What really makes me tick

 

A view for Andrea.  This was taken on a walk earlier this year, when I went up through the woods onto the steep hill that is best walked down and not UP!

I got my finger dressed this morning but it has gone two steps forward and one back as there wasn't a piece of gauze directly over the finger/wound and so it got ripped open and several bits of sticky holding it together aren't any more.  Chap put an extra thick wad of dressing on and now if I need to wash up or wash my hair, my index finger will only fit in the thumb on my rubber gloves . . .  Back on Saturday to have it removed, but I said I was going to Malvern Flea on Sunday so it would need a covering still.

I did a bit of shopping, went to the Charity shops and got two lovely t-shirts, one with cats on.  That's from M&S and has a Day Dreams Duvet Days tag on it so is meant to be slept in but I shall use it as a t-shirt.  The other one is another coral t-shirt from Primark.  I donated my Sanderson curtains and 3 books - was reading a Susan Hill but it was upsetting to read (little boy kidnapped).  Not relaxing bedtime reading.  That and another of hers went.

I topped up with fuel - should have done it last night as Tesco haven't waited around and it's gone up to £141.9 per litre already.  I'm glad I ordered the heating oil when I did.

From that same walk. Sorry, phone photo again.

This afternoon I had a yen to watch a few Drew Pritchard programmes - I think Keith and I saw just about every one.  We weren't keen when he bought rusty old rubbish.  Our favourites were when he and Tee went  abroad to markets and antique shops.  Finding antiques and collectables were what made Keith and I tick and we were the perfect partners when we did this together.  Sometimes it was almost like greyhounds being let off a leash and we would be amongst other dealers, traders and collectors who set off at a run to the first stalls.  DP had it absolutely right when he said some of his best buys (things often he would never part with) were bought at first glance/instant decision.  It was the same for us - literally just gut feeling decisions.  I had one of those when I passed over the lead horse last month (good gut feeling - bad price!) and am praying it is back still unsold this time, and I will haggle - which is what I should have done last time.  I knew it would go no further than me though!

Of course, watching those programmes  brought back memories and tears hit me again.  I love going to the Fairs, but it's not the same without Keith.  There are hundreds of people there, friends too buying and selling, but it can still feel so lonely.  I miss having Keith happily working in his workshop on his latest restoration project, his excitement at getting a good buy - especially if it turned out to be a VERY good buy, and some of them did.  We lived off our wits, and our knowledge, and I'm not intending to give that up yet. I am just having to re-invent myself to this new existence on my own.

I've got my friend Pam for company on Sunday, and she's driving me, bless her.  I'll treat her to one of the lovely plants which are always on offer there.