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 rubbish songs and costumes that stretched credulity. It was populated by strange people of indeterminate culture, sex and origin. The eastern bloc ganged up against the west to ensure voting was unfair. I’m not sure when Israel became a European nation. But now Australia appears to be in Europe too.
However – Liverpool are doing a grand job, gathering people in their thousands to support Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Tributes to Ukraine, it’s colors, the war, its geography and its performers have been strongly woven into the proceedings and at almost every turn, it has been pointed out that Liverpool is a mere understudy for a Ukrainian city.
If T could follow it, he would be proud of his Liverpudlian heritage. And a bit of the stardust has reached myself from Southport.
And as for the competition – I have to take my hat off to some of the rubbish that has been sung. All those losers and winners are making it a colorful spectacular occasion. I hope Liverpool donate some of the proceeds to rebuilding Ukraine.
This morning dawned chilly and grey. Nothing exciting about it except Thomas Sascherknocker (might be Schaferknacker) (or similar) promised us sunshine. Strange sunshine this. Sort of absent sunshine. Of the grey, damp, chilly variety.
We were due out to Lunch at Neal and Anne’s in Dun’s Tew near Bicester. That’s in the north of Oxfordshire, an hour away by car. Long county Oxfordshire.
So H and I were out and about in Castle Meadows relatively early for a Saturday. Access to the meadows was straight forward today. And they were quiet, and the mud was drying out. But there were steers back grazing. Noisy ones.
H cantered around, enjoying the young grasses and fields covered in buttercups.
We visited Waitrose, very briefly before our walk. I could see spaces in the near empty car park, so grabbed a few items and some chocolates for our hosts.
The journey to Duns Tew was horrendous. It took two hours instead of one, so we were very late. The reasons? Ridiculous slow traffic in Abingdon. But far worse, from Hinksey to Pear Tree, traffic was barely moving. Along the A34, the south bound carriageway was closed and the north bound one consisted of two lanes of near stationary traffic.
My frustration was deep in the extreme. The reason? Road works. Epic roadworks. Extreme road works. Great spreads of concrete in all directions. No traffic allowed on the southern carriageway.
Some social media comments I picked up.
Lunch, when we arrived, was delicious and a degree of hunger had built up. It was lovely to see Neal and Anne again and chat. They have very good understanding of T and his condition. And had even saved a very recent article for me listing Carers’ Assessment as a useful procedure. Which is what I did yesterday.
Because of the time our drive over there took, it was soon time to leave. The way back was a subject of conversation. Since the 34 south was closed a different route was going to be necessary.
We drove through Kidlington and into the middle of Oxford , avoiding the zero emissions zone, and only getting stuck on the Abingdon Road.
T failed to recognise any familiar places – eg the Crown Court, Beaumont Street etc. Well I suppose he was only a frequent visitor for about 40 years.
We had been out a long time so little H was very happy when we returned.
I fell asleep during all the sing song. The Swedish singer won by dint of lying trapped under a table in nude clothing and warbling away. (I said Eurovision was a strange affair.) Our girl was back in our familiar spot. Almost last. Shame. I liked her song.
I have a spot of bother moving – a pulled muscle in groin buttock area I think. It hurts! T offered to fix it.
Thought for the Day
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