to get T to Daycare; give H a little walk and get myself to Slimming World. What joys for the day! I always need quite a lot of time to get T up. He…
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Gourmet Lunch Out
I enjoyed another good night’s sleep only bullied into consciousness by the alarm that was doing it’s best to get sense out of my dozing brain. This is practically unheard of . Being woken by the alarm, never mind the sense bit. T got his toast and brekkie and I had several slugs of coffee…
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Departure
I’ve just had the best night’s sleep for a few weeks. Only awake once and then awoke around 07.00. I awoke to find a message saying the Roberts are safely back from Rome; It seems like they had a great time. But I needed to get everyone going. The plan was to take T to…
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Visitors
Quite a decent night with a latish awakening. It was to be an entertaining day … entertaining visitors that is . After the usual coffee and toast, T was in no mood to get up. So Tina and I eventually met up in the kitchen, where I prepared for her a cooked brekkie and fed…
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Memo to self
Another interrupted night but not too bad. T was away with the fairies by the morning, incoherent and unwilling to stir himself. We had to wait at home to hear from Nurse Claire, which wasted rather a lot of the morning. In fact I had to chase her up. She scheduled an appointment at 15.00.…
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Busily Exhausting
Another fretful night with no long satisfying blocks of sleep. T eventually succumbed to my entreaties to get up for Daycare. And I delivered him. At that point in the day, I was expecting to walk H, get hold of some coriander from somewhere or other, and some frozen fruit. I was expecting to prepare…
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More to do
I’m failing in the 3km stuff and couldn’t see the watch face to set up a workout today. So my walking is recorded as part of my daily routine, which is not how it is supposed to be!I awoke late, after an initial flurry of flexing. I worked on T to get him upright before…
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Dread
I was dreading today. I knew I would not be able to do everything required of me today and that it would be energy sapping. I also knew that I would lie awake and fret over it all night, so I dismissed the most time consuming part before I went to bed. The 3km part.…
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Sulham Woods
I was awake briefly at 05.00. Long enough to savour the early morning darkness and fall asleep again. Later, the skies were blue, but I was in no great hurry to get out and about , nor was little H it seemed. She was definitely keeping a low profile. T was keeping an even lower…
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More of 3km
I had a reasonably interrupted night but slept well in between all the interruptions. T had had a really bad coughing fit at bed time. He was quite cooperative and quite organised about getting up to go to Daycare. And I dropped him off at around 09.45. H and I took ourselves to Little Wittenham…
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Whirlwind 2
I had received an ominous message from Ali saying she intended to come and start to sort out T’s study later today. To sort it out ready for when a hospital bed is needed. We have been advised not to leave these things until the last moment. Back to the start- I did not have…
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Saturday
A lot of coughing today which prematurely drew our day out to a conclusion. We awoke at the usual sort of time and slowly got ourselves up and to the surgery in Goring for 11.00am. Since the Gas people have kindly seen fit to close off Streatley High Street for yet more emergency work, our…
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Medicinal Compounds
I’ve been tied up in knots over the last couple of days over the various medicines T now requires. Or, more specifically, those required to deal with bleeds aka haemorrhages. I suspect Monday’s incident might have been a warning, as it was suggested I try and acquire the newly added medicines before the weekend. Which…
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Whirlwind
Pen was here for another whirlwind visit, bless her, essentially to meet Sue Ryder Nurse, Katy, but in reality to cut the grass, weed various areas of the garden, transplant old bay trees for new ones, and to experiment with the wheelchair and T. She packed a lot in. Ali was packed off to work.…
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Back to Daycare
T was up and about and ready for daycare where he was delivered, a little later than I would have wished. The doc did not ring me at 09.00 or even a few minutes later, but around 9.30 which had a knock on effect for delivering T. I now have in my possession the anticipatory…
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A better day
If yesterday was difficult, today has been much easier/ more normal. No coughing to speak of and no significant wheezing. T has also eaten quite well and without demur. He has serenaded the ceiling, telling it how beautiful it is… “Oh what a beautiful ceiling…” The night also passed quite peacefully which was also a…
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Scary Day
Today was the day T was going back to the Churchill for his dose of palliative radiotherapy. The one that is supposed to alleviate his symptoms. No cure, no delay, no stopping it. Just relief. But, today, T has been far more poorly than before on this unpleasant journey. He started off with a severe…
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In the right place at the right time
Just positioned in the right place to see swallows, mustering and then wheeling. On their way further south I suppose! That was when I was out with H. Back to the start of the day, of which there were several – false starts really I suppose. They had to come to an end, when I…
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Lazy
I did not sleep very deeply . Excitement of being home I expect. Although I did drift in and out of sleep for much of the morning. My inclination was towards a lazy day. And that was what it became. T was flat out asleep for most of it, although there has been some coughing,…
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A Long Day – Leaving Norfolk
What a very long day – wonderful boat trip. Terrible drive home . Deafening racket when I picked up H. Curry. You need read no further! Because of all the servants who accompanied us for our five days in Norfolk, there was little for me to do this morning. Apart from getting T up and…
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Norfolk 5
A reasonably good sleep, awakening with daylight around 07.00. Well… daylight once I opened the curtains. We enjoyed a leisurely start to the day before heading for Holkham Hall. Home to the Glenconner tribe. This is a vast stately pile, surrounded by seriously vast grounds, harbouring a vast herd of deer. The grounds included a…
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Norfolk 4
Happy Birthday to Fleur who is now 16. What a lovely card from a friend. Not such a good night last night, due to T being restless for much of the night. At home he is a sleeping log. Here, last night, he was up and down. It was more sunny than yesterday, until mid-afternoon.…
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Norfolk 3
Well, the good news is lots of solid sleep after an early night. At about 07.00, I made my way up to the kitchen, to gather up a couple of coffees for myself and T and we remained quiet for another hour or more relaxing. T was in a difficult and non compliant mood and…
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Norfolk Day 2
I had a bad night because I had to sort out the loo cistern which kept filling with water. It was very easy to sort but the bathroom was on the other side of the bed from me. And T was flushing it every two minutes because of his current desire to cough and spit.…
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Norfolk Day 1
It’s raining, a great way to start a holiday. I had a very good sleep yesterday evening after our meal at Burcot. The sleep actually went on all night apart from an interlude where I caught up on two episodes of Casualty. One was very moving and beautifully acted althoughit had nothing to do with…
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Just Another Day
Only it didn’t start too well. Whilst making brekkie, at quite a late hour, I was struggling to understand why the toaster was not toasting. The timer mechanism was turning but there was no heat, I hoped T would not notice and took him his toast and coffee. And then the penny dropped . The…
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Film Show
Sleep was more compliant last night. I had a fair old stretch including during the evening. I was also less congested although I did feel a bit cold at some point or other. I managed to get T to daycare. He is now losing the plot over what a shower involves ie water AND soap.…
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Dietician appointment
A téléphone one at 15.30. We, carers, and two who are cared for, are meeting for lunch at Saddleback at 13.00. I must remember to stay there until I’ve spoken to the dieticians. Last night I had fish pie dreams. I made at least two but they were nowhere to be seen when I wanted…
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More of the Churchill Hospital
Last night was a bit better than recent ones but I was still awake long before 06.00. I made the usual hot drinks and fed T some brekky. Then H and I eyed each other up and we departed for a short walk in Streatley. I had to be home again in time to get…
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Another Bumpy Start to a day.
Not a very good night either. I remember battling my way through a repeat of a dream. one I dreamt a few days ago, where everything was going predictably wrong. Happily for you, Dear Reader, I cannot remember the details. The morning lay peacefully ahead, calm and unruffled. No commitments until 14.00 when Debs would…
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Stressy IT and other Stuff
I had an awful up and downer of a night which ended up with me drifting off to sleep in the later, early hours. This meant I awoke just before 07.00, and had a bit of a scramble on my hands to get brekkie into T and off to Daycare. He was reasonably compliant. And…
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Another Lazy Day
But next week is busy. And H and I were out for a walk around 07.00. The sun has arisen by then, but not for long. The night had been disturbed, probably due to being Sleeping Beauty yesterday. Pangbourne Meadows were developing a busy look. Canoe races would be taking place. The youngest participants would…
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Sleep
Spent most of the day asleep… I’m not quite sure how or why that came to pass. Perhaps I’m just subconsciously enjoying the horrid heat. Or escaping it. I decided to walk to the Rec and back late in the day. We did not linger, and arrived back uncomfy and sweaty. Since I awoke around…
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Less Busy…
I did not wake up to find the morning particularly busy at 06.00. In fact, my immediate thought was to get H out for an early walk because I knew it was a hot day that was on its way. I was proved correct. The car temperature showed 35C around 14.30 and was still showing…
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Tony enjoys today!
A strange sort of day to enjoy, but he says he did enjoy it! It started when I battled my way through a dream which supposedly involved me making a pasta dish for various youngsters and older people. I didn’t have a recipe, nor did I have all the ingredients, nor did I have the…
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On the Go
I had an excellent night’s sleep. All p and q and no diarrhoea. And only one dog. Minnie was actually a delight to have, no extra trouble really apart from eating 2x what H eats. She’s a really lovely dog. She even stopped panting when we went out and about in the car. Not quite…
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The Travellers Return
The night did not go according to any sort of plan, ever devised by me! This was mainly because poor old Minnie had an upset tum of explosive proportions, the clearing up of which was something I would have preferred not to have to do. This was around 04.00 and I was loath to leave…
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A Bit Hot
The temperature was 30C at 18.30 and had been around 28C for most of the day from around midday. It’s 17C at half past midnight. I had a very disturbed night- no idea what I ate and drank that can have caused loo trips. But they left me feeling quite exhausted. We were ready for…
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True Grit
posted late morning on Monday 4/9 I had been quite deeply asleep on Sunday morning, when something woke me up. At least one of my eyes appeared to be stuck so it would not open. And then those gritty feelings kicked in. Where had that come from? That lorry load of grit that was making…
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A new route
I had a decent sleep apart from waking at 05.00, having coffee and toast and dozing off again. The night had been disturbed by a restless and panting Minnie who was allowed outside to relieve herself. The second interruption was around coffee time so I can’t really count that . It was a grey start…
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Gone Fishing
For an orange sausage on a rope. The day was another miserable damp drizzly effort. But we could not hibernate today because T had Daycare to get to Having unenjoyed a restless night, it was not good to be awake at 07.00. However we did need to get up and spring into action. T was…
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Dull and Wet
No mail activity during the night, due to the fact the intrepid travellers are around 140km up river on an Amazon tributary, miles from the usual forms of communication. You can’t get there by road, only by boat. In fact you can’t get to Iquitos unless you fly or travel by boat. The night was…
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Back to Routine
Daycare did happen today… It was not a bank holiday. There was some nightmail during the night. Otherwise it was a reasonable night. The dogs join us in our bedroom. They have a bed each although H sometimes lies alongside me and Minnie often lies by T. Or tries to cuddle up by T. That…
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Out for Lunch Again
Only a little night mail in the middle of last night and that was largely UK launched. So the night was reasonable apart from a cup of coffee at around 05.00 and some flexing. T arose and we wandered off with the dogs down to Pangbourne where we were treated to some hilarity. Despite my…
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Another Busy Night
These nightmail exchanges between here and Peru are becoming something of a habit. After Macchu Picchu at 06.00 this morning, the explorers have an 11km hike before a journey back to Cusco for the night and then an early flight to Iquitos. Gluttons for punishment or what? Then I think they are going into the…
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Another WorrypNight
Another night spent worrying about the Illis car. This is getting really stupid! I got up around 03.00 and tidied the kitchen up a bit. I was a bit horrified to discover so many dirty pots stacked up in the sink! I made a crumble. And I eyed up hoovering the floor and decided it…
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In Recovery
I still seem to be recovering from a busy week. I was awoken in the night by a flurry of messages from the Peruvian explorers who seem to be having a fabulous time, headed by Fleur and George. George looking like a beekeeper with his new favourite headgear which is an anti mosquito measure I…
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News from darkest Peru
I was not out to lunch today … Well… at least I was not but T was out to lunch. At Daycare. The night passed quite nicely although the usual early part might have passed on the sofa. I had collected a curry to keep us happy. T even ate most of his small portion.…
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Out to Lunch
Posted late – it’s about Thursday A jolly good night was followed by a rather lazy flex workout. One that involved unconsciousness and closed eyes. And a very late final wake up that meant I had to get myself and the dogs going. Luckily, I had remembered to get the bins out and the ton…
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Departure
Another successful night as far as sleep is concerned. My desperation for a cuppa propelled me to the kitchen, but no dogs followed. I slowly surfaced and dragged myself to the shower. T was not in the best mood as far as preparing for Daycare was concerned. It was a case of grump, mutter and…
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More Walkies for some
I slept nicely but awoke just before 06.00 craving that early cuppa. T got one as well, because that is how my rules work. I tried to makes sense of the kitchen debris. Every time I thought I had got on top of it, more plates crawled out of the woodwork and into the sink.…
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Thank Goodness for Eleanor
Oh such helpful visitors are always welcome – those who walk your daughter’s dog for miles and then cut your grass for you. Not just any old grass, your lawn of lush, green, thick grass, long overdue for the mower blade. I have grass good enough for a TV advert now. Thank you Eleanor. I…
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Ankles
I did sleep well, apart from an ache in my left ankle, the latest injury, I made an early cuppa for us both with some toast and fell asleep again. Eleanor was up and about and kindly took Minnie out with Kally for a very long walk to Streatley and back. Minnie, apparently, behaved very…
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A Visitor arrives
Eleanor will be visiting for a few days. I slept OK. And awoke at the usual time and did the usual things. And was up and out with both dogs at 07.30. We wandered around Castle Meadows under a sky of mixed colours. I then went straight to Waitrose because the morning was not hot…
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Chores
This is about Friday. Posted late Saturday . By mistake. I think I slept well apart from an early hours interruption when I had a chat with our Peruvian adventurers who were awaiting their night bus to Arequipa. They would put down an anchor there for 3 whole nights. In one place! Everything started late…
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Mildly Busy
I awoke, finally, to blue skies and a distant yellow blob. Positive thoughts filled my mind; it was clearly going to be a good day. Unfortunately there was also a large lump of machinery and an associated generator, just outside our opposite neighbours . This equipment was filling the air with associated annoying noises. T…
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Another Day Out
I didn’t sleep that well last night though I did oversleep a bit because I missed the plane to Kalamata. Luckily the Roberts were all aboard. It took off and landed on time – I did keep an eye on its progress. Unfortunately, whilst our lunch at the Swan in Sherborne St John, tasted good,…
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Just any day
I felt as though I was travelling in one of the Illingworth rucksacks last night. I awoke with them as they were in transit in Miami and again when they arrived in Peru. But they are six hours behind us. Today Pen and family travel to Gatwick to the Premier Inn for an early flight…
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Ankle trouble
The night was not great because it was mostly punctuated by my subconscious time clock based on the Illis travel arrangements. I was awake before 03.00 which was when they were due to depart in their taxi, for Heathrow. I was awake again around 06.00 when they would be boarding their flight to Frankfurt and…
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Stiff, achey, busy
I didn’t sleep that well- a bit of an up and downer going on, punctuated by aches and stiffness. No doubt as a result of yesterday’s adventures. There was a bit of a necessity to get up – Pen and Evie were coming to visit before returning to Devon. They had been invited to join…
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Marwell
Today was exhausting – both my phone and my watch died on me – I am such a murderer. We have resolved to try and give T a few special experiences while he can still enjoy them. He may not remember them, but we will. Today’s was our first – a trip to Marwell Zoo,…
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Long Afternoon
Another twitchy night, largely due to my stuffed up nose, which refused to resolve itself. It’s mostly a psychological problem. I awoke and carried out the usual jobs and eyed up Heidi. Yesterday it had felt too warm to walk her at the end of the day, although we did, so I decided a morning…
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Blue Badge Day
I had another disturbed night, but not unpleasantly so. I found things to amuse me. My brain was a bit busy. The cleaners had wanted to change the day from tomorrow to today, which was fine, or should have been fine. I had a list of minor things requiring my attention. T cooperated so I…
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Soggy
I didn’t sleep that well and performed the usual routines before dozing off again. I looked out of the window at the grey and dreary day which offered no encouragement to get up and do something. Anything at all. The rain was scheduled to continue until mid afternoon. So I busied myself with a few…
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Things go on as normal
I had a really really good sleep yesterday which seemed to go on for ever. Well until about 04.00 this morning. Whereupon I slowly woke up, attending to some of the business of the day. I had forgotten to FaceTime Anne yesterday so will need to deal with that later. She departs for the southern…
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Love on a log
I had another stuffy nose night. I had bought spare Sudafed nose unstuffer, on the assumption that one bottle of this Sudafed substance would contain the same ingredients as any other. Not so. And this bottle did not work. I get really irritated if my nostrils are not clear. So, feeling irritable, I added a…
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Late Start and then Busy
I had a fairly crap night as far as sleep was concerned. And then I wound things up with brekkie and coffee before I fell asleep again. The weather forecast had promised Storm Antoni and Antoni arrived mid morning. He brought buckets of rain tumbling impatiently from the sky, inconsiderately forming random lakes across the…
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Phone Day
I spent a lot of today, helpfully, glued to the phone. But I had enjoyed a good night’s sleep, so I had enough energy to do all that sitting around. And T was in good spirits this morning, getting up without complaint. I dropped him at Daycare and H and I whizzed off to Pangbourne.…
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The Day of Reckoning
I did sleep well and managed to get us both up and ready to be picked up by Alex at 09.00. Along with Pen, Evie ( nice to see you Evie) and Fleur. And in no time at all we were on our way to Oxford where T had an appointment. This tied us down…
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Exhibition 2
After Monday’s debacle, Fleur and I were going to have another attempt at Kurt Jackson. T was scheduled for Daycare and was a bit reluctant to arise. A coughing explosion did not help. I had not slept particularly well due to my nose feeling stuffed. Stuffed with what is unclear. I will leave it to…
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Memories -2016
Yes Google photos put together some memories of 2016. That was the year of T’s shoulder operation. I had the best sleep I’ve had for quite a while and awoke quite late, with nothing to rush to get up for. I offered T the opportunity to come for a walk, which he accepted, so we…
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Another Day along the Long and Winding Road
No laughs today… well a few with F. A reasonable night passed with the usual early activity. T was his usual self, a self that managed to get himself up, showered and dressed and we were off to Daycare. The day was not particularly attractive, being a bit cloudy and cool. I had planned to…
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Laughter amongst the wreckage …
I feel our lives resemble scattered wreckage at the moment which must be gathered up and reassembled into something recognisable and positive! I am sleeping quite well again. I feel for Ali who is trying to work on one of the most valuable and complex deals that she has been involved in. She can do…
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After Yesterday …
Today was a lovely day. Well as lovely as could be given our circumstances. It dawned at the usual early time and I did the usual early activities, falling asleep again until quite late. Much of the morning was disappearing . Neither of us felt a sense of urgency, but Pen was visiting from Devon…
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I’ve had better days…
Today is the day when our lives changed. We slept quite nicely , waking early and enjoying an early hours lie in. T decided he would like to join us for a short walk at Pangbourne, but only made it as far as the nearest bench. He has a painful knee and is quite wheezy.…
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It was not raining
No, it was not raining at the start of the day, but by the late afternoon, it was pouring. Probably something to do with the fact I watered the plants in the morning. I had another disappointing night in bed. Just kept waking up. But I did all the usual early morning things, including a…
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No Pause for Breath
Another bad night’s sleep … and to think I thought Ihad got over the bad ones. Last night was disturbed by mental images of piles of emails which I needed to physically collect. I kept coming back to them as I tried to sleep. Very odd. I awoke and fed T his toast and showered.…
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Fires across Europe
Rhodes has been burning for days, now Evvia and Corfu have joined in. Terrible destruction … all across Europe. T was a good boy yesterday, although he moaned as I dropped him off at Daycare. I had awoken late which left me no time to perform my usual puzzle routines so they remained a treat…
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Quiet Sunday
I had another good night with the usual early start and then another dose of sleep. Once T was awake he was agreeable to talking H for a little walk at Pangbourne Meadows. We changed the bedding first and it was washed before we were ready to depart. Hanging it up was another matter. T…
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Exhibition
I slept well. Seems to be becoming the norm these days, thank goodness. Outside was dull giving the day a yellowy grey tinge. There was no hurry to get up. We were due to meet Anthony and Marie at the Base at Greenham at 1.00. I had none of the nonsense that T showed yesterday…
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Very Difficult Start
Today had a seriously difficult start. T was completely intractable – only a step from my being unable to control him. And by that I mean to get him to do what I need him to do to make the day run smoothly. The night was a bit fractured thanks to Byelection interruptions. One for…
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X Ray Day
I did sleep well despite a little wakeful interval around O3.00. I drifted off until 05.00 ish . There was no hurry to get up. But I needed coffee so went through all the usual routines. I then made a couple of phone calls including one to the Blue Badge team where I spoke to…
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Heidi – Six Years on
it’s six years since I went and collected Heidi and Millie ( and Doris). The whole business was quite a nightmare thanks to some erratic organisation at this end. But it is one of the best things we have done in recent years. T , from thinking I was mad to take on another dog,…
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Mrs Penny Roberts MA
Well done Penny – Graduation Day! I had another really good night’s sleep, waking briefly at 05.00 and then drifting off again. T remained asleep throughout the morning whilst I went off to perform various errands in Wallingford. But not until after I had performed the usual early tasks. I also screenshot a whole load…
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Happy Birthday Tony
77 years old today. I had a goodnight and awoke early and gave out brekkie and then fell fast asleep again. Pen had sent T a birthday card (and she spoke to him on the phone) which was here, but he had to wait until later in the day for other surprises. I got him…
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Less Wet
published late Well I had a very good night, not awaking particularly early. It was actually not raining, though we experienced various showers as the day progressed. The fridge was a bit bare and things were in strange places when I investigated breakfast. I had to stretch things a little bit. Ever tried stretching a…
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Embarrassingly lazy
I slept well. Our teenage neighbours’ partying did not disturb us at all. We could hear voices and laughter but it was not remotely disruptive – hang onto that fact. I may have woken around midnight as some youngsters were being picked up by their parents but they left very quietly. I was awake quite…
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How Wet?
Well … it started wet, got wetter and then very much wetter. And even wetter still. Tomorrow looks as bad. I slept alright until about 03.00 and then a bit fitfully. T was coughing a lot and slow to get going, but he was delivered to Daycare. I headed for Newbury with H in tow.…
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Cleaners
They came to us, we were not taken to them! A good night’s sleep followed a sleep on the sofa which followed some of Aussi Traitors. I had been heading for The GB Sewing Bee but I did not make it until catch up today. I had a good sleep apart from waking up to…
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Peculiar
It was another yo yo of a night, followed by the usual early activity including a very long flex workout which I forgot to stop. It was a day for Daycare and it was a bit off a battle to dig T out of bed. Job done in the end. And then off to Goring…
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One of these days…
One of these days, things will settle down and life will progress smoothly without irritations and annoyances. I had a good night’s sleep, despite having become heavily involved in Aussie Traitors ( it’s good) where the competitors are an interesting collection of misguided ambition-fuelled and likeable people, unlike the American series where they mixed in…
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Strange Day
At my wits end over the Blue Badge and ridiculous demands from ignoramuses. I’m beginning to feel trapped by people asking me questions that I don’t know the answer to and don’t know where I can find the answers either. Idiots. Try walking in my shoes. How on earth can you get reports from someone…
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Anne came visiting
I had a good night’s sleep, awaking at the usual early time and performing the usual routines. Quordle did not go too well, however! I haven’t seen Anne since we were in Crete on holiday last September, so it was extremely nice to see her again after so many months. She is off to NZ…
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Showery
I had a good sleep, once I settled, despite the night being sticky and warm. The morning looked pretty grim and it wasn’t long before the heavens opened. Before they did, however, I had sneaked out with the hose, keeping an eye on the dodgy connection and gave the plants at the back a bit…
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All change
Today my plan was to mow the grass and water the plants. A bay tree at the front is looking distinctly unhappy. Desiccated and withered. My new hose is annoying me because it appears that a plastic bit of the hand spray has dropped out. I’ve only used it once and it was fine then.…
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Just My Sort of Day
Well. Almost. After a difficult week or two, today produced great improvement. I awoke early and then fell deeply asleep again. The night had been disturbed and I had amused myself watching ‘I am Ruth,’ starring Kate Winslet and her real life daughter Mia Threapleton. They both turned in stellar improvised performances of a mother…
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Just not my day!
Well it started alright because I slept well, awaking around the usual 05.00 and doing all the usual stuff. T found it hard getting up this morning but we made it to Daycare in time. From there it was to the post office to track down my missing shoes. But it was just not my…
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Wet
Today dawned rather early and rather grey. Well I expect Dawn was out and about at her usual time, I just spotted her earlier than I would have wished. The night had been rather warm. I kept kicking the lightweight duvet off to find T had replaced it over me. This became quite repetitive. I…
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Wimbledon begins
Always useful background viewing / noise. I did not sleep well last night, so busied myself watching the very moving and very horrifying Evacuation on C4. There are 3 episodes altogether. I have watched two. This is supposedly the true story of that the evacuation of Afghanistan was like nearly two years ago, whilst Raab…
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Accidentally deleted
Accidentally deleted what I typed this time. Idiot! It’s another day. Luckily I was able to sleep chunks of it off. Must be catching / caught it off T. Got up early enough but just felt tired. Waited for the filling station to open to buy some bread at 07.00, but found myself actually waking…
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Today
Today was never going to be a good day. And I was right. It wasn’t. One or two good things did happen. T moved the plants back where they could be seen from the sitting room. The pots with weeds received pride of place. The night was somewhat disturbed. I eventually levered myself up to…
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Friday Friday
Well… it makes a change from Monday, Monday. I had another good night , waking early doing the usual stuff and then drifting off again. The morning air was not inviting, in fact it was distinctly chilly at 10C and rather grey. That did not deter me from hanging out the washing at 05.30. H…
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Penny’s Birthday
Happy 49 years to our oldest daughter. She was only 3 weeks late arriving beyond her due date! As if moving house was not enough, this week she has had a birthday, examination moderations and I think they are having a party. I was awake to do brekkie early after exhaustive sleeping over the previous…
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Stiff
After yesterday’s shenanigans in Oxford, I awoke stiff, tired and achey. I had been quite late to sleep due to sorting out my disappeared blog, which took a while. I lurched out of bed via the shower and took H for another short walk at Streatley Rec. It was grey, humid and oppressive. H barely…
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Utter waste of time.
On two counts I have wasted my time. The second one being the mysterious disappearance of the blog I spent ages typing earlier …The first count being our Oxford trip. Well I won’t be taking T to any special museum treats any more. What a waste of time and money. I really thought a trip…
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Cooler
The next week is forecast to be cooler and today certainly has been … extremely pleasant. I passed an up and downer of a night – up and down to the loo. Serves me right for drinking my 2 litres of water on top of not very much to eat or food that had any…
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Not Great
I’m really not looking forward to the week ahead and beyond, which I know will drag its heavy feet. This has been another ghastly weekend. Most weekends are dreadful. I knew this one was likely to be, so had investigated hotel prices around Bournemouth. Even ones with mediocre to poor reviews were expecting between £100-£200…
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Storm in a Teacup
Early today, it looked as if Russia might be in turmoil, and Putin was being challenged, but it looks like it all fizzled out. Shame those supporting Russia gains Ukraine were not hit where it hurts, … but maybe Putin has had a bit of a shakeup. Sabre Rattling can’t do any harm. A dose…
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Twinkly
I had a really good night, until around 05.00. I was feeling fairly lively for such an early hour, so I dragged H out to Pangbourne Meadows. It was another beautiful morning. There had been a heavy shower or two yesterday evening which we had welcomed. But it meant the ground was still damp causing…
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More best laid plans that went wrong
I had a very nice sleep and flexed and had an early brekkie. And I carried out some internet research and brain games etc and fell fast asleep again until nearly 10.00!!! One plan that went wrong. That endangered H’s walk because it was 25C by now. So I nagged T and mowed the grass…
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Non Stop
Stonehenge was busy at Sunrise this morning to celebrate the summer solstice. I was not up as early as all the people there. And there were a lot. It coincides with the start of Glastonbury. A good sleep was had, but awake at 05.00. Flexing and then out with H around 06.00. It was another…
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Plans that worked out
A reasonable night was passed… I did not rush to get up because I had decided that we would take H out with us when we departed later, and wherever we walked, she would too. In fact, the whole matter was decided for me by the arrival of a storm with some flashes and bangs…
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The Best Laid Plans
it was another 05.00 awakening, followed by flexing when I forgot to stop the workout after around 20 mins and credited myself with 48 mins. The spirit was not willing this morning, and it was cooler so the dogs got their walk after I dropped T off at Daycare. T was not in a hurry…
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Oppressively Hot
And no storm or significant rain! Though the afternoon felt as though both would arrive at any moment. A thought for all the Fathers, those that are still with us and those who are elsewhere. For the children in parts of the world where the life of a father is hard or dangerous. A reasonable…
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Lazy Day
I have been very lazy after early activity. We slept well, undisturbed by the presence of a well- behaved extra dog. I was awake at the usual 05.00 and worked my way towards being sufficiently awake to get us out and about. I was partly concerned that the temperatures might be similarly high as yesterday’s…
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The Day that went wrong
I woke up starving in the middle of the night so I made myself a naughty piece of naughty toast, after I managed to extract the delicious strawberry jam from the darker recesses of the fridge. To think I went to all that trouble to buy shallow fridge trays to store all my jars of…
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More heat
When not under the summer duvet, I slept well, just reaching for it as I needed it. I had fun trying to stow the winter duvet at the top of T’s wardrobe where there was a big empty shelf. It involved quite a delicate balancing action. And a walking stick. The latter was to poke…
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Today has been diffficult
Not majorly so – just inconveniences and a lot on my mind with various things that are about to happen, or not about to happen in some cases. I did sleep very very nicely. I see I was only up once before 05.00. Sometimes my watch tells me I have been active every hour. But…
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Saddleback
I had a good sleep. Although the night was warm, I did briefly reach for the duvet in the middle of the night. I always have the upper window wide open at this time of year. T is very good at closing it if I don’t watch him. He received an early brekkie and I…
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Shortbread biscuits
There was a humdinger of a storm yesterday evening, the likes of which I have not seen for several months or years. The garden will be pleased. The grass will grow just to annoy me. I fell asleep having accidentally watched a, quite interesting programme, about the Queen. Then I discovered it was recommended something…
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Bangs!
I had a decent night with the usual early weakening. Or even wakening. After some flexing and coffee and a bit more relaxation, H and I set off for Pangbourne. I had avoided going there yesterday because I knew there was a big fete being held, but i did not know where. The Syfrets seemed…
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Bitten
Happy Birthday George ILLINGWORTH. Enjoy it doing your D of E bronze. George, in shades, and a mate. With extreme heat and scattered storms forecast, I hope the organisers are well prepared – safety issues etc. I had another really good night allowing me to wake up, have brekkie and flex and sleep on. My…
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Dead Watch
My Apple Watch died in the middle of the afternoon. I thought I had put it into charge but it had slipped off the charger. Luckily it has resurrected itself. The night passed reasonably but I was suffering from what felt like quite severe back ache. I had put the blanket on at bedtime, that…
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Arty Conundra
Happy 21 years married to Pen and Dave. I had a fab sleep. Only woke up once before 05.00 and then drifted off again until around 08.00. I knew I was going to have to get up although nothing is in the diary. Early walks are going to be necessary due to threatened heat over…
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Back to Square One
The night was so so. I would just like a wake free night. After I wake, these days, I take a little time out and then I can drift off again. I took H out early for a hop and a skip round Streatley Rec. There, I bumped into Caroline, who was also walking a…
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Fresh Air
The air is breathable – no stink! Last night was reasonable – we were in bed early, before the late news. Unsurprisingly, I was awake early, flexed, breakfasted and second dozed. The day had dawned grey and chilly. H and I went walkies at Castle Meadows. The meadow grasses are long but the walking tracks…
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Stink!
It was an absolutely stupid day! A bit of an interrupted night – waking at the usual 05.00, hot drink, flexing, dozed off again. Then woke again at around 07.30 with T to get to daycare. He got himself up and ready and at this point I was not aware of anything untoward going on.…
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Lunch out
I had a pretty decent night despite having spent a chunk of the evening from around 21.00 asleep. Maybe waking at 05.00 ish has something to do with falling asleep in the evenings. Of course I pay for it in so many other ways… Not only is the kitchen food bin left open all night…
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Stodgy Day
When I woke up, the sky was clear and blue, yet the day hung heavy. And I didn’t really feel moved to get up. I had woken quite late around 07.00. Just one of those days … Eventually, and rather late, I pottered to our local Rec with H. This is not a walk that…
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Late Warmth
Well, the day dawned grey and cool again, but by 16.00 it was very warm. This seems to be the current pattern. But I am informed there has been rain in Crete. And it is a bit cloudy out there I managed to get T off to Day Care on time and H and I…
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Another Dull Start
Waking up at 04.30 is getting a bit tedious. But I occupied myself reading Moulsford’s Draft Neighbourhood Priorities Statement which all seemed entirely reasonable. Villagers were asked to comment on a variety of ideas a few months ago and this is the result. Apparently, because Moulsford is such a small village of around 500 souls,…
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Heidi caught a fly
The warmer weather is introducing flies into the house. There is nothing H likes less than a fly or likes more than chasing a fly. They usually escape, but today she enjoyed success. It’s either a dead fly or a fly in hiding. I slept very nicely on the sofa before transferring myself to bed…
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Making up for Yesterday
Yesterday’s idleness was buried by quite a lot of unuseful activity today. Activity certainly – of productive value? Little. But still a very pleasant day. The night passed but I was awake before 05.00. I eventually got myself going and out with the dogs. This morning was not like yesterday- it was cloudy with a…
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Utterly Idle
I may have been utterly idle but the family have not. I did get out and about very early with the dogs and we varied our route. We abandoned Castle Meadows and ventured across the Water Meadows and onto the Thames path. It was another beautiful, calm and sunny morning. A quiet morning. I went…
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New Neighbour
Well well well, I thought the corrupt liar had moved to Henley. Perhaps we will bump into him in Lidl which is just round the corner from both of us. Or Root One garden centre which is in Britwell CS. I reckon it’s odds on that his little boy, Wilfred, will be at Moulsford Pre…
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Early Start
A bit of a bumpy night which only helped me to get up early to walk the dogs at Castle a meadows. It was around 06.30 when we arrived – yes- 06.30. The sun was shining and the shadows were long. And we were not alone. I had the ball, treats, poo bags, the whole…
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Dogs x2
Another nice luxurious night with good sleeps, despite dozing yesterday evening. T was quite bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. It was not difficult to get him up and going. The agenda for the day was forming in my mind between 05.00 and 07.00. Until I nearly fell asleep again. We had to acquire…
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Feet
I had a good night last night. Only a minor interruption after which I fell asleep easily. Early brekkie. And then more sleep until 09.00. When I awoke with a shock. We were due to have our feet done around 13.00 but a reply from Debs, to a text I sent, confirmed – yes- she…
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Art
Another of those yo-yo nights. I was awake around 05.00, just about in the nick of time to get through the routine jobs. And empty the dishwasher. And that took a while because just about every bit of crockery and cutlery in the house was in the dishwasher. Those that were not in the machine,…
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Nasty Man
I did sleep quite well, before, and then, after the great barking debacle. Following this, H settled down and was silent. She never disturbs us in the night, but then she is never locked out either. After flexing, coffee and a further snooze, I finally awoke after 09.00. This came as quite a surprise. Luckily,…
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Potting
Another bothersome night but I slept well in between the bother. And in fact awoke at the usual 05.00 and drifted off again until around 07.00. It was a chilly night as my toes testified. I don’t much like being smothered by covers so cold nights tend to creep up on me. And the cold…
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Summer?
A decent sleep followed by the usual routines. The day had dawned sunny and a bit warm once the night air had dissipated. Perhaps Summer has finally arrived. H and I left to watch the family open water swim at Queensford Lake Berinsfield. On the way, I took H for a quick comfort run at…
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Shock to the system
I had a little bit of a bumpy night and finally awoke at around 07.00. I performed the usual routines including forgetting to stop the flexing. But I was not really ‘with it’ because almost as soon as I had put on my newly charged watch, I took it off again. That confused me. Then…
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An uneasy start
A good sleep passed me by. But, inexplicably, T was , beyond unpleasant this morning, rude, abusive, uncooperative, grumpy. Pretty nasty in fact. Not pretty just very. He was unwilling to get up to go to Daycare, unwilling to take his tablets, unwilling to do anything. It made life difficult. I sort of think, why…
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Today was a good day…
Decent sleep passed me by. No cleaners visiting for the foreseeable future, so I had to get up and reintroduce the Miele to the world, fire it up, mow the carpets and then do a bit of cosmetic cleaning. I took H down ferry lane at Cholsey which was tussocky and, therefore, so hard on…
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Almost not quite so difficult
Life was was merely ‘not quite so difficult’ until I heard the bad news that the cleaners will not be doing their fortnightly visit until the roadworks are finished. We all know that is in 6 weeks. The clean team come from Theale and have no easy way of getting here other than by the…
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Very difficult day
I didn’t sleep particularly well. When I awoke at 05.30, I felt tired and lethargic. I was about to adjust and finish my blog when I realised that a load of work I did on it had not saved. I usually try and get it all ready to publish before I go to bed and…
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A Hard Day’s Day
I slept well last night. I was awake briefly, just long enough, to discover it was raining. Thought we were supposed to be up for a dry few days. Not much to be done about it. I got brekkie around 05.30 and we relaxed. And flexed and might even have fallen asleep again. T took…
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Good Sleeps
Yes – a very good sleep last night which brought me to consciousness quite late – around 07.00. (And it’s Monday now and last night was super magnificent too.). I feel as though I’m slowly catching up. Mustn’t speak too soon though. The congestion has almost gone. There was nothing scheduled for today so no…
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A Day Out in a traffic jam
I slept nicely after a lazy but wakeful evening. I’m a bit fed up with my shadow who will not leave me in peace and mutters constantly in my ears. The television time on BBC is absorbed in Eurovision and Liverpool. I have never had the remotest interest in Eurovision before, finding it tedious with…
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Jumping through hoops
I did not have a good night, falling deeply asleep the evening before did not help. I awoke to come to bed and stayed awake which was annoying. I therefore started to fill in a blue badge application form for T. I know it varies from one local authority to another as to how easy…
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Dry- well-almost
The day has stayed more or less dry so far, despite promises of heavy showers. A few spots fell whilst we were out with H. It was a bit of an up and downer of a night, with the odd dream, causing me to fight my way to surface reality. But the content has slipped…
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More Weird Dreams
I had a fabulous night’s sleep only to be disturbed by this dream towards the waking up time at 05.05. It was all to do with completing doggy admin and passport to get H into the EU. But by the time I got to the end of it all, I had 4 dogs to deal…
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Home is sweet
Todays writing is all over the place! Yes … nice time away but it is good to be home again with its creature comforts and my chosen organisation. I had another weird collections of dreams again which meant a rather disturbed night. I remember trying to ‘climb out’ of the dream but failing. Or even…
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The Return
I experienced disturbed dreams where the National Trust had a starring role. I’m not really sure what was going on. It also seemed to be to do with walking H on their property. Anyway, I woke up feeling shattered and not looking forward to the packing up ritual or the journey. But I also was…
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Lost Draft
Having spent 20 minutes typing today’s blog, I discovered it had not saved. Lost. Gone. I had spent ages battling to download photos. What a pain. It also showed yesterday’s was still in draft form which is a great big porky pie. So I shall begin again, this Sunday evening, as I listen to ‘There’s…
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It did rain, but not all day
I had another really good sleep after the socialising last night, waking up as usual around 05.00. The family were in rooms at the other side of the hotel. But it being 05.00, that was irrelevant anyway. Drifted in and out of sleep before making hot chocolate for T and coffee for me. It was…
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Dodgem Day
And did we succeed in dodging them? The showers that is? No! Not a chance. Wherever we went, they trailed along behind us, or even ahead of us. My night’s sleep was very good. But I was awake around 05.00 as usual. I eventually made some coffee in the cafetière provided by the hotel. I…
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Still Tired
A circular day- I am reminded that being with T all day, in novel situations, is bonkerdom. Endless repeated questions / endless repeated answers Hey … but trying to get on with things. The headache quickly dissipated this morning, when confronted by a Panadol or two. The snot continues unabated and full of defiance. What…
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Wiped Out
After a not very good night, I took H for a quick short walk so she could get her business done. Which she did. No headache today but feeling very fatigued. I did about 10 minutes flexing, which is about all I can manage before I become a heap. Then the heap becomes a sleep.…
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Headache /s
I didn’t have a very good night due to a lurking headache! I’m assuming it’s a Covid job because it comes and goes for no reason. It started around bedtime last night and carried on lurking well into the early hours. Eventually, having put up with it for long enough, I took a dose of…
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Holiday Monday
A bit of an interrupted night, but, on balance, OK. I spent a bit of time, both yesterday and today, catching up on ‘Colin from Accounts’. This is a Guardian recommended Australian comedy. It was fresh, gently amusing, featuring a hapless uncouple exploring how to deal with a dog on wheels. The wheels resulted from…
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Getting There
Each Day, recovery progress is better. A list of Arcturus Covid variant symptoms was published by our local CC. Only 120 cases in this country so far… but without the need to report, how can they know what is going on. Notable newer symptoms included congestion (huge tick) or runny nose; pink eye ( certainly…
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The Lord Giveth
And immediately taketh away. And so it came to pass… I was not expecting post today – I did not think we received Saturday post. But we did. The first letter I opened, because it was addressed to both of us, I thought might be about the attendance allowance. But no – it was to…
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Gradual Return to Normal
Despite all the daytime sleeps, I am currently also quite relaxed and sleeping well at night which is a big treat. Long may it last. Today is a bit better than yesterday and I was up and showered at a more normal time. I am drinking turmeric tea again, of which I have quite a…
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Upright Again
After two days flat on my back and more or less unable to move, today brought some relief. Thank goodness. I actually got myself upright, ventured into the shower, and I even put clothes on after it. This was so I could join the online speed awareness course to re-educate me and my driving. It…
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Proper Poorly
published late – Friday This post is about Wednesday. But written on Thursday. I’m losing track of the days. Wednesday was yet another day where the bed needed better drapes and I provided them. I did a fair bit of sleeping, dealing with congestion, taking paracetamol, avoiding coughing and trying to escape T. My chest…
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Not Quite Right
To various friends – a big thank you. You know who you are. Yesterday I felt as though I drifted in and out of consciousness all day. Today was not great either. This is not a trivial thing. Thank you to those who got in touch today with cheery messages -and to family who are…
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A Day in Bed
Around midnight I felt truly dreadful- shivery and sweaty/ congested/ very achey / coughing uncontrollably so I could barely draw breath. I addressed myself sharply and brought the cough under control. And it has stayed out of the way most of the day. But the aches and pains are just that – aching and painful.…
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Ghastly End
Oh dear – another dreadful night due to the coughing in the early hours, but it did settle. I got the usual routines going and brekkie around 05.00. Contexto cooperated AGAIN! We needed to be up and out to get T to Daycentre which we managed. I decided to walk H at the end of…
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Nothingness
I had a lousy night. T was coughing away – fairly certain it was his asthma cough. It has been around louder than usual for a couple of weeks now, not all the time, but in fits. He was coughing so much that it was tricky for him to take his inhaler. But once he…
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Half a Day
I had a great sleep. Probably something to do with not falling asleep on the sofa before bed time. Partying seems to agree with me. I was still up early for brekkie after Contexto cooperated for once. But then I fell nicely asleep again. But awoke in time to get both of us up and…
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Party Night
The night was interrupted but otherwise alright. I prepped us coffee and toast at some silly o’clock which settled me down until I awoke again much later. The day ahead beckoned in a gentle stress free manner. It was a grey, damp day with a forecast boasting of heavier rain to come. In fact the…
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Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
Musk talk for explosion . Another and … and… and Day I could do without any more days like this. I am fairly certain stressing about what lies ahead is responsible for sleepfreeish nights. The day started for me at the usual sort of time… around 05.00. But I drifted off again only to leap…
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Days such as this…
Yesterday was Tina’s birthday; today it is Chris’ birthday – happy birthday to all our friends and relatives in Greece. Everything felt like a bit of a rush this morning – I’ve already given H a quick walk and I have to drop T off at 09.30 and get to Art for 10.00. (It’s only…
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Biplane blemish
Another horrid up and down night with good sleeps in between. I made brekkie around 05.00 because I was fairly desperate for a coffee. T ate his toast but didn’t bother with the coffee bit. I was quite lively quite early performing the usual routines. But H and I were in no hurry for the…
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Back into Routine
Well, Easter has been and gone and the schools start back today so normal routines are resumed. It was a normal sort of night, with the usual sort of waking times and the usual start to the day. After I awake, as I drink my coffee, and reach a level of consciousness, I usually play…
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Orthodox Easter
I slept badly. Well… incorrect. I slept well in between various interruptions. But interruptions leave me with a feeling of general exhaustion when morning drops by. The day has seemed long but I can’t remember doing anything in particular. It has been dull and damp , the damp being intermittent. But full of nuisance. It…
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Old Father Thames
I slept for England. Most of the night and throughout a lot of the morning. I had felt very tired all yesterday. Felt a lot better today. I awoke for a brief few moments for coffee etc at around 7.00 and then slept again until nearly 10.00. There was nothing much happening today so there…
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Simple Simon met …
The Roberts family came to visit… I had a really horrid night where I found it difficult to settle so in the end I got up arose about 05.00 and we had coffee. And crumpet. S T eventually got into the shower so I gave the Miele an outing to spruce up the carpets. I…
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Old Haunts
Following yesterday’s midnight baking, last night was dull in comparison. After spending the evening dozing, nothing much else happened, apart from the fact that I went to sleep. And woke up again around 05.00 which was not entirely convenient. But I shook a leg and prepped hot drinks and brekkie. I invited H outside onto…
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Coffee Morning
I awoke at around 03.30 which allowed me to rebake some flapjacks to make up for the disastrous snapjacks of yesterday. I left them to cool and returned to bed to sleep. When I awoke for the second time, I checked them out, and finding they failed the Alfreda test and were unburnt etc, I…
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Power outage
What a nice little sleep. It started late and kept going until morning. The doggies were calm and quiet. I didn’t fancy the desiccated rolls in the naked fridge so fed T remaining pie and I ate fruit. We were due a scheduled power outage starting at 09.00 and continuing until 15.00. Early showers were…
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Quiet and Wet
I enjoyed a reasonable sleep. And awoke feeling hungry at around 06.00. Probably something to do with the fact that we had finished yesterday’s food intake around 15.00. Unfortunately, the fridge was looking quite naked though there were some oranges and apples. And I unfroze some bread which definitely disappointed. Even toasting it did not…
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Easter Sunday- Put in my place…
Ok ok ok – I eat my words about those bikers. All of them. I underestimated it when I said hundreds. 1000 apparently. Egg on face etc. Good job bikers – ITV NEWS below. Moving on … I was awake quite late. I fell asleep around 21.30 on the sofa which meant the night was…
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Bikers
Bikers were out in force in Pangbourne yesterday. I’m not a fan of bikes and their riders. I’ve seen too many riding too fast, too close to the wind. And too close to me. At iffy angles to the road. It’s fine if they want to kill themselves but not so fine for anyone else…
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The Cormorant was in the wrong tree
Well, I’ve had quite a lot of sleep but I received a sharp warning this morning that all was not yet over. So I explained to H that we would probably have a walk later. I fed T his brekkie and eyed up the solid blue sky. Then I checked the back of the house…
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Slightly Better
I felt a whole lot ‘different’ when I awoke this morning, in that my love affair with the loo seemed to have finally drawn to a close. I felt a bit fragile and thought I was ‘over’ it. Well that was a bit optimistic. Dave came to take H out for a walk, with Minnie…
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Poorly
i I felt alright around 06.00 but by 08.00 I was feeling quite sick. That was soon joined by unavoidable urgency to use the loo which has continued all day. I suspect the aches and pains on Monday was the start, although yesterday seemed OK. Just tired. The aches and pains have returned with a…
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Paddling at Pangbourne
A much better night was had – thank goodness. Tuesday is Art Day but I made up a pack of scarlet lies because I did not want to go. It was not a practical session, it was to mount work for the termly exhibition at the end of April. I’m not particularly pleased with anything…
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Dinner Party
I had another really bad night – no clear reason. Just the way things were. I’ve a feeling if I got off my bottom and went swimming, I might be more physically tired. That might help. I have been troubled by aching joints today especially arthritic fingers and elbows and shoulders. The sort of pain…
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Idle beyond Idle
Can’t remember what the night was like but I think I finally awoke quite late. I must have performed the usual routines because it would have remembered if I had not. H and I tottered off out around 11.00, mindful that it was the first weekend of the school holidays and that everywhere is still…
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Dryish
A bit of an interrupted night- busy brain and weird dreams. An early start and then I dozed off again. I got involved with Race across the World in my dream and the race was not going well. although the precise details escape me. H and I had a little chat about where we should…
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Surgery Mayhem!
Oh my days! Seems to be the current way of expressing surprise/ anxiety. Well … Oh my nights! Last night was a good one. I kept surprising myself by being asleep, until after 07.00. It is so good to wake up with the feeling that getting out of bed won’t be a trauma. I flexed,…
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Soggy Soggy Day
Another crap night’s sleep with lots of ups and downs. It was a crappy, soggy morning so there was no need to move. No cleaners this week, because they are fortnightly visitors. I thought I had a hair appointment, but that was a mistake. Luckily, I checked it before I left home. They send reminder…
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Rising Costs
I passed a much better night last night thank goodness. Was awake for a short spell then deeply asleep again. Deeply being the vital word. The day dawned unpleasantly grey and wet. And stayed that way with a definite Autumnal (??) feel. T took a little while to get going this morning, but did get…
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Not Painting Peonies
The weather forecast was correct in its promise of rain. The day started wet and carried on wet. In fact, it did not start well at all because the night had been another disturbed one. I struggled to get up, and, it being an Art day, I needed to get H out for a quick…
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Horrid Night
After a few really good nights – I have returned to the bad old nights. Least said, the better. T was up and showered eventually. I can’t remember if I have mentioned, but he is having increasing trouble getting dressed. He seems to be losing the plot about his clothes. I can put them out…
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Musicals
The night passed very peacefully but I awoke a little bit earlier than I would have wished. And the morning dawdled on uneventfully. With a little catch up TV, flexing, coffee, puzzles, admin and not much else. I tottered out into the garden as the grass was looking tussocky and green. I shall have to…
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Frustrations!
I had a really good sleep with only one half hearted interruption. I was minded that it was a Day Care Day and that we would need to get up eventually. T got himself into the shower first. And I just concentrated hard on the fact I was in no hurry to do anything, though…
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Lunch Out
A good sleep was had. Well, quite a good one. We had the usual early brekkie and I performed the usual routines. The cleaners were due at 11.30 but texted to adjust their time to 10.45 which became 10.30. We were up! And soon we were off out. The earlier than anticipated start meant I…
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Boris has had a makeover
A reasonable night with an early wake up and early cuppa coffee. T did not have a good day yesterday and this morning carried on in the same vein. Getting him up was a battle – Why do I have to get up? Where are we going? What do you mean – Social Club? But…
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Waitering
A bit of a silly night because my watch was misbehaving. In the dark, it donned an unusual watch facial appearance , and it would not cooperate or change it. Or only temporarily, until I put my arm down and it changed back again. The watch gave out a single instruction: to turn the Digital…
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Fifty Two Years
That’s how long we have been married. Blooming long time. Three years is how long it is since Biris called the first lock down. To the day, which was a Friday. And there is yet another anniversary today, 20 years since Iraq was bombed in the Bush / Blair murderous debacle. Last night was not…
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Nuisance News
It was 07.00 when I woke up after only one minor interruption. That was a great feeling. A real Mother’s Day treat. I performed the usual routine and extended my lie in before I took H out. Another courrier heralded the delivery of a charming little orange tree from Penny. It’s very attractive at the…
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Wet Dry Wet Dry
Another night with a long stretch of pure deep sleep to enjoy, until around 05.00. But of course, I was so grateful that I did not mind shuffling off to make a hot drink. And toasted current bread. I offered H the back garden but she declined, and sloped off to resume her disturbed sleep.…
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Coffee Out
I can’t remember how well or how badly I slept. But it can’t have been that bad, except we had hot drinks and toast around 05.00. My sleep data indictated I had slept for one hour and a bit. But, thankfully, that is not the true or the whole story because I was not wearing…
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Soup
A crap sleep last night. Waking up at 05.00 is alright, but awaking at 02.30 is definitely not good. I did not feel particularly tired so finished off the Christine McGuiness autism film. I felt quite peaceful, just lying there and eventually got myself a hot drink around 05.00. Leaving T to enjoy more beauty…
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A Lesson in Autism. Or Two lessons in Autism.
The night was good apart from waking at 04.30 and requiring caffeine. After which I drifted off again. We were up and dressed early for T’s Daycare. An hour early. T doesn’t understand the concept of ‘early’. If he is ready to go, that is what he expects to do. Never mind the fact our…
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Coliseum
So much a better night, which was a relief after the night before, and after reading about the importance of sleep for resting the brain to avoid dementia. And then I got bombarded by how the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent/ delay dementia – especially vascular rather than Alzheimer’s. All good stuff. So, today, lunch…
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Visitors
The day is just finishing as it started off – not very well. I had drafted some of this blog but it appears to have taken itself off somewhere else. I know I definitely started it because I had inserted the windy movie. I spent chunks of the night with my brain worrying about whether…
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Wittshort Day
Just as I tell myself I’m developing greater patience and the ability to walk away… this happens… OK – the sun is out, but that does not mean it’s warm. So why are all the windows ( apart from the ones I have locked) open wide – so wide I can’t reach them to close…
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Slobbery Ball
A fairly disturbed night was followed by a workout which I forgot to stop. Ali had asked us / me to walk Minnie, so once I was up and showered, I picked her up to take her to exercise at Pangbourne. The dogs departed on liquid hydrogen … Minnie chasing the ball. But once she…
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Wind Chill
Another up and downer of a night, but we survived and awoke around 05.30. This meant the usual routines took place followed by a little lie in. T found it a bit tricky to get himself up today, for daycare, but did comply, after suggesting he ‘give it a miss today.’ He did not put…
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Heavy Going
That’s what the day was – heavy going and of little interest. Another up and downer of a night but sleeping was not hard between the ups. I awoke at the usual 05.30 ish. It was another wet, grey, day. My flexing – well I forgot to stop the workout. There was no hurry to…
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Snow
Well not a lot fell here, but old haunts (Burghclere) got a good dose. Despite the lovely Carol Kirkwood banging on about it being the coldest night (-14C) she was talking about elsewhere. Scotland. Which has little relevance to me. She is a Scot which might be why she spends a disproportionate amount of time…
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Blossom Impasto
A reasonably good night passed me by. And I was up a little later than I prefer when I have Art to get to. I peeped cautiously through the curtains to investigate the expected snowfall but it was invisible. It was around 4C so not likely to snow anyway. I performed the usual early routines…
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Another Crap Painting
The night was a bit interrupted but not too bad. I think I was disturbed by evil thoughts about the tyre pressure light and having to get it sorted. I was awake around 05.30 to have coffee and stuff toast into T. The good thing about waking early is that I can have a little…
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Manuscript found!
Yes! The Illis found it somewhere. Drafted in 2012. A decent sleep, despite the long one I had yesterday afternoon. There was no reason to do more once my flexing was done. The day was grey and uninviting. H was not moving. T was not moving either. I fed him toast and I eventually lurched…
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A Heap of Sleep
Because I was out partying last night, I was into bed quite late. So I slept quite well, also until quite late. Well – around 07.00. The day started slowly and the breakfast cupboard was quite bare. I improvised with cream crackers. Which Tony thought I clearly was. Creamed as well as completely crackers. I…
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Portrait
A crap night. Shame after last night. But I dawdled my way through it with the help of an hour from the latest series of Unforgotten, minus the lovely Nicola Walker. T got up at some point in the night and rustled his way through the fridge. He told me he was eating an apple…
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Apple Delivery
It was nice to wake up not feeling wrung out like a wet rag. I enjoyed a long sleep. There was no hurry to get up, so I did not. I did not hurry nor did I get up for quite a while. H seemed undesperate for a walk, so I decided we would take…
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Horribly Busy
A busy day when I was here, there and everywhere all at once. Sounds a bit like a film I’ve heard of recently. Considering the inconvenience of my embarrassing indisposition, the night was interrupted, but not too bad and the urgency was much reduced by morning. No farts allowed. Just the matter of arm pain,…
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Marie Antoinette
We had to paint her in Art today. Another decent sleep but with an early wake up, which is not the same as an early get up. I had to force myself out of bed around 07.30 so that H could have a stroll before I departed for Art in Abingdon. It was a turgid…
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Monday
Well it is a clean one in Greece and a national Holiday out there. Palaiochora Carnival, on Sunday, looked as if they had some great floats, in the FB pictures. Rebecca posted good ones! I had a terrible night and was awake early until I drifted off again. And then I awoke late l, which…
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Lunch out
It was a bit of an up and downer of a night. The day dawned dry with blue skies arriving later. Since Anne was not coming there was no need to rush to get up and I decided to walk H later near the Bear at North Moreton. This was where we were booked for…
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The Mysterious Story of the Streetlight
Yes – definitely off during the night. But that does not appear to be the whole story. It appears to be a different light. No longer do we have a mellow orangey light discreetly illuminating our hallway, during the hours of darkness. Investigation has revealed a new light. One of those lights with LED bulbs…
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I know how to party!
Yes – just been out on a Friday night out! On my own! it’s one year since the Russians invaded that Nazi state to put the Ukrainian people out of their misery and free them. BBC put out a trailer at the end of the news, so full of images … Another relatively sleepful night…
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Something strange Afoot or Overhead
We have an inconvenient street light immediately in front of our house. It has an orange glow which glows all night and illuminates our hallway. We don’t need to use the light at the front of our house because the street light does the job. It’s light also creeps across our bedroom floor. Coming to…
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Bitter Sweet
Happy Birthday to Ali- 47 today. Sadly, Sephy Fleur’s hamster died today. Her demise was rather sudden and distressing and not what any of the family wished for. She was on borrowed time for a hamster but she was a sweet little thing. And F will miss her and her little night time scuffling. She…
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Viennese Coffee and Croissants
I did the usual silly o’clock wake up, had toast, fell asleep again and then had to leap to it. H got a quick walk round Streatley Rec and beyond. And I managed to leave for Art at a better time than usual. This got me to Abingdon a bit earlier than usual. It was…
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Out all Day!!
Well… all the ‘will happens’ did happen and the ‘might happens’ became ‘will happens.’ This meant that I was out for almost all of the day. And little H was on her own for quite a while. This usually means beserk treatment when we arrive back, but today she was quite calm as I arrived…
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Two Herons up a tree
The end of my sleep was very satisfactory but the start was not great! Eventually, after I had poured brekkie into T, thé ladies and I went for a walk. Because the skiers were going to be back earlier than expected ( early afternoon/ late lunchtime) I decided to drop the milk and bread off…
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And Another Day Passes
Unfortunately I was awake well before 05.00, which was not part of the plan. I’m tired of feeling tired when I wake up. How T manages to sleep through the day and through the night is incomprehensible. The dogs were not in pester mode. I let Minnie out as I made the coffee, but H…
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More ball games
And it’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. Whatever will they think of next! Alex seemed to think parenting duties might suffice but I had to point out the lack of randomness involved. Kind – yes. Random – No. A reasonable night passed by, waking up at the usual sort of time. Well I awoke at…
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Trip Out
Forgot to post I was up at a reasonable time as I had to get the dogs out before my Henley Trip. Knowing we were due some rain, I had thrown some sodium carbonate on the patio overnight to get rid of unwelcome green hues and other such. This is supposed to be a secret,…
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Two Short Ones
Routine sort of night. T was quite biddable about getting ready for Daycare. And was dropped off after which I took the two dogs up on Lardon Chase. It was a beautiful sunny morning. And the views were slightly hazy, but far reaching. Some work had been done on the messy and straggly hedge, which…
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Valentine’s Day
I saw lots of cards made for me. Well I thought they were ALL for me, or the girls, but I’ve only seen them on Facebook. Probably for a secret lover. Apart from Pen’s for both of us. Usual sort of night- very dozy during the evening except for when I watched Panorama. About the…
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Turkey
Things are bad out there in Turkey and in Syria. Over 33,000 dead. Most not recovered. Buried under the rubble still. Many have lost extended families. Apparently T’s barber is appealing for blankets etc. Update- they have already left U.K. We went to bed late. Sleep did not come easily. But I awoke around 06.00.…
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Surprise!
Beware the weeds! Not a brilliant night, but OKish. Up slowly and without any particular demands. T did not bother to get up at all. I thought about arising for quite a while but realised the day ahead needed my attention. The day was grey, not cold and not forecast to improve. I wanted to…
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Busy then Unbusy
Unfortunately last night’s sleep did not pan out like the night before. I did not enjoy the hour or so during which I was awake in the middle of it. The dogs were very good and Minnie was well settled – she can sometimes be a bit unsettled on her first night. She is not…
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Half Term
Half term = Brats on the loose over the next week. Illis away. Car parking likely to be tricky at top walk places. I had the MOST delicious sleep last night which involved a block of around completely uninterrupted 5 hours. Unheard of, these days. It meant no dozing or lie in and I had…
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Out to Lunch
Again! Yes out to lunch again! Burt Bacharach – what a guy. What songs. Thank you for the music… RIP. I seem to have caught up with a lot of sleep during yesterday evening and overnight, with only limited interruptions. A relief! it was quite late when I awoke – around 06.00 I think. I…
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The Beauty of Frost
The night was not good because I started exploring what I could find out about Park House which certainly got me going! I also found 114, Lidgett Lane, a much more modest affair. Very remodelled but the basic structure was recognisable. Including the loo where my grandfather departed this world. However I did doze off,…
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Park House and Lupins
Yes they were supposed to be lupins but I will call them flowers since the outline shapes are not quite right. And Park House part 1 … Park House is where I spent the first three years of my life in Thackley / Idle near Bradford. Looks like it is in idle though the address…
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End of
Happy Valley has ended. It was riveting viewing. No spoilers. I was awake early again and drifted in and out of dozes until I finally got up. My watch was flat so I had to wait for it to charge up before taking H out. And then I was distracted. Not hard! We marched the…
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Long Day
A long day because I woke up at some silly o’clock and could not settle back to sleep. I did some gentle flexing but that didn’t help so I caught up with Death in Paradise instead. And then I disturbed T and made brekkie. I decided to leave him to his own devices in bed…
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Battles with Beer and Bog Rolls
I did not sleep late or particularly well. T’s tricksy mood from yesterday had carried on into this morning and it was a bit stressful getting him up. I noticed a rather beautiful, bright, but low moon peeping over the top of our neighbour’s glorious garden room. Well … not that glorious … more of…
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Commitment Free
Had another lovely big lump of sleep last night which brought me to consciousness around 06.00, which is better than 04.30, when I landed in reality yesterday. We had a commitment free day ahead of us which was a lovely prospect. I decided that I would engage in an art project in the morning –…
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Doggy – Down Gay, Figgy
Καλώ μήνα The above title nonsense represents two interpretations of the word ‘doggy’ by my iPhone. Down gay! How ridiculous is that. Great sleep last night. Long uninterrupted block and it was my runny nose that woke me up, not my running bladder. Makes a change! T was up in good time for Day Care.…
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Twinkly Toes
Had quite a good night but I was awake very early at some silly o’clock. That meant T was awake early too. I had experienced battles with the duvet overnight, only to wake up to find it had been on the bed the wrong way round. It is a super king and is wider than…
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Heidi Veterinary Visit
I had a really bad night. Couldn’t sleep for whatever reason, only drifting off in the early hours. T seemed to spend the night munching on apples which did not help. I spent busy brain time thinking about getting H to the V for a routine vaccination. Why was I bothered? Good question. It was…
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Bingo
Oh poor Nadim… he’s had to resign. Caught out red handed by the new ethics adviser who has not pussy footed around, but gone straight to the point. Who will be next? Dom, hopefully, with a pasting to help him on his way. Suella could do to be removed and then Boris has an uncomfortable…
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Sneaky Supper Out
I slept quite nicely until the usual 05.30 or so. And then I poured bagels into T, flexed and fell fast asleep again for an hour or so. The day was another grey and uninviting one. I may have forgotten to mention my early morning ritual – 3 online word games – Wordle, Waffle and…
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More Day Care = More Peace
I was late to sleep after dozing off. I tried to get involved in Question Time but lost the thread. Although the start of the show was concerned with why all these politicians who get themselves into bother are not suspended until the truth is established. Or are asked to step aside would be another…
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More Lunch
A night where I had trouble drifting off to sleep. But once I had drifted off, the night was reasonable, but just not long enough. There was no immediate hurry to vacate the bed – just a little tidying before the new clean team arrived. And T got himself up in time for them to…
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Mermaid?
We were late to bed due to my obsession with finishing off series1 of Happy Valley. Good job done. A good sleep was followed by brekkie before 06.00 and a little lie in until daylight peered through the blinds. H was lucky enough to get a short early walk in the frosty fog. Despite being…
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Happy Valley!!
Happy birthday to Evie Lola – 17 today. It was -6C when I awoke. It was also foggy. We were a bit tardy about leaving the bed but T arrived at daycare on time. H and I went to Castle Meadows where the sun was just breaking through to dispel the mist and to allow…
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Visitors
The Illis are coming for lunch. Evie will be 17 tomorrow. I had the best night’s sleep in bed for ages. It started off very well on the sofa which was annoying, but it continued nicely in bed. And I awoke quite suddenly but feeling quite satisfied. T was as dopey as ever but treated…
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Foggy
I overslept! Just a bit. Until about 07.30. There was a knock on effect to that through the rest of the day. I think I might have had a brief earlier peek at the day. But I switched it off until 07.30. After some consideration, I arose to take H out and to do some…
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Jiggered
I had a disturbed night for some reason or other. Sleep there was none – or it felt like that. Consequently I have felt very tired all day. Very tired. But haven’t actually slept. T was extremely cooperative over going to day care. I know their programme of activities but not what they get for…
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All of a Rush
This morning felt very rushed. I awoke quite early and dished out a drink and brekkie around 05.30. T thought it was a bit early but bravely soldiered on with his almond croissant. The one he had clearly bitten into last night but had stopped at the one bite. I struggled a bit with getting…
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White and Wet
I enjoyed a mega sleep last night until I woke around 05.30. Once it was daylight, it was clear that it was going to be a sunny day. (Supported by met office data) In fact we are promised a sunny, but cold, week to come. T was ahead of me in the shower, after a…
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Art 2
A reasonable undisturbed night. I’m pleased to be able to say that I don’t think we disturb each other when wandering in the middle of the night. Though if I hear T rustling in the fridge that can be quite disturbing. It took all my resolve to take H out for a very short walk…
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Flooding
A reasonable night but up and about around 05.00, followed by a doze and a proper ale up around 07.00. T was in cooperative mood and actually got in the shower first. That was quite handy. We were out on time. After yesterday’s inspection of Wallingford Watery Meadows, I decided to inspect locations where there…
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Cooler
This is Sunday’s blog – didn’t post… A decent night’s sleep. No hurry to get up as I contemplated the day when I awoke soon after 05.00. H did not move and did not appear to be in a hurry either. It was not raining but it was much cooler. 3C. How can a dog…
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Late to bed, late to rise
It was quite late to bed last night after my night of gadding around. And it was not a bad night until morning greeted me with full force of more rain. I made brekkie, flexed, shoved H out in the rain and studied the weather forecast. The rain was scheduled to stop around 11.00. In…
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Bright
I slept a mega sleep from around 18.00 until about 03.00. My watch was anxious to let me know I had slept for around 8 hours – unheard of. I started on the sofa and ended up in bed. For the duration. T arose somewhat reluctantly and was delivered to Daycare. The day had dawned…
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Hanging Around
I had a really good sleep. Managed to stay awake until bedtime and only after I was in bed, did I go to sleep. And slept almost continuously until 05.15 ish. That’s the ticket! It was another grey, wet start to the day. At around 10.00, I took H as far as the Rec and…
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Three Swans and an aeroplane
Another terrible night – after we got second wind around 21.00 last night. T (unheard of ) made us coffee for some peculiar reason. I explained it was not a good time to be drinking coffee but I let about three mouthfuls glug down. So maybe be that is why it was such a bad…
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A Drudge of a Day
It started grey and wet and it carried on like that all day. Relentlessly. Even T commented on how foul it was outside. I slept better than the day before as my night was dream free and my dominant stuffy nostril was eased by Sudafed spray instead of some hallucinogenic rubbish. Lucy in the Sky…
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Ladies that Lunch…
I had a terrible night’s sleep. In fact sleep was a fantasy. Mega awful. It all started with a blocked nostril and I couldn’t find my usual nose spray to relieve it. So I reached for a new brand and applied it. It almost took the top of my head off. It smelt of mint…
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The knife is in the bottle
Another good night’s sleep until 06.00. Better be careful, this is becoming a habit! And there was brekkie to be had too. And then I just had to get up. Another uninviting start to a day. The rain splashed down outside the windows and there was a general wetness prevailing outside. Hard surface flooding etc.…
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Rain
Yes more of it, in showery, heavy doses. The roads are awash with deep water. Hazardous for drivers. And the poodles hide potholes. Of which there are many. I had a very good sleep waking up quite late. Unlike yesterday, there were a variety of items available for brekkie. Spoilt for choice. No hurry to…
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Therapeutic (!?) Chores Day
A reasonable night, only disturbed by T leafing through his photo book. For some reason or other. We were awake around 05.00, so an early brekkie was on the cards. A good imagination was required, owing to empty cupboards, but a further raid of our Christmas presents found a Christmas cake that was saying, ‘Eat…
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A New Post
I had a lovely deep sleep last night. What a treat. Since Zora and the cleaning team had cancelled, there was no need to get up to be out of their way. I spent a while trying to persuade T to come out to walk H with me, but I was getting no sense out…
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Dream on
Last night brought a strange dream involving tablets and our Ukrainian friends plus one. And BV. I was fretting on and off throughout the night where our medicinal tablets were. They had to be in one of two places and I didn’t know which, or if we had even taken any that day. It was…
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Drowny Day
A bit of awakeness at some silly o’clock. I tried to while away some minutes by catching up on Silent Witness but it just sent me to sleep again. So now I know what to do when I’m needlessly awake – find a Silent Witness episode. I performed the usual morning routine activities. I have…
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Another Bank Holiday
I think the night passed sweetly but it was a long time ago now. It was not raining when I woke up for the second time. Quite late. I haven’t done anything much today. I watched some TV rubbish, but late in the afternoon, I hooked into the Real Marigold Hotel. Always enjoyable to watch…
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New Year’s Day
What a peaceful day. Have not spoken to anyone or seen anyone, but have received a Happy New Year Text or two family and friends. Felt quite isolated really. And not even poxy. The night was another disturbed one or one that never really got going because I could not get to sleep. So I…
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Rainy end to the year
Very rainy. Lots of deep poodles across the roads and cars swooshing up swoosh. Another quite disturbed night with an early flurry of activity followed by a second doze which awoke me after 07.00. The day dawned in the utter misery of its own making. The grey couldn’t have been greyer, I could hear the…
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Almost the end of 2022
I actually had a decent sleep last night, no long lingering period of wakefulness in the dark! Just little interruptions. I awoke finally around 07.00. It is quite enjoyable not to have the stress of getting T up. I spent a while this morning continuing to set things up on the new iPad and also…
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Minnie goes home
More of the usual overnight routine, except I awoke for a while at a really silly o’clock. Around 03.00 I think. Not great. H is used to ignoring my overnight activity but it was news to Minnie and she became quite lively, keen to join in. She is very wary of Heidi, who can get…
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Two Dogs
The night followed what is now my routine … various disturbances and coffee and toast around 05,00. Only the cupboard was bare today as I did not go shopping yesterday. So it was coffee and a slice of cake of the Christmas variety. I had received a late text from Ali yesterday asking me to…
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Boxing Day 2
It was good to be back home in our own bed. Although the hotel bed was also very comfortable. I think little H was also pleased to be in more familiar territory. There was no serious urgency to arise and I lay around a little too long. The plan was for me to walk H…
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Boxing Day
A reasonable night. We feel quite comfortable at this hotel because we have stayed there so many times. Today, I pre-empted T getting himself several breakfasts, by putting a double dose of cutlery on my tray as well as doing his coffee for him. By the time we got to the table, he had already…
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Best Christmas
Slept quite well following the usual pattern. And awoke to peaceful quiet. There seemed no hurry to arise so I made sure we took our time. The magic of Christmas morning is not the same without the excitement of small children. Though there were lots of teenage ‘believers’ in the family back at the house…
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Christmas Eve
What a long day! It started around 04.00 as I lay awake fretting over all the things I needed to do. Get all the presents from the spare room into the hallway and then into the car. Get rid of rubbish. Get T up. Decant olive oil. Find salt . And so on. I started…
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Don’t Panic!
I’m not panicking! Well… not much! I fell asleep last night before I got to Traitors so I decided to try again and watch it in bed. Sadly, I fell asleep again! But I did catch up with it during the night at some point. That led to a nice late wake up this morning.…
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Cleaner
Another quite a good night’s sleep though I was awake around 05.00. I had managed to stay awake for Traitors last night. It will finish tonight. I managed to get T out of bed before the cleaners arrived, and now they’ve been and gone, the house looks and feels a whole lot better. I took…
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Present Raping
I slept well … so well that I did not follow my usual pre- Christmas habit of getting up in the middle of the night to rap a few, or even a lot of gifts. It takes hours. And I usually do it whilst T is out of the way/ asleep. Of course, he should…
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Quiet and Peaceful
Awake at 05.00 for coffee etc. No urgency. T stayed in bed all day. So very peaceful. A so so night. It was quite warm again … 11C to be precise. It was not raining either – the sky was almost blue. I tinkered around in the morning – Dave had largely sorted the dishes…
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Look! No Socks
A bit of a disturbed night which ended up in a late awakening. I had a lot to do today. Today, T was compliant and up and ready for Day Care. Trouble was … Day care didn’t happen and won’t happen until after Christmas. 4/1/23 it restarts. That is due to two cases of Covid…
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Is it really Sunday?
It didn’t feel like a Sunday as I sneaked a cheeky lie in. A bit of snow was forecast before the freezing rain arrived. It didn’t happen though. Well… the rain did and it was very unpleasant. The lie in was very comfy and nicely warm . But it didn’t really last long enough. H…
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What a stink!
Another decent night with the new electric blankets which are deeper and more comfy than the old one. Our bed now offers a magnificent sumptuousness worthy of royalty. Or the Princess and the Pea. There is an enormousness about it. I can banish T to a distant position! Another morning dawned where there was no…
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Another the same
I fell asleep on the sofa just as Traitors was about to begin and woke up as the 22.00 news was ending. Shock Horror. I was so traumatised by not knowing what had happened in the latest episode that I caught up with it in bed. No spoilers. I then slept quite nicely until it…
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More Chill
I awoke in the middle of the night, watched a bit of Catch Up TV and went back to sleep. Until after 07.00. There was no reason to get up and it was -7C outside, so bed was the place to be. I spent a bit more time on flexing. H stayed in her bed.…
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Christmas Dinner
Well it was another of those nights, with a cuppa around 05.30. It was a cold night. A very cold night. I had to get ahead of the game because the day was scheduled to be busy. So H and I were out and about around 08.30. It was -5C. I was slightly underdressed. Considerably…
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Very Little
I’m getting as bad as T because today I have done very little. I had another disturbed night. It is always the same at this time of year until I am up to date with all my chores. Mainly wrapping presents nightmare. The ones I have yet to buy. I presented T with brekkie and…
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Proud Grandparents
I was awake for a chunk of the night so I went shopping and disposed of a load of our money. If anyone in the family is reading this – I need ideas! When I was wandering around at 04.00 I noticed white stuff falling from the sky. It was rather half hearted white stuff…
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Winter Wonderland
I awoke at the usual sort of time and it didn’t take long for me to realise that there was still a chill in the air. A quick look out of the window, once it was daylight, revealed a white world. White air , aka fog, white roofs, white fences, white gardens and a white…
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Nuts and Crackers
Ironic that – the two things I had forgotten to buy, nuts and crackers, so I popped down to the filling station. But they had no crackers – nothing I could use for cheese – nuts – yes. They were nice nuts. Peanuts even – dry roasted! But no crackers. And I picked up oats…
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Not Hot
Yes – definitely not hot, not warm , not tepid, nor cool. The weather remains cold. Very cold. The back garden has stayed white all day and the ground was rock hard on our walk. Last night RAF Benson was -9C, the coldest spot in the whole of the UK. A reasonable sleep with the…
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Too Cold
The temperature was well in the minuses overnight and I can confirm the CH is not working in the sitting room. The kitchen UFH seems to be working after a fashion. So the sitting room is not the place to be. Our visitors due on Saturday, have been warned! The night was cosy inside my…
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Drowning in Cardboard, Sorting Salt and other chores
Another 04.00 awakening whereupon I did some shopping and performed other useful online chores. And then went back to sleep. It must have been the relief of getting them done that helped me sleep. I whisked T off to Daycare and then whisked H round Cholsey Rec. I had a very rewarding conversation with the…
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Bat Flattery
Yet another disturbed night. I have discovered I am less disturbed if I sleep on my tum. It used to be my preferred way of sleeping until I had those knee operations which made it far too uncomfortable. But I have recently tried to revive the habit which is not hard, these days. So it…
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All over the place
I awoke at some really silly o’clock and could not resettle for quite a while. So I eventually did the brekkie bit and promptly slept on until 08.00. This was not very convenient. The plumber was due at 9.00 but I got a phone call instead due to his kids being poorly and he is…
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Dozy Sunday
A decent night’s sleep following the usual routine of an early wakening with brekkie and another doze. In fact, outside was beyond disgusting. Grey, damp, cold, just about describes it. There was no deadline to cause me to get up so I did not, T was in a world of his own so I ignored…
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Polar Express
Yes… up at some silly o’clock again – around 05.00, so I made toast and tea and coffee. And offered H a chance to go out. She took one look outside and declined my generous offer and I went back to sleep. T remained asleep as I showered and dressed in order to go and…
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Ladies that Lunch
A pretty good night on our comfy new mattresses. I found a big box on the doorstep this morning. I think it might have been there all night. H had been a bit restless at one point the previous evening. But I hadn’t heard the bell ring. The big box probably contains our new electric…
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Doctor Doctor
Another comfy night though I continue to suffer disturbances. I was awake for a while around 04.00 and I thought that was it, for the night, but I soon fell fast asleep again until well after 07.00. This shockingly late awakening kicked me into action. By the time I got myself going, it was almost…
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Mowing
A reasonable night on our lovely comfortable new mattresses. The day dawned grey and miserable. And cold. I was in no hurry to get up, but daycare beckoned which meant I had to get T going. Usual stressful battle followed. It goes something like this: I get clothes ready for him and lay them on…
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Tony takes charge
Another quite disturbed night. This is getting quite tedious. But I did get a deep doze as morning arrived. The day dawned greasy and grey. Not exactly raining but almost. Not the sort of day to invite you outside. I was notified that our new mattresses would arrive around 13.40-14.40 and that Robert was the…
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Heavy Going
Stodgy day – time to think. The night was not brilliant. T went off foraging at some point, but the fridge was not very accommodating for him. However he was a good boy and got himself up to go to his Social Club. He was in good spirits when I picked him up in the…
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Childish
Another relatively undisturbed night followed by early brekkie followed by a later drift off. T was up and around in the night scavenging the fridge and kitchen for food. I have to watch him like a hawk, otherwise he snacks on all sorts of sweet things and then does not want the meal I cook…
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Chilli Saturday
I forgot my drinking water plan and paid for it during the night. I was awake at some silly o’clock, so made T his brekkie, had a shower and I did a bit of flexing. In fact, I forgot to stop the workout so I gained a few extra kj. I was in no hurry…
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No Peace for the Wicked
A day as a taxi driver! Last night, I found myself, a block of ice, propped up on the sofa around midnight. I quickly took myself off to bed, having carefully set the alarm for around 06.00. Just in case, you understand. In case I awoke late. Fat chance. I got myself and T a…
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Just as I thought it was all over…
I slept better last night. Thank goodness! My plan worked. It involved drinking all the gallons of water earlier in the day instead of during the evening. That meant I didn’t wake up every couple of hours in urgent need. I think I’m drowning in all the litres of water that I am downing. Today…
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Tired
I experienced another really disturbed, busy brain night. Just could not settle. Kept feeling irked by what would unfold during the coming day – nothing of huge significance. The usual stress of getting T up and out to Daycare and walking H (it was pouring with rain) and a trip to the dental hygienist. T…
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Sunny
I was awake in the night again for quite a while. Felt calm, Just couldn’t settle. I’m not sure that the dreaded Lurgy is not returning. I’ve felt fairly crap all day. Luckily it was a day with little happening. Yesterday, I briefly contemplated an early swim this morning, but the disturbed night put paid…
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Wet, Cold, Unpleasant
I had an unwelcome restless period in the middle of the night. I felt quite awake and wished I did not. Then I made a hot drink and was soon fast asleep again. Until around 07.30, which meant I needed to get a wriggle on. Same old story, the uncertainty involved in getting T up…
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Went nowhere, did nothing
Well, hot drink as usual around 05.00 and then drifted off until around 08.00. It was not raining and the sun was lurking behind woolly white blobby things. I had a very sore arm which encouraged me to lie around for a bit. T also had a sore arm – right arms which is where…
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Jabbed
It was not raining when I woke up. Just for a change! But it was cloudy. And grey. I awoke quite early but had slept nicely. Things are definitely looking up! I fed T his drink and brekkie and issued the day’s warning about being up on time. In time for our flu/ Covid jabs…
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Farewell to our Ukrainian Family
I awoke at some silly hour, did a little reading and sn it oozed off again. My chunks of sleep are becoming longer with fewer interruptions. These were mostly based on needing to go to the loo . Now that nasty UTI is becoming history, my bladder seems to be behaving itself better. I have…
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The Shock of it
A better night’s sleep than I have had in a while, More continuous sleep and fewer disturbances. Thank goodness. At O5.30 it was pouring with rain. Tipping it down. H was not remotely interested so we reached an agreement. She came back inside. T was in one of those moods where he was feeling sorry…
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Heidi 0 – Squirrels 6
I was awake at some silly o’clock again which meant another early brekkie. And another short snooze . T was well away in the land of Deep Snoring and did manage to cooperate and arise after a little polite persuasion. The morning dawned extremely wet with deep puddles lining the roads. By the time I…
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Utterly nothing
I was awake at some silly o’clock so brought my brekkie forward to 05.00. I knew it would send me to sleep again and I was not wrong, waking up again just before 08.00. It was grey and very wet outside. H did not want to go out, neither did I, neither did T. So…
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Warmth!
I awoke ( finally) quite late and with T to get to Daycare…. But he was compliant, and we made it. I explained that I would need to pick him up early due to a clash of timings with the boiler service. Next up- H and I took a spin round Castle Meadows. It was…
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Visitor
Annoying. This is attempt 2 at this blog, because the first typing did not save. Evernote has done this to me before. I’ve got better things to do than repeat something I did earlier. The day dawned grey. And damp but not rainy. The night had been so so. Brekkie was munched at 06.00 which…
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Almost a Day off
In bed much later than usual, but this led to a more prolonged and deeper sleep. Still had brekkie around 06.00. T has passed most of the day in bed. Exhausted I think. Yesterday was busy for both of us. Today was supposed to be a day of recovery. Ha ha. Unwelcome News plopped into…
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Party time
Another sort of disturbed night mainly due to the amount of liquid that I am imbibing. And have been told to imbibe. We had brekkie about 06.00 , at around 08.00 , pI started the struggle to dig T out of bed in order to get him to Daycare. We finally made it at around…
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Lots of Lights!
Not a wonderfully interesting day. Not a wonderful night either, but OK with the electric blanket to keep me warm. We had tea and toast around 06.00 and may have drifted off again. Without paying sensible attention, I invited a courrier into the house, thinking he was the electrician. He must have felt rather special-…
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Peace
Another up and downer of night but OK generally. The day dawned as a bit of a mixture – the sun was trying ( in effort sense) but so was the rain. It took me an hour and a half to get T up and into Daycare. He started with a positive attitude and went…
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Lights!
A thoroughly messy night thanks to a black, dead and extinct iPhone. That caused me to linger in a wakeful state until I eventually solved the problem via my old iphone7 and the internet. The holiday unpacking is progressing slowly. I arose, to trek down to the docs with my discharge paperwork, and to pick…
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Day 1 at home
First Day Home It was a horrid start to the day – gloomy and wet and cold. The CH did not appear to have kicked itself into life so I hid back under the duvets and on the electric blanket. Pen called and we had a bit of a chat. I had to try and…
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It’s Over
My night started really well and then became somewhat disturbed. Don’t really know why, but settling back to sleep was not easy. Eventually I gave up and made myself a cup of lemon tea and that seemed to do the trick. Peace – for a while at least. The day that greeted us was bright…
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Release
The night was busy at the hospital, a bit like Piccadilly Circus with all the new admissions and departures. Bristling with noise and wheels. My temperature was 36.4 this morning. Thank you Lord. I received the usual dose of IV antibiotics, another saline bag. They took more blood , pricked me a few times here…
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Time Suspended
Today dawned for me with no raised body temperature, so that was a positive. I thought I might be on my way home at last… but… no. The previous night had involved wailing man who does not seem to be present this evening, The day went pretty much as other days – rounds of pin…
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Pin Cushion
The night was tricky spent in the company of my 3 male ward companions. They are quiet people but the night was punctuated with blocks of being awake which were not so welcome. However from nearby someone had a fixation with Karma or maybe it was Parma. ne Come the morning, there was lots of noise…
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Death by antibiotics
What a fine mess! I really stank yesterday – of the dirt of days, of infection, of the sweats that soaked me through as my temperature took me to hot deserts and the Arctic. Chattering teeth returned in the night And I was desperately thirsty. Someone summoned up some water and a blanket. And gave…
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HorsePiddle
Word press won’t let me in. Well the poorliness persisted and I ended up in Asti hospital much against my will, and even overnight. Someone, who did not understand the situation, insisted on calling an ambulance as T was berating me on the street. The Lurgy which has made me feel so poorly for the…
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Lurgy and Ferry
This is about Monday- Halloween. Don’t what day I said yesterday was about, but it was probably wrong. Yesterday was Sunday 30/10. Last night was a nightmare of shivers and chattering teeth and some sort of brain fog which kept me glued to the bed and prevented me from thinking. Sensibly, logically , or at…
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Departure
This is about Saturday I was convinced the hour would fall back when we were on the boat tonight, Sunday. What a long Saturday night that was! I woke up a couple of times and it kept being 04.00 and I just assumed that I was confused. Ha ha . But it was such a…
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Rafina/ Mati
Our crossing might have been bumpy because it was windy, but that didn’t disturb me. I just did not sleep that well. The cabin was perfectly spacious and comfortable. I was slightly concerned about getting across Athens early in the morning, in the dark, but in the end, I only took one wrong turn which…
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OXIbirthDay … the leaving of Kriti…
Happy birthday to Oskar and Heidi, to Minnie x2, to Millie and Charlie, Benny et Al… I had such a good sleep last night. A really good one after days even weeks of not such good ones. I was still awake around 06.00. There was a brief waking period due to wind. Very strong wind…
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Olive Oyle
There seems to be a bit of a fuss over Suella Braverman. Along with others, I see her as a not very bright, very right wing, manipulative, untrustworthy, jumped up little nobody. Last full day today, unless you count tomorrow, when I will be stretching the car. A bit of a fussy night because I…
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Trouble at t’Mill
I was awake quite early after a rather disturbed night due to the presence of itchy creatures. Not the huge fat whining variety, but the subtle ones that you can’t see, and which go for your ankles and shoulders and other parts that are not easily reached. A fork helped. Reach those parts that is. T…
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Very warm
Tuesday Good sleep but my ankles were nibbled in the night. And are being nibbled now! Should have applied the lotion. Not huge noisy mosquitoes, but invisible pesky small invertebrates. I was awake around 06.00 so waited patiently for daylight to arrive. And just before it did, I loaded H and myself into the car…
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And back to where it all began
Monday Another interrupted night which led to a final late awakening around 07.40. The sky was very clear with a pinky hue at the horizon out to sea. There was barely a breath of wind and with a cool bite to the air. H and I went down to the big beach, parking as far…
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Less Windy
I slept well and finally awoke – late – it was already daylight! Unheard of! And there was something else strange – no wind! Silence and a stillness prevailed. I enquired of H if she was ready for her walk … she was a bit non committal. We took the car down to what they…
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The Return of the Wind
With a vengeance. And nothing to do with beans or lentils because they are in short supply here. Second wind … It is Friday. We will be off back to the UK in a week or so, via Piraeus and Rafina. The night was somewhat disturbed – a new bed to get used to. And…
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Leaving Elafonisi
I had a pretty good night’s sleep but kept remembering we had to pack and clear out our room. It did not take long but the worst thing was trying to cram everything into the car. I’m sure we arrived in Greece with a half empty car…and we have left with a very full one.…
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Less windy = More swimmy
When I woke up, I realised something was missing – the horrid screeching at the entrance to the studio. The silence was eerie. The calm was refreshing. Having left T with a hot drink, H and I bumped our way down to Elafonisi. It was a beautiful morning, almost cloudless. There was a little bit…
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Rhythms
This never got published … it was written on around 9/ 10 October. I was thinking – a propos of nothing in particular – of the rhythms of life here. The rhythms of life here are quite marked. On a micro level Grammeno brought me early dog walks, as day broke, companionship, a return, a…
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Yet More Wind
I tended to think of wind as not interfering with my daily activities, but it is certainly making a mess, at the moment, of things I like doing. For example – swimming which I really enjoy but finding somewhere calm enough or safe enough is very difficult. Impossible even. It’s been a difficult day managing…
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Still Windy
I had one of the best night’s sleep that I have had in a long time. I awoke early then fell asleep again until around 07.45. The wind was no longer screeching outside our back door, but it was gusting around and about. However the sky was blue and the mountains were looking more friendly.…
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Last Chance Saloon down at the Lagoon
It felt like the last chance saloon! We did not hang around at Aspro Limni. When I woke up this morning, the wind was howling past the back door. The rain was lashing against it. It is a very heavy door, but if not closed properly, it can fly open. We learnt the hard way. It…
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Here, There and Everywhere
The night was intermittently exciting with a lot of flashing and some very loud clashing and banging. Rain was also involved. The ground was quite soggy come the morning. At about 06.50 I prepared us hot drinks. Mine did not look or taste right. A quick stir revealed the milk had curdled. I blame the…
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Scary Adventure
The night was not too bad but it seems a long time ago now. I took H down to Elafonissi to investigate where I could give her a better morning run than she gets amongst the olive groves. It was only as our time was up that I found the coastal walk route sandwiched between…
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Hot
Much better sleep last night until T caused disturbance in the early hours which left me quite wakeful for a while. A dream I think. After my slightly more satisfying sleep, I thought briefly about doing flexing. Not done any for quite a while. Thought was as far as I got. I trailed H through…
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Eventually … Finally …
T eventually got up this morning and we finally made it to brekkie just before 11.00. He was a bit of a nightmare, fiddling around, looking for a towel, looking for some clothes to wear. Sitting down and then starting the process all over again. Even after I had given them all to him. We will…
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Aspro Limni
Today, we left Megim Hotel after 3 nights, and Palaiochora where we have been for nearly four weeks. Most of which was spent at the lovely Grammeno. I had walked Heidi towards Alonaki, bade a mental/ texted 2nd farewell to Eleanor and cousins because they would be heading for the airport at around 09.00, and…
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Keep Away from the Edge
Another reasonable night apart from a short wakeful interlude. One more night here and then we move on. H and I wandered along the beach and I briefly considered heading for Grammeno car park but decided there was not enough time. So I chatted to a Belgian man whose first morning it was – (…
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Conclusion
Another bloody awful night. So the decision was made for me… move on, check out Monday so we can use facilities and still see familiar faces, stay close by, do clothes washing, pack stuff we travel with, then domestic stuff and bugger off to explore elsewhere. It was a decision not easily reached and with…
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Misery
Absolutely awful night. It made the morning and the rest of the day extremely difficult. Luis came visiting early and was no trouble. The early walk was pretty grim and windy. E and I walked back together. In the morning, I fell over near J and E’s place – probably the same stone that caught…
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Somewhat Windy
I slept well despite the usual disturbances, with a loose blanket and Fanny remained banished in the corner. I awoke at 05.50, which again meant it was not worth going back to sleep. So H and I had quite a long wait for daylight. Gone are the days when I fearlessly stomped around the promontory…
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Fika
Well… I awoke at 05.50 which meant I had to get up because there was not enough time to go back to sleep. So I meandered through my preparations and visitations etc. There was quite a strong breeze, from the north I think. Blankets were at the ready last night and Fanny stood sulking in…
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Sleeves this evening
I groaned as I arose this morning, my heart was not really in it. 08.00 would be such a lovely time to go out. BUT I never regret it. The sand is such a challenge!! The sunrise is such a treat. The canine and human company are great, the day just would not be the…
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Monday
I slept quite well with the usual interruptions, awaking around 06.00. It took me most of that hour until 07.00 to prepare myself and H for the walk. Preparations were interrupted by a floating white apparition that was growling and trying to bark. This amorphous ghostly shape was very confusing to a simple soul like…
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And to think I thought things were Better
Silly me! This is about Sunday. Each day had seemed a little better for the old spirits. Though today I didn’t get to swim. And there was some pear shaped stuff going on. Anyway the early walk was good. I spent the usual time in the good company of Eleanor and Chris. And Sasha, Isabella…
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Hot Hot Hot
This is about Saturday – I’m getting in a bit of a muddle over the days. . It was already very warm when I awoke and the fan had been on all night. No flashing green light this morning. I think the flasher was on the end of a lead. Somewhere that was not here.…
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Still LP Day 2
Virgo long gone September 22 LP Day 1 – buried for the time being Another trixy day for me. Stupid really. I was serenaded this morning at around 06.00. Serenaded by a brown dog with a green flasher, who I rapidly shut up lest H decided to make it a duet. The flasher took himself…
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No Swim
Still felt fairly knackered all day. But it’s been very humid which will not have helped. Awoke and arose around 05.00 to get a leisurely start to the day ahead. No flashing green light around the important offices of the camp site today. But one was spotted by the time we got back to the…
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New Arrivals
Welcome to Kriti to Eleanor, Chris and Terry. I had a really good sleep which started around 21.00. I awoke, not for the first time, at 05.00 and reset the alarm for 06.00. H and I headed for les toilettes to deal with the serious business of the day, before walking out and away. I…
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Quite Tired
I had a decent sleep – we are gradually settling into the rhythms of life here in Grammeno. So different from at home. Once more, I was glad of the blanket. There was a mysterious rustling in the night, and come the morning, an all but empty packet of almond biscuits revealed the cause. Some midnight…
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Lovely Early One
The night passed easily and I was warm! In fact, as I set myself up for bed, I thought we might need the fan. It was but a fleeting thought and before long, I was reaching for my treat – a blanket! Just the presence of the blanket draped across me was reassuring. So the…
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Lie in
The night was chilly. Due to the rain, we were wrapped up and in bed early. T under a cosy fleecy blanket, me wrapped up in various swimming towels and H on her own fleece. I felt a bit like a dog without the hot to prefix it. There was nothing hot about my night.…
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Downhill
Today has been difficult, I have really struggled. Rapidly downhill is how the day went. From this: To this: Surprisingly, I was up and out quite quickly and even had a few minutes to sit around in case a green flashing light headed my way. But Chris had other plans for Luis this morning. Like…
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Fluffy Tails and all that
I didn’t really want to get up this morning. But I did. I spotted a familiar low-lying, green, flashing light weaving its way amongst the bushes or tables beside the bar. Goodness, I thought, Luis is up and out here early. It was indeed Luis, a very wet Luis, who accompanied us towards the promontory.…
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Curious Incidents of the dogs in the Night Time
The night passed peacefully until around 05.00 when I felt the need to arise from the bed, sadly, knowing that I would not have much longer in it. 06.00 is get up and get going time. I was surprised to see light thrown from the cabin next door onto the ground outside. I had not…
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Happy Birthday Fleur!
15 at last! Many Happy returns to Fleur. . The night passed with little disturbance of which I was aware. But I suspect there may have been goings on of which I was unaware. I was awake again around 05.00 Which was a nuisance as I didn’t really want to be awake before 06.00. It…
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Monday – A Funeral
RIP – Elizabeth II… today you are to be laid to rest following a very large state funeral – possibly the largest ever held. I was awake at around 05.00 and drifted in and out of sleep until 06.00, when I got up and carried out a few fiddly chores, such as are possible in…
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Hot and Humid Sunday
I had another disturbed night with T’s comings and goings… but I had found the carefully positioned fan that I had not noticed the day before. This made the whole night more pleasant as its gentle and cooling airflow wrapped itself around us. So the day dawned warm. I did a bit better than yesterday…
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First Day
A difficult night with T not understanding the purpose of the bog bucket. Very tiresome. I found it outside the cabin in the middle of the night. H had also taken the opportunity to scarper, so she may be attached to something for the duration, tonight. I needed to find her. I was very disorganized…
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We Arrived at Grammeno!
After 10 days since leaving the UK, with 3 days at Pesaro, we have finally arrived at Grammeno. It was dark in Chania when we left the boat from Piraeus, but the sun was rising over the mountains as we left the National Road. It was a ripe orange sunrise giving the rocks great depth…
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Almost There
The night was not great, though it was peaceful. I’m sure we have docked much earlier in Igoumenitsa than the 09.30 time, we docked today. I remember being there in the dark in the past. From there it is 5 hours to Patra. The bag of nibbles and fruit worked a treat… saved us a…
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Sailing to Patra
This morning dawned a bit cloudy – T hadn’t been very well in the night. I put it down to the alcoholic beer, all .6L of it. Digestive troubles. It was very unsettling for me, more so for him. There was also the constant and annoying sound of running water which turned out to be…
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Italy – I forgive you
Yes -Italy – you are almost rehabilitated in my books. Looking back at yesterday, on my watch, I seemed to have walked a lot of steps. I even closed my rings. It is probably to do with the fact that this hotel has well spread out accommodation so quite a lot of walking is involved.…
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Hot Night!
Pesaro …km – only local to Gradera I‘ve now found the aircon. But I hadn’t found it last night, probably because I didn’t think we needed it, preferring the fresh air approach. But T had other ideas and kept closing both windows. I opened them/ he closed them and so it went on. I got…
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Not waking up
114km – a mere hour and a half behind the wheel The trials of the three flights of stairs and broken down lift, ensured a really solid night’s sleep from which I did not stir before 07.00. Then it all came back to me… unless by some miracle the lift had been fixed, I had…
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Waking up in the Recovery Room
331km Last night I had most of my tabs open again. So when it was time to get up, I felt terrible. I spent some of my wakeful moments sorting out accommodation for the next four nights. At Pesaro, where we enjoy staying, Baia Flaminia was full tonight, so we are staying near Imola of…
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An ‘Interesting’ Day
552km – somewhere near Asti. East of Turin. The night passed comfortably enough at the Riom Campanile. I involved myself in some inner deliberation as to whether to spend the morning in amongst the volcanoes. But decided it was better to keep travelling. H had a very short wander and we were on our way.…
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RIP – ERII… Total Total Pride
Riom, near Clermont Ferrand . 562km The total pride good news for starters… Many congratulations to Ali – now Head of Banking at Field Seymour Parkes. Very proud mother and father here. (Proud of all our family ) I was sad to hear of the death of our monarch. Well… not so much sad because…
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Today and at Le But
Well – I had the most comfortable bed ever at Ouistreham Ibis, but didn’t sleep that well. Probably something to do with dozing through most of the crossing. And a stuffed up nose. T surfaced ( can’t call it waking up) in a foul mood. I’m not going to brekkie etc etc. But he did…
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Departure
There was another very vigorous storm as we headed for bed last night. Lots of flashes and clashes and some very heavy rain. Predictably, the night passed in a certain restlessness until daylight arrived and I could get up. I thought I just had our two wheelie bags to get into the car, but other…
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Getting ready
The storm was very vigorous last night. I love a good storm! Unfortunately, I fell asleep, as did H and T. So I missed most of the fun. Apparently there was a lightning strike 3 km away. More storms may arrive tonight. Another sort of interrupted night which meant an early brekkie. Only the cupboard…
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Un-Birthday Sunday
I had a lousy night – awake and restless at some silly o’clock. Tea at about 04.30 and then complete failure to reconnect with sleep. I gave up and spent the better part of the next half hour plus, sorting out our various medicines and boxing T’s up into daily doses in compartmented containers. Then…
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Farewell my lovely
Yes… farewell to our most lovely friend Rahila. Wife of Farooq , contemporary of T and other friends of ours at Cambridge – 1963-1967 I think. T and these friends looked after Farouq at university and towed him around on the backof a tandem. Theirs was an arranged marriage … I think, an enduring and…
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Late Deliveries … waiting
Another night when I awoke at some really silly o’clock. And wallowed in and out of deep drifts of sleep thereafter. Until it was time to get both of us going. I think our first hit / hot drink was around 05.00 . In the dark these days. It was the bin men that finally…
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RIP Bill
Very sad to hear today of the death of Bill Turnbull. (Stud muffin to me). He was an amazing presenter on the BBC Breakfast Show. He was wise and knowledgeable and funny and I derived so much pleasure from watching him with Sian Williams, (co-presenter) Chris Hollins (sport) and Carol Kirkwood (weather) – the Dream…
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Look who popped up!
Boy … did I sleep well, despite nursing my bothersome collection of strained buttock and strange cramps. My nocturnal visit to the loo was a reminder of my torture. You But, I know that movement helps movement so I did a bit of gentle flexing and then returned to bed to nurse the sore parts.…
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Cheeky!
I slept very comfortably at the Airport Hilton, despite various ains and paches. H, apparently, declined to join Steph and her menagerie upstairs and remained downstairs. Steph walked her this morning before we picked her up which was very helpful. My right buttock ( probably glute) strain has turned into something very peculiar giving me…
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Party Time
Dave-id is the most wonderful host. He had laid on a lavish spread at The Pig for us, wider family and old friends and some local ones. The Pig is one of my top places. Did we get lost finding it? Not a lot. Just a bit. The space we were given was the independent…
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Happy Birthday Dave!
50 years old! That is a half century! I slept a very good sleep at Two Bridges Hotel. Maybe the fact that I was on a flat mattress had something to do with it. It was two single beds pushed together which is 20cmm wider than our current arrangement. That is what I have decided…
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Applebrook and Two Bridges
Unconnected as they are… Apart from being in Devon. Applebrook is named after the orchard and the stream upon which the Roberts’ new home is now located. Pretty name. Two Bridges is the hotel where we are staying tonight. Can’t think how it got its name. A good sleep, waking early enough to pack ourselves…
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Very Lazy Day
I slept very nicely until it was time to prise open my eyes to emerging daylight and a flex followed by a hot drink. That was all very nice. Only I fell asleep again, to wake up at around 09.00. Glory be! I then made a mess of both Wordle (unusual) and Quordle (not unusual).…
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International Dog Day
I didn’t know there was such a thing. But it is today, apparently. It is evening now so a bit late to celebrate. I don’t suppose our international dog will be that bothered. I had another very disturbed night. Far too many brain tabs open. T just sleeps through it all. He cooperated well this…
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Full House
Had a lovely full sleep for once – not too many open brain tabs. Both dogs joined in my deep sleep and all was very peaceful. I had a brief wakeful moment when it was still dark. I thought I could hear rain, but told myself not to be so silly. It does not rain…
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Happy Independence Day to all Ukranians
Ukranians – 31 years since you declared your independence and old Putrid is trying to get you back within the fold. May your resistance succeed. A faintly disturbed night, awaking at some silly o’clock , and staying awake. The day dawned with bluish skies, scattered with a few white blobby things. The Illis are in…
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The Day that went missing
A reasonable night with minor interruptions and a 07.00 wake up. Again, when the day greeted my eyes, I felt incredibly sleepy, as though I had been disturbed unfairly. No urgency today, just take H out and then maybe a trip to John Lewis in High Wycombe as part of bed research. Planning to buy…
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Nice Day
A bit of an up and downer of a night, I wonder what I had to eat before bedtime. I always managed to get back to sleep, but when I finally woke up, I felt really exhausted. My eyes and limbs were figuratively as well as literally heavy. Since I awoke around 07.00, it was…
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Non Day
After yesterday’s gallivanting around the Berkshire countryside, I was quite glad to have a non-day. Sleep was disturbed in the early hours as I waited for a sensible hour and daylight. This latter arrives much later now. Of course I dozed off again before either arrived. I am often able to complete Wordle; Waffle and…
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Ever Increasing Circles
Round and round we went. In an attempt to find Newbury. It was not at all straight forward! ;(( I awoke, not feeling that great, with a low grade yummy ache, but comforted in the knowledge that there were no pressing engagements to get up for. No need to nag T into action. Then I…
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Wardrobe
It needed sorting. So I sorted it! The night had another of those holes in it where I was awake for a while. And then I fell asleep again and awoke quite late. Well, around 07.00. Usual routine procedure on a day care day is to start nagging T to get up around 07.30. We…
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Frankie Confounds us All
A Level results day today. Frankie will get hers. She was at school on a certain Thursday 19th March 2020, working on an Art GCSE practical exam, when, along with her contemporaries, she was told not to go back to school the next day. Or for the forseeable future, which became 6 months. Mixing with…
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Heidi and the Rabbit
I had a rather disturbed night but managed to sleep between the interruptions. I was up at the usual 05.00 only to fall asleep again until well after 09.00. H and I eventually made it to Gatehampton for our walk which was very lovely. It is a while since we have been there. Probably because…
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Just the right sort of Rain!
What a lovely night! At least it was, once I could breathe, and had opened all the windows that T closed whilst I was in bed ahead of him. Earlier in the night. I was awake at a rather silly time, which allowed me to collect my thoughts, and flex as daylight drew near. A…
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It was all Lies
The rain did not happen – wishful thinking or porky pies at the Met Office. The forecasters have been shunting the rain forward timewise for a couple of days now, and finally shoved it out of the way altogether. It was not substantially cooler either – being around 30C. But tomorrow looks intermittently damp. It…
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Another Early One
It was another good night, awaking before 05.00, when it was still very dark. Since the temperature was scheduled to rise from 20C at 08.00 to 27C at 09.00, another early walk beckoned. I had time to flex before setting off for Wallingfod and the lower meadows on the other side of the river. One…
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Less Knackered
What … another good sleep! And another hot day lay ahead… that meant another early walk. Not quite so early, because I was not awake in time. After a bit of flexing, H and I drove to Little Wittenham, where cars were already parked up and empty of occupants. I expect they were mostly the…
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Still knackered
I knew I was going to fall asleep on the sofa. So it didn’t come as a surprise when I did. Or when I surfaced at around 22.30 and crawled off to bed. Waking up at around 06.30 had a novelty value for me. A little physical recovery had taken place, aches and pains, yes,…
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Footpath to Somewhere
Up a Clump and back – no less – and just caught the sun rising over the Ridgeway in the distance. More magical misty whispy drifts floated across the fields below us – a gossamer shroud pretending to be hazy waters of hidden promise. I passed a person with a dog – just the two…
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Footpath to Nowhere
Thank you to Chris for being masterful with WordPress and helping it to conform with my expectations. I couldn’t sleep last night – I was just too hot. And sticky. Should have bashed the problem on the head and taken a cold shower. By 02.30 things had cooked or even cooled down to around 14C,…
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Gloomy and Doomy
Thats the cost of energy outlook for the coming months. Over £4000 per year for the average household, which is outrageous. Boris is hiding in some hidey hole saying it is up to the next PM to sort it. I can see the sense in that, but I do not understand how Jo Public will…
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Very Difficult
Accessing WordPress is becoming increasingly difficult. I don’t remember how many times I hit the button today, but it was an awful lot. My sleep was very deep apart from waling, or even waking, at 05.00, as usual. The nights are noticeably stretching out in both directions: darker earlier in the evenings and lighter later…
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Shady Walk
I still keep receiving wedding pics. They pop up here there and everywhere. this one arrived from Keiko, Yoko’s mother, and carver of water melons. I slept well, awoke, flexed until I fell asleep again, forgetting to stop the workout. That has helped move my rings on! I had given us an early brekkie before…
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Hugs – dangers and benefits
It is so nice to have our doggy back again. She is not a very huggy doggy, ( her choice) more a tickle my tummy doggy. H does not like close up face to face stuff. I hate creepy tickles. Hugs can be just the job depending upon who is dishing them out. Upon waking…
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Normal Service Resumes
After yesterday’s grumps, T woke up relatively alert and in a reasonable mood. A bit like me really. He even dug himself out of his pit and into the shower without too much nagging . Ahead of me! Although I’m not quite sure why he chose swim shorts to wear for his day out at…
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Missing Keys
A very good night in bed, despite the fact that I had slept long during the day. Unfortunately T awoke in a grump and I could tell that it was going to be one of those days. He really was not with it. Zora and Co were due to arrive to wave their magic wands…
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Home Sweet Home
Premier Inn Despite going to bed in the early hours, and despite thick blackout curtains, I was still awake around 05.00. I drifted in and out of sleep over the next couple of hours before starting the long nag to get T up. This room was on also floor 10, as it was before we…
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Time to go
I had a terrible sleep . Up and down from the loo and my brian was also busy ; probably thinking about our imminent departure. I was sad to be leaving. We had a really enjoyable and quite busy time. I could have done with a bit less of the heat, but it just served…
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Clan Take Over
Well – what a sleep! More or less from yesterday, after our meal out, to this morning, with a short interval to hear the Lionesses win the Euros. I even missed sunrise for the first time since being here. T got up early, no nagging, no desire to shower. He just decided to stay dirty…
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Recovery
Despite going to bed around 02.30, I still woke up around 05.00. Albeit briefly. I dozed off again before picking up the nagging process to get T up for brekkie. Living with someone who requires constant reminders/ nags is very stressful because it leads to constant uncertainty and nothing, absolutely nothing, is straight forward. No…
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Recognition
Wedding report will prob be a separate post or tomorrow. It is going to be a late night. I was recognized as a swimmer. By a serious swimmer. One who swims a long way in the sea. He paid me compliments! After my 10 lengths or so and said he could tell from my breathing…
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THE Wedding
Anastasios Mavroudis, our nephew, married Yoko Ishyama today. 30/7/22 It was quite an uphill slight slog from our hotel to the church. I got mildly overheated – as if it wasn’t hot enough anyway around 19.30. Another wedding was just concluding as we arrived. Rupert trying to sort out Vangeli who couldn’t find the bride…
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The Gathering of the Clans / Weddingbreak 2
Today, everyone has gathered together for Rupert and Yoko’s big day tomorrow. I awoke at the usual 05.00 ish, just as daylight was trying to peep in through the curtains . Unlike yesterday, T is not finding it easy to get up today. He has managed to pull the shower alarm, so Reception rang to…
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Wedding break1
Well, despite the hotel bed being the most comfortable ever, I managed to sleep badly. Partly excitement I think, and partly due to wanting to see everything in daylight, just in case it was as good as it seemed in the dark. I was not wrong, the view just after sunrise offered serenity and depth…
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23.30…01.30 Mati
A bit of a long day which ever time you are on. Its that time now… A good sleep in the Premier Inn and down to brekkie at 09.00. And it was a very good brekkie too. A buffet with lots of choice and regularly replenished. Then off over the road to the North Terminal…
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Hotels
Today dawned grey and fairly miserable. I felt very miserable as I greeted little H with our usual morning exchange. She didn’t know, and I did, that she was going on holiday today to her own luxury hotel. I will miss her so much. And I know she will miss us. There was no sweet…
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All over the place today
Another early wake up but at least I had made up for the previous night during Sunday. I had a fair bit to do today so it was good that T was fairly compliant about getting up. I had Lena to get to English only it was all a bit more complex today. Timur had…
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Busy night
It was a wasted night. We had watched a quite watchable film called the Queen Bees or similar. About a group of ladies living in a community for people over a certain age. A story about the reluctant resident changing her mind and the mean one becoming good. You get the idea… For some reason…
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Symbolic
The sun, right hand bottom corner and the arrow pointing to Gavdos ( it disappeared when I removed the masking tape)all need work. For those of you who know our corner of Crete, what symbolism can you spot? I had a really good sleep on the slope until some silly o’clock when I awoke and…
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In the Cooler Air
It is such a relief to feel cool again. I slept really really well between the sofa and the bed. I even had cold fingers when I woke up this morning. The window beside me had been wide open all night which is probably why. Despite that, nobody seemed to want to enter and burgle…
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Out to tea
A good sleep on the slope. No rain, worthy of mention, fell yesterday evening, which was very disappointing. I flexed, arose, donned some garments and made an urgent trip to little Tesco in Cholsey, where I stocked up on cleaning solutions, in preparation for the arrival of the clean team. I took H with me…
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Anyone for strawberries?
Last night was not good. The Great Heat had lingered on despite the evening cooling down, and a sprinkling by few drops of rain. I sat out in it, enjoying the wet drops on my sticky skin. But it only lasted a minute or two . The evening became a bit of a battle with…
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Great Heat Day 2
It has been hot. Very hot. Very very hot. 40.2C at Heathrow. That is a new UK record. Previous UK temperature records have been broken in at least 29 places today. Despite warnings that the night would be very warm – yes it was – but I had a good sleep until about 03.00 o’clock…
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A bit too warm
Day 1 of the Great Heat. Well last night was altogether very pleasant – nothing uncomfortable about it. But as for the day… I had to get H out quite early, to leave me with enough time for the nagging to begin. Nagging T to get up for daycare. It was another beautiful morning –…
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Birthday Boy buggers everything up
Not a great day – plants had all been shifted from where I laboured with them yesterday, and also the hose spray gun had been broken, although I did not discover this until later. Cables were wound up; the electric blanket was switched onto heat and all windows closed. That is the polite version. I…
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Busy Morning
The Great Heat is inexorably approaching. There is risk to life in the coming days. The warning is a red one. Monday and Tuesday are the deadly days. As I type on this Saturday evening, it is too hot to be outside. However, that was not the case this morning. My sleep was good enough…
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More Heat on its way
Today has been another hot day but with a bit of breeze to take the edge of the heat. The forecasters are now talking about 3 days around 40C thru Sunday to Tuesday. The Great Heat is on its way. As I have named it. The sofa held me in its thrall for a while…
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A lull in the heat
That’s what the experts said. I’m not sure I noticed a lull. It seems to have been a very hot day where I hid inside for much of it. Worse is still promised for the weekend. The people who know are muttering about 40C. I awoke at the usual time, got myself a hot drink,…
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More heat, more art
Another good sleep with my just post-dawn wake up. I knew another early walk would be required in order to give H some reasonably comfortable exercise. It was scheduled to be hot again. I flexed. If I don’t do a little of this, my walk becomes a stagger. At the start, anyway. Then H and…
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Cloudy Heat
I slept well until the usual wake up around 05.00. I don’t set an alarm because I seem to have an utterly reliable internal job that sees me wake up around that time. But, if something is really important that requires my presence at an early hour, various alarms and timers are armed with their…
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Equally hot
A relatively peaceful night with an 05.00 wake up and plenty of nagging time to get T up for delivery to day care and to pick Lena up for delivery to English lessons. It was forecast to be very hot and the skies were already blue. Once my deliveries were completed, H and I ventured…
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Very Hot
A day of nothingness. Just heat. I had a terrible sleep – wakeful and then the early morning was broken by a couple of drift offs. I used a sleep app during the night where some gentle visualisation saw me off for a while. However, after that whinge, I have slept well recently. Maybe it…
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Flatter
I slept well apart from being woken up by a stuffy nose. This is not unusual. I usually spray it and that sorts it. The flatter bed probably helped after Istuffed pillows underneath the mattress yesterday. I flexed , peered outside the window to note grey skies. Memo to self: don’t lie around too long,…
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Busy Morning
Slept like a log. A wooden one. Flexed and forgot to stop the workout. Fell asleep again until after 07.00. Up quickly now and the long nag started to get T up and out to daycare. The day greeted me with a blue sky and great warmth. I managed to prize T out of bed…
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Bye Bye Boris
Almost, but not quite, kicked out of being in charge. He is no longer leader of the Conservative (and Unionist) Party. But is still prime minister . Sadly. Two main decisions lie ahead for Tory MPs. Let Boris act on as PM until a new one is elected. (various views on this and whether he…
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Turmoil at 10
Lovely delicious sleep. Final waking up was quite late. Just before 07.00. I flexed, brekkied, tidied and pottered around for a while, clipping and dead heading plants. T decided he was going to get up today and was very lively, compared with yesterday when he did not get up at all. I suspect Day Care…
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No Art Day
I slept like a log- on the sofa until some silly hour of the morning and finished off in bed. A brief awakening around 05.00 and later around 07.00. T was not interested in getting up or waking up or doing anything that was not in bed. So H and I ventured out on our…
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New walk route
I passed a fair night with a short interruption. I was awake around 05.00 as is usual . Made brekkie, sorted the washing, flexed. All the usual stuff and then started on the long nag to get T up and running. Then it was the usual Monday morning run: collect Lena, drop her in Wallingford,…
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A Battered Friend
Another up and downer of a night. Until around 05.00 and then 07.00. T snoozed on. Or maybe, I should say, snored on. All the usual stuff happened until H and I left to trail around Castle Meadows. It was not a very beautiful day at that time of the morning. (09.00) But the day…
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Damper
It was another up and downer of a night. Awake around 05.00 but not bouncing to get going. Flexed and fell asleep again which caused my workout to run on. And on. And on a bit more. T was very unlively so, having tidied the car yesterday, it was the turn if the fridge today.…
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Wet Botty
It was an up and downer of a night, final full awakening around 05.00 and then trying to sneak a bit more sleep. I needed to keep an eye on the clock, as needs musted get T to Day Care on time. His preparations started early, not requiring much nagging, and so he was ready…
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In Recovery
Slept well on the sloping bed. But I’m wondering if the neck and back ache I am suffering relate to the slope. It all starts off wonderfully well and after an hour or two or three. I find myself sliding towards the edge of the bed. And then I have to roll over which is…
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Long Way Home – (for more than one of us)
I slept very nicely in the hotel, waking soon after 05.00. I had forgotten to take a USB plug for my charging cables. Cables – yes, I had remembered them, but plug – no. And although this is a modern/ish hotel, it does not have USB sockets. Luckily I had a mobile power pack with…
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Conveniently Cancelled
Useful message this morning. I slept well. I had a fair few chores to do this morning because today would be full on. Art, home by 14.00, and then straight off to Devon. its a full three hours from here. We needed to be at Pen’s exhibition by 16.30 and it closes at 18.00. So…
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Wet!
It was grey outside when I awoke after a very decent sleep. In fact, it was not long before it started to rain, and rain heavily it did. Puddles all over the roads etc. I had the usual stress of getting T up in time – he has day care, but we needed to pick…
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Oh Heidi… how beautiful art thou …
According to several people on our walk…And her head visibly swelled… What a dollop of a day … After yesterday, where a day of doing nothing, turned into a day of being quite busy and sociable, today stayed as nothing. I was awake briefly around 05.00 and then finally, after 07.00. I don’t really know…
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Magnificent McCartney
Boy – I ended the day watching his 2 hour set at Glastonbury. McCartney at 80 years old. 2 hours full on. Boy was he amazing, with a little help from Springsteen and Grohl. The fans – a fraction of his age, have clearly had time, in their brief life span so far, to familiarise…
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The Curious Incident of the Cows in the Daytime
Nice sleep. When I woke up, I had over two hours to get T up and ready for Daycare. It was only just about long enough. I did all the usual stuff and loaded T into the car and deposited him in Cholsey. Drop and dash is what I call it. Thereafter, H and I…
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And same old …
I appear to have had an extremely long sleep – over seven hours, so am I notified. On the sloping bed and all. After a brief essential loo trip, I finally awoke after 07.00. Shock! SHOCK!!! I only had two hours or so to get T up before the cleaners arrived. Two hours wasn’t that…
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Impressed
Yes … I am impressed. Someone tried to use my details to make a purchase , but Barclays were on it straight away, within minutes of the attempt. I was impressed. Another good sloping sleep, no headache and an early wake up around 05.00. That gave me time to consider booking a swim. So I…
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Solstice
Yes its here again! Downhill from now on. Darker nights. Winter. I can never understand why it is supposed to be the first day of summer. It always seems to herald the end of summer to me. A rather lovely sleep, and I was not awoken by a headache. After some flexing, I took a…
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Brenda Visits
I had another decent sleep on the slope. But I was awoken at some silly time by a persistent headache which required paracetamol in the hope of driving it away. i also awoke with most of the aches and pains of yesterday still present. In fact, I felt pretty crap. We had to get going…
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Father’s Day
Penny’s gift to T of cheese has slipped down very nicely, or the bits he has eaten have. T doesn’t know it is Father’s Day. I had another reasonable, not very sloping , sleep. Getting up was a bit of a struggle due to extreme achiness and a general below par feeling. Despite it being…
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50%
Evie has finished gym today. Forever. After a commitment of 4 days per week for the last 8/9 years. It finished with a fund raising muddy run for a friend with cancer. I slept very nicely on my lesser sloping bed I had no wish to get up, but there came a point in time…
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Sweltering (32C)
Oxford local radio / traffic poses a question to a presenter every morning – Today’s weather in a word? Yesterday’s word was HOT. Today’s was SWELTERING. The presenter was not wrong. But then I knew how it would be. My sliding sleep was particularly delicious and uninterrupted. but I was awake around 05.00 and flexing…
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Hot One (C27*)
I slept well on the slippery slope that is my place in the bed. And I got myself and H up early enough to avoid the main heat. Of which there was plenty. I had other commitments later anyway. I chose to walk her along the towpath at the end of Ferry Lane in Cholsey.…
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Relaxed
I slept well on the sliding bed- a relief after last night, whilst I sort out the way forward as to how to fix / replace it. I have established things cannot get any worse because the slats are resting on the drawers. I might even find something to give it all a bit of…
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Collapsing bed
You read it here first… there is a new Covid wave on the way – just in time to bugger up the summer holidays. Having had Omicron provides no immunity, and this is a variant which is more serious than omicron, attacking the lungs as earlier variants did. Poor old Brenda is still quite poorly…
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5 Years on
It is 5 years since the Grenfell fire, a day when we flew back from Greece over the burning block. Chris had mentioned something about a tower block fire, but I had not really taken it in. I don’t think any of us in Greece realised how serious it was at the start. The holiday…
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Annoying
T has excelled himself today. I had a reasonable sleep and made sure I was ready to go for a swim, leaving around 07.00. The pool was busier today but I still ploughed up and down OK. Well… sort of OK. T was predictably still in bed when I returned. Not in a very good…
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More Active
A better night, which allowed me to get up without feeling too knackered. It was just before 07.00, so I quickly booked myself in for a swim at Didcot. The Lido should have finished their building and retiling work by now so I might be off there again. This morning Didcot was very pleasant and…
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Potty Club
Happy Birthday George – 13 years old now! To finish the rubbish saga from yesterday… the food bin was no longer roadside this morning. I think the food got added to black waste. He must have gone exploring. Doh! I had one of those terrible nights… up and down, up and down. After so many…
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RUBBISH
Living with Alzheimer’s … Tomorrow is rubbish day… Tony, can you please put the black bin out by the car? Where is it? In the alleyway.What alleyway? The one down the side of the house. Trundle trundle trundle .. I’ve put the green bin out. NOT THE GREEN BIN!!!! Why Not? Because they won’t collect…
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Tete a Tete
Or thick as thieves? T just had to corner the Queen and have a little tête a tète. He introduced her to Heidi and explained she had come from Greece and almost certainly had no corgi DNA. The queen was very polite, feigning interest in T’s well drilled prattling. All this took place at a…
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Daisies
I slept well, mostly, though I was awake quite early and feeling lively. Well, I exaggerate. But I was at Streatley Rec with H soon after 06,00, home by 07.00. It was an absolutely stunning morning – blue skies, still, barley corn sunlight, heavy dew. H and I picked our way down to the river,…
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Musings
Slept well last night. Morning dawned fairly unpleasant and drizzly after all the rain of yesterday. We were scheduled to return home, check out being at 11.00. We loved the hotel and the comfort it provided and would happily go there again. Not cheap, but fantastic room and high quality cuisine. And as for dogs……
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Wet spell in Somerset
I had a slightly tricky night as I felt too hot and couldn’t work out how to open the windows windows. Despite the presence of double glazing, the catches hint that they should open. I resolved the problem by opening our main door to cool me down and then left the lobby doors wide open…
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Tony and the Stick
The stick 1… Tony 0 Yes… the stick won! Had a fabulous sleep considering it was a strange bed in a strange place. The day dawned chilly and unpleasant and H and I clambered up the steps to the secret garden so she could make herself more comfy for brekkie. She performed! The bathroom here…
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Holibobs
Yes – 3 nights away in a what appears to be very old, and very charming, and quite pricey, hotel. Last night was pretty good except I awoke at a very silly o’clock where the digit 4 figured. I departed the bed to insert some washing to tumble in the dryer. At wicked cost, no…
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Calmer
I had a wonderful sleep. Delicious. More or less uninterrupted – and I felt so much better when I woke up than I have recently. The only problem concerned my apple watch which had not charged up. I assumed it had fallen off the magnetic charger, and tried to charge it again, but it lost…
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Very busy
More of another ’here, there and everywhere’ sort of day. Busy. Never got a chance to stop anywhere for long enough to relax and snooze. But – I had a really good night’s sleep and felt so much better for it when I woke up – around 06.00, I think. T was going to day…
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Photos
Lots of photos today. I seem to have acquired a puppy. One that chews things…. A much better night, thank goodness, though not without its interruptions of strange scrapy noises from somewhere at the end of the bed. Stop imagining things, I told myself. So I stopped and went back to sleep. Then I started…
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Hairy Shopping
Still felt completely drained when I awoke this morning. The night had been pretty grim with a long wakeful period. The sky this morning was not a pretty sight. It was the sort of awakening which makes you not want to awaken. But T had to be taken to day care, and, once again, he…
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Clouds
Another interrupted night. I’ll blame the left-over beans and veg which had morphed into vegetarian shepherds pie by the time I had dumped mashed potato on top. Today dragged on slowly. Lena was doing housework today and I didn’t want to interrupt her efforts so left her to get on with it. And I think…
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Knackered
I awoke feeling tired, again, though I was in a very deep sleep for much of the night. I wriggled my way out of bed and engaged the electric kettle and the toaster. And the black currant jam. T was not very lively, nor was little H. So there was no hurry. Two kind mothers…
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Lost in Translation
I was up and down during the night like a yo yo. Probably thanks to all those beans and other veg which formed last night’s evening meal. Thus I felt a bit washed up this morning. I battled to get T up and off to daycare and battled to prepare myself. By the time we…
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Timur goes to school
Ali and Dave and F and G arrived in Mauritius about 02.30 our time. A subconscious clock must have awoken me as I was able to track their plane into land. And then go back to sleep. The cleaners, who are now Covid free, were due around 10.00 so it was necessary to arise and…
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Hygienist amongst other things
Slept well until about 04.30 and then I was restless. The Illis are now somewhere halfway to Mauritius and will arrive early Thursday at 05.30 Mauritius time. They are 3 hours ahead of us. So it will be 02.30 am here. Today dawned fairly miserable with dribbles of water doing what they do – dribbling…
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Bisham Abbey
Terrible night’s sleep . I fell asleep in the early evening on the sofa, made my way to bed soon after 21.00 and was awake at 0100. I had missed a phone call from Ali who is really up against it. They leave for Mauritius very early Weds morning. She has her own work to…
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Bits and Pieces
It was a day of this and that and lots of boring domesticity. I had errands to do out and about and also within. Every time I sat down to catch my breath, something cropped up so I was up and out and about again. No peace for the wicked, or the innocent for that…
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A very long day
I slept quite well, but was sort of niggled by stuff. I forgot to stop my flex workout. This is becoming a habit. A bad one. I briefly drifted off to sleep again and then got myself up and off to Waitrose. H still seemed knocked out by her escapades of yesterday, not even raising…
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Oh my Goodness! Where do I begin?
Spring Fever or what? Heidi…does her own thing. A good sleep; my awakening was preoccupied with exercise and the need to walk H. We were going out for the day and I wanted to walk H before delivering her to the Illis who were doing doggy daycare. H and I had a lovely sort of…
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Elena and Timur arrive
A restless night, knowing I had not completed the bean bag, so there was only one thing for it. Get up and sort it. So, at about 04.30, that is what I did. The bits I needed to finish were the closing up of the top and bottom where all the pieces meet, and putting…
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Should have known better
The day became busy! I had a rather bad night with a longish period of wakefulness. Not that it really bothered me. I just let it all wash over me. Hanging over me was the need to get H to the vet for 09.50 and for a walk before that. All sorts of chores were…
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Mini Emergency
A good sleep again. Usual sort of 05.00 awakening and success with Quordle for a change. The other two usually allow success but quordle…well… it gives as good as it gets. I received a ’help’ call from Ali. Dave was leaving for Germany, but the small car had a flat tyre, and, as a result,…
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Art… Maori …Tatto … Hot
I don’t think I have a future career as a tattooist. Today was the hottest day of the year. A good night passed and I was up around 05.00 as usual. Well… I exaggerate, I was a bit active but not very up. I can never really get going, despite some waggling, until I have…
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Sociable
I had a good sleep but needed to get going early because I had to get T to his new Social Club by 10.00. That meant starting preparations (nagging) at 08.00. I’m not sure he could remember from Friday but he was quite compliant and ready in time. H had to wait for her walk…
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Firing Squad
GOOD LUCK to Frankie and Evie who start their A Levels and GCSEs today. I went to bed very late after the Eurovision debacle. It’s all been computerised since I last watched it way back in the Fark Agrs. Or Dark Ages. I must admit to liking Ukraine’s song, and also the UK one which…
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Sort of …
The Day seems to gave gone on so long that I have forgotten how it started. But I do know it has been very warm and sunny. I was awake late – after 07.00. And in no hurry to do anything much. So it was the usual wordling, quordling and waffling and exchange texts that…
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Social Club
Fabulous sleep last night. A brief interruption and then straight back to sleep. Flexing, brekkie, shower etc, all done. Even T arose sensibly and in time for me to get him to his new ‘social club’ for a day out. ( Aka day care) He wandered in quite happily and chatted away to goodness knows…
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Knackerdom
Slept well. Up late. Well it was after 07.00 though I did surface around 06.00 but not for long. Last night, as they were making a cup of tea, after the riotous night out, Pen pointed out our milk was past its use by date ( 8 May). Just by a few days! That was…
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RAIN / STINKS – its all going on –
And then there is me – going potty! A day of T up and about is more than enough! The sleep was reasonably good though the night was more chilly than of late. I knew tomorrow was going to be busy with lots of small commitments taking place. After some flexing, I showered and headed…
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Arting
The night was alright but not amazing. I was awake at some silly o’clock again. (03.15) It rather serves me right, because drinking 2 litres of water during the evening is not very sensible. I did drift in and out of sleep until it was time to leave my bed for the day ahead. I…
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Another Paw Shower
A reasonable night with an early awakening and some exercise etc and then I fell asleep again. This is beginning to become a bit of a pattern. I’m not really sure what I did in the morning, but T did get up at a reasonable time.. I spent more time on the dreaded attendance allowance…
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Paw Shower
I had quite a decent night’s sleep; did early brekkie and exercise and went back to sleep again. Oops- I forgot I also sorted out the clothes washing and the dish washer! I awoke later, in response to a phone call. And then I stayed awake. For the rest of the day. Even. My morning…
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Funny Old Day
It’s been an annoying one – T has been in determined mode. Determined to do irritating things. I had another terrible night’s sleep, so I more or less gave up and made a long list of notes to do with filling in the Attendance Allowance form. There are pages of it. And pages. Help will…
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Booster Jab (4)
Another night with disturbances, but a better sleep than some I have experienced recently. There were bits and pieces about the elections that punctuated the disturbances, when I allowed them to. Nowadays it is nearly impossible for anything to penetrate my nighttime defences. My cunning gardening plans which involve buying only a few plants at…
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Dry Sandford Pit
It is a nature reserve. Quite an interesting one. Another torrid, fairly sleepless night. In the early hours, sleep fled and was replaced by busy brain syndrome which persisted until daylight arrived. It was a grey daylight, though the sun is to be congratulated on later shoving the clouds out of the way. I had…
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Heidi Goes Swimming
A so so night’s sleep with a bit of early disturbance after which I dozed off again. After a while, I dosed both of us up with tea and coffee and brekkie. And T cooperated and we were soon ready to be off and out. Millets Farm emporium, garden centre , foody shop, hawkery, animal…
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To Oz and Back
I slept very well! No Gordon Ramsay and broken down cars. But I was up and active around 05.00 because I had lots to do because today is the day Art resumes. So I poured liquid into both of us and early brekkie into T. I waggled my legs and then took H on a…
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People in the wrong places
I vote to abolish bank holidays. Today is a bank holiday. And this lot, pictured below, have at least apologised for disturbing my peace. However, I have not taken kindly to one of their children deliberately blowing a life jacket whistle (except its not a life jacket) at Heidi. Buoyancy Aid- I think that is…
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Big Brown Bull nearly meets Dead Bunny
I slept really well and awoke in daylight. I flexed and fed us both and contemplated the day ahead. You may have noticed that I am quite good at contemplating a day to come. Lying around was not going to be of much use, so H and I went walkies at Castle Meadows and down…
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Where is the Little White Dog?
I had a very good sleep and awoke to brightish daylight. Eleanor appeared a few moments later to join me over a hot drink. And weetabix – for her. T appeared to muddy the waters trying to show he was doing something useful which was actually nothing at all. Well, he tunefully sang Happy Birthday…
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Bluebells!
I had a good night, apart from a short interruption, that finally brought me to my senses after 07.00. Outside, it was dull and uninviting and not very warm. Eleanor appeared around the same time, so we carried on the usual early chit chat. And then considered the rest of the day. E decided she…
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Coffee and Chocolate Cake
What a sleep! It was daylight when I woke up! Since it was daylight, guilt caused me to get myself up and investigate the household . I concluded that Eleanor was either not up, or was out and about with Kally. There were no clues, short of waking them if they were asleep so I…
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Art Exhibition
Another not very good night’s sleep with a period of wakefulness. Eleanor informed she had enjoyed a good night when we eventually collided in the morning for a coffee and some brekkie. T remained in bed. E disappeared for a long walk to Streatley and back which would gave taken me all morning, but which…
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Eleanor comes to stay
Another wakeful night during the early hours. I trawled the internet and carried out some research, doing some shopping. Did some flexing, fed T and then fell asleep again until a more reasonable time. It was a toss up – should I walk H first and then shop? Or work it the other way round?…
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Humdrum
A horrid night where I had a sleepless interlude in the early hours and fell asleep again after some flexing and an early brekkie. Then I awoke with a bang around 10.00. I felt as though I had come round after a dose of anaesthesia. Next up – it was a question of wondering if…
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Καλω Πασχα
Happy Orthodox Greek Easter to all our friends and relatives out there. I had a good sleep, awaking at the usual stupidly early sort of time. And then I did all the usual sorts of things. Flexing/ feeding etc. The day looked as though it might gift us with some sunshine at some point. Then…
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Working Saturday
I was awake in the night as the Roberts family landed on their return from Cephallonia. And later, again, as they arrived back in Devon. I have vague memories of making T a midnight sandwich to stop him rifling his way through the kitchen. Perhaps it was a dream. But apart from those interruptions, it…
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Silly Twit
Yes I was very silly this afternoon when I couldn’t charge up my phone. I got myself in a right old panic. I thought the phone or its battery was dying, and all the ensuing implications overwhelmed me briefly. My two regularly-used Apple charging cables appeared to have bare wires or be worn where the…
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Beads to Beans
Another very quiet night and a good sleep. The doggies are so quiet at night … gone are the days when they would wake up to play. A little exercise for me, and I then threw some clothes on and we left the house just as the sun was rising – a big red orb…
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Perfect Night
What a difference compared with yesterday ! I had a really good sleep, waking up at around 05.30, ready for some flexing, after which I fell asleep again until about 07.00. Because it was to be a technical and creative day, I needed to get the dogs out early so the walk would not be…
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Dreadful Night
Don’t ask me why the night was so bad, but bad it certainly was. I just could not get to sleep for some reason or other. I spent a chunk of the night catching up on ’The Split.’ As a result, the day has seemed a bit ‘foggy.’ Or my brain has. I was off…
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Bank Holiday Monday – Refugees stuck in Lutsk
Our refugees did not travel to Lviv today due to the activity of Russian missiles. Several sites in Lviv were hit . I just hope they are not too late to make that trip. In Lutsk, where they are, the sirens have been going off every two hours. The day dawned rather unfriendly in as…
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Charlie leaves Crete. Our Refugee Family start their Journey.
I slept late, in fact it was a bit of an oversleep. Too late to be bothered with a swim. Bit of a struggle levering myself out of bed. However I attended to the usual routines and contemplated the day ahead. It is Charlie’s last day on Crete. A nice man (well, I expect he…
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Today is the day that was
Yes! A lot happened! Nice sleep – Waking around 05.00 whilst I contemplated the day ahead. I decided to be ultra organised. I would find the time to take H fir a quick early walk; go swimming; visit Sainsburys; relax for a bit; take H out for another walk; prepare an evening meal for us…
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The Day that never was
I awoke at the usual sort of time after the usual sort of night. And I did the usual sorts of things before showering. I hadn’t actually got as far as the shower when Oskar and Ruben arrived to redo the shed roof. They lifted the felt off the previous roof, laid down a nice…
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A Day of Mixed Emotions
After going to bed very late last night, I did sleep a while, and was still awake again around 05.00. There was really no excuse not to go for a swim, so I squeezed into my costume and off I went. The countryside was beautiful and the sun was rising over nearby hills. It was…
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Idle
It has been a very dissatisfactory day – I have done nothing much and T has done even less, sleeping most of the day. This is not good for him and I am wondering if it is a side effect of the memantine. A good sleep for me and a bit of early exercise and…
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I don’t know where to begin
The day has been such a seesaw – a roller coaster of emotions … from great news, but with complications, to the trough of dreadful disappointment and then to a sort of rational plateau into reality. It is all a state of flux. I slept nicely until around 05.00. Then I lay awake contemplating driving…
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Spirit was willing
A good, solid night asleep, until about 04.30. Then the spirit was quite willing and considering an early swim. But the flesh was not quite on task; and eventually the spirit fell asleep again, waking much later. By then the flesh was more willing and brekkie etc was made. I had a text from Pen…
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In a different way
Yes … busy but in a different way. And I started quite early. Thank goodness I enjoyed another good night’s sleep, after the two really bad ones. But then after my taxiing, I was in bed rather later than usual. Well after midders. I first awoke around the usual 5.30 ish. But I drifted off…
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Didn’t stop all day
After my night out on the village, I slept extremely well for the first time in two nights. And I awoke at some very unseemly time, around 07.00. A series of notifications were lying in wait for me to tell me that Chris, in Crete, had already walked over 4 km, cycled over 17km and…
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Moats and Baby Bunnies
I didn’t sleep that well agIn, but better than yesterday. I was up and getting brekkie amongst other chores and activity at the usual sort of time. And then I promptly fell asleep again. T is continuing his close relationship with the bed. However, I did manage to separate him from his favourite companion for…
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Battered 🍃💨🍃💨
I had the most terrible night’s sleep. I just couldn’t get myself into it – all that was on my mind was what was going on in Ukraine and Ali’s refugees. Will they? Won’t they? Are they alright? etc And then I got into detest Putin mode. Eventually I fell asleep… for a few minutes,…
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Lido Lunch
I awoke without really wanting to be awake. Coffee was on the menu but the cupboards have become a bit sparse, again. Brekkie was a bit thin on the ground. T did not eat his toast anyway. However, I did hear him fiddling in the kitchen during the night. Yesterday evening he did not eat…
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Last Art until May
Quite a good night, but I always end up overthinking when I have things to get up for. On a Tuesday, I have to take H for a quick run before leaving for Abingdon. I have missed the last two weeks thanks to Covid. H and I went for a wander down at Streatley Meadows.…
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Wonky Jars
The night was a bit up and down but I slept well in between. I was up quite briskly though the day was very uninviting. Grey and rainy. I spent some time unsuccessfully working on the jars’ painting. The paint didn’t really do what I wanted it too, and the jars certainly did not behave…
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Active – a bit
I was awake around 05.00 and contemplating a swim . The clock ticked away whilst I stayed awake and carried out the usual early routines. I was soon squeezed into my swimming costume and dry robe and ready to depart for the Lido just before 07.00. However, I had not taken into account the very…
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Interrupted
Yes, the night was definitely interrupted. In fact, it started with an interruption that Just would not give up. I eventually fell asleep. After a quick bit of flexing, I had to collect Fleur at 07.45 to get her to school, early, for a music lesson. The new car starts with barely a murmur when…
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Late awakening
It gets worse and worse … awoke at 0645 after nearly 7 uninterrupted hours of sleep. I was a bit groggy when I awoke. But then I performed the usual rituals. I also retested T who was still Covid positive. I remained negative. I had various chores to do, which included finding the Miele and…
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Out Earlier
I had another very nice sleep. And it was around 06.00 when I awoke – obviously I am still on the winter clock. I haven’t really noticed this happen in previous years, or maybe I just wake with daylight approaching. I arose and made breakfast with the few items that found lurking in the fridge.…
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Vacant Day
I had a really good sleep apart from nature calling and interrupting it a couple of times. It was around 06.00 when I awoke, as yesterday, but then that would have been good old 05.00 a few days ago. Brekkie and various chores followed. T was in grumpy mode so I ignored him. At least…
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Sounds
… of the day Great night’s sleep waking up at some silly late hour around 06.00. It was still very dark, so I found no particular inclination to arise. When daylight won its little battle over the dark, it was only a partial victory because a thick grey cloud blanketed everything to ground level. I…
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Today
Not too much of a rant today. Well a medium sized one towards the end. It has been a lovely warm day, bursting with sunshine, insects buzzing, butterflies dancing. T has been sweetness and light, forgetting nothing. And we were off and out early, enjoying the delights of a late spring, early morning. Mothering Sunday.…
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Stuck
This is turning into another tirade. Switch off and go no further! Just clearing my head. Absolutely fed up – stuck with no company other than Alzheimer’s man for another week. Can’t see anyone; can’t go anywhere , other than walk the dog in a wide open space. Then I have this lump of stupidity…
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Warm Cool Warm
That’s how the day went, one after the other. My sleep was pretty solid apart from a short interval in the night. Though it did take me a while to drift off after my sofa snooze. I performed the usual early activities whilst taking in the News, as is my wont. Despite T’s positive LFT…
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Lamb Night
Two blogs for the price of one. We were staying outside Palaiochora up a steep hill with green fields and stone walls guarding our approach to our favourite Greek town. (first hint of strange goings on) It was a very precipitously steep hill and T had walked well ahead of me and was a dot…
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Another Beautiful March Day
The spring of 2020 was like this. Sunny and warm. I slept very well, waking around 06.00, and not returning to sleep. I did a little flexing as well as the usual early activities. H showed little interest in leaving her bed. In fact she showed no interest, not even lifting her head, as I…
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When things don’t go your way…
Frustration builds … Had a very good night’s sleep, making up for the last two. But awoke quite late after some early wrestling with the bed covers etc and toes getting stuck amongst the duvet foot opening…and some other general discomfort. The day was looking good, so I reckoned the place to be was down…
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Deliveries
A tricky afternoon- T was difficult. I had a terrible night…although the congestion was much better and the snot appears to be drying up. Foggy brain and aches and pains continue but could be a lot worse. However, I awoke around 02.00 but could not settle back to sleep. A piece of toast helped. When…
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Still Alive
Just about! Nursing various Covid inflicted ailments. Hopefully they will all go away in a day or two. There are all sorts of chores that beckon , but too many aches and pains. I did sit outside for a while, once the sun had burnt off the frost. Not really a chore! The night was…
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I‘m a statistic
Yes… finally… after two years, Covid has come knocking at the door and has pushed its way inside. Great anniversary present. I will no doubt be added to the statistics. T is still negative. I enjoyed a good night’s sleep, buoyed up after a tasty meal at the Lido. I carried out the usual early…
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Full
Full up after a lovely meal at the Lido. Tomorrow is our 51st wedding anniversary. Last year, we were in lockdown and celebrated the golden years with a special zoom tea party, organised by Ali and Co. Tomorrow we will celebrate the 70th birthday of someone we do not know. We received two lovely surprises…
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Comic Relief
Not a fan. I find it all very tedious. However I can only praise the tireless efforts of the fundraisers for good causes. I don’t actually like some of the presenters much. In particular Alesha Dixon who can’t speak standard English. I’m a real geek in that I like it when people speak using correct…
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Sore…Wet…Mi