Winter and technology can both "P" off . .. a boring post

 

I am fed up to the back teeth of cold, grey, miserable winter days, often accompanied by rain or worse, and too many bad storms to shake a stick at and as for the regular reports fromthe Daily Express warning me of 96 hours of snow, and all the main roads between us and the airport blocked, well they can "P" off too.  I just want to wake up tomorrow morning and find spring has arrived, though stepping into summer would be an even better improvement.  Apparently we are about to warm up, as that Scandinavian High Pressure is moving elsewhere.  Hopefully not anywhere near Jordan.

I have dedicated this afternoon to technology (this morning having been dedicated to grocery shopping so there is food in the freezer at least for Tam & Rosie at the weekend.)  I've done the recycling, and that has gone to the end of the lane early so I don't have to think about it in the morning.  I have blown the dust off my good camera, given it a quick sort out, having charged it for hours yesterday.  I stopped using it because it wouldn't download my photos. Today I started from scratch again, and had to learn how to programme the clock for starters.  I take a bow as normally I would hand it to one of my children, but have put my nose to the grindstone and told myself I just have to blardy get on with it.

Then I was trying to persuade it to load up some fresh photos but no, it was everything on the memory card or nothing . . .  Got THAT sorted (it was everything!) and then had a problem with my phone - I was trying to get rid of Meta AI  which had locked on to Messenger and wouldn't let me respond to posts on there!  Google had then decided it would take control  completely (which apparently it does do) and I couldn't even  switch the phone off.  Instead it went to the mike.  It refused to turn off.  I had to call in Tam then to find me advice online on how to fix it, and she did bless her.  So I followed the steps, and then it wouldn't turn on again.  I thought I'd killed it, as the exact instructions I was meant to follow couldn't be followed as the appropriate word didn't come up, so I used a close approximation.  It took ages to come back on but now I am in control again.  It's enough to drive me to booze!

One good thing, when I went to buy some decent pencils to take on holiday to sketch with, the ones I chose ended up being half the Sale price, instead of merely reduced.  6 good Winsor and Newton graphite pencils, in a tin, for £4.35.  I'd best have a practice with them tomorrow as it's a looooooooong time since I last drew anything.

Holidays

 Those were something we took regularly only when the children were smaller.  We didn't have much money, and stayed with family or friends.  When the money situation improved, we went camping, including up to Scotland (Aberdeenshire), and to Skye as well. Down to Dartmoor, down to friends in the New Forest. Mum was at home to look after the cats for us - with 9 of them, we couldn't just up sticks.

I've not done much travelling abroad.  A business trip to Belgium (can't believe I drove my car over there - the mini roundabouts - oh my goodness, I'd never seen them before and only passed my test the year before! Everything that Charlotte Bronte wrote about the Belgian people she met rang true . . . I've sailed in a friend's yacht to the Channel Islands and France, fishing for herring on the way.  Flown to Guernsey from Bournemouth - no sooner up than coming in to land! Tam took me to Florence (somewhere I had always wanted to go ever since seeing a version of Romeo and Juliet filmed there) about 9 years ago.  It was amazing and I would love to see a lot more of Italy.

When mum had died we didn't get much opportunity to get away.  Keith and I were going down to North Devon and then Dartmoor, called in to see our little Itsy pony who we had (foolishly) loaned to a forum friend down there.  I didn't like the way she was being starved (because she was "too fat" - no, she was Section C and they are built like tanks) and so we had one night down there before coming home, and used the holiday money to bring her back home.  Money was tight - and Itsy's care took priority.

Keith and I managed a few nights away down around the moor around 2018 I think it would have been.  Not long enough but it was lovely to visit our old haunts.  Then he became ill, and Covid came, and I've been nowhere since. I always wanted to travel abroad, but Keith wasn't keen - ok for him, as he'd travelled the world when he was in the Army . . .

So Jordan really IS the holiday of a lifetime.  I am slowly coming round to the idea it really IS going to happen. To me - who never thought I would go there in a million years.  The Isle of Man seemed about as exotic as it was likely to get . . .  I have a mental list now, of places I'd love to go, but with 4 cats, it would cost a fortune to have them in a cattery, and the boys would have to have jabs (the girls have them annually).  At least I can plan some more lengthy days out this spring and summer.

I hope it is sunny there - I need a bit of sunshine more than anything.  It has been grey and gloomy (and often wet) for so long.

Walking and gardening

 Danny visited today.  I took advantage of this fact and got him to plant the Cox's apple tree in the orchard.  I couldn't find the fold bar (with Tam?), had to borrow a spade from Chris (mine with Tam, along with my mattock) and we broke the rotten handle on the ancient mattock (probably pre WWII in vintage).  Ah well, the tree's in now and has a healthy covering of ancient muck heap, as do several more of the other fruit trees.  Just a couple more to do now.

Before he came, I went into town for my weekend paper, and got a card and gifts for Chris (birthday girl), and went round to hers with them.  Then I set to and pruned my Buddleias - one has died completely so will have to dig that out when I get the other mattock back. I pruned Jude the Obscure too, and hoiked up dead leaves of the Monbretias on the bank.  So it's a bit tidier, but my back is complaining now!

I've shucked some saved peas which were grown last year (Emma's) and will get those started in the greenhouse tomorrow.  That feels a positive step.

Dan and I had a walk too - just a couple of miles but at the speed he walks I almost had to jog-trot to keep up with him.  He did notice, and slowed down for me.  We saw one of the neighbours and I was able to ask how the funeral went yesterday (his aged m-in-law).  120 people there, in and outside our tiny church.  A good send off by anyone's standards.

I have had a couple of hours trying to count the blessed stitches for Peter Rabbit and have given myself a break from it.  Back to hand quilting this evening.

I nearly forgot - last night's talk was brilliant - exactly the topic to interest me (Celts to Christianity).  I was all fired up when I came home, and had managed to ask some intelligent questions.

I will reply to personals in the morning as tired now.

"I didn't want to think the cats might be eating you . . ."

 Well Marlene in Scotland, your tip about that Podcast seems to have worked a mini-miracle!  I slept so long last night I didn't wake up till 9.30!!! In fact, I was just making myself a cup of Earl Grey and my phone went - it was Tam, phoning to see if I was alright as I hadn't been on line/Messenger and she was worried I was dead.  In which case, the cats might after a few days, have to resort to eating me to stay alive!!!  Oh that did make me laugh!

I even have some energy this morning and despite the "2 deg - feels like - 6 deg!" on my computer weather check, I will take myself out for a walk.  Tam isn't coming for the weekend as she has come down with a nasty cold, so she is stuck at home saying "a picture" over and over as Rosie keeps pointing to the pictures on the walls (she was doing this last weekend and it sounded like she was saying "que?" like Manuel from Faulty Towers!) Rosie went to the child carer for the first time this week, a short taster session of 3 hours, and didn't cry when Tam left, was enjoying all the toys, and even slept! 

I have now been researching our itinerary for the holiday and will truly be walking in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia as we visit several Crusader Castles on our daily tours.  Now I am not so exhausted, a little excitement is starting to creep in. 

Danny is popping over tomorrow, which will be nice, and tonight I have a talk with the Heritage Society - Celtic to Christian by Dr Mike Williams.  Just up my street.  I will be wearing a mask though - daren't risk catching something nasty just before my holiday.

Walk on hold until I have found a couple of extra layers to wear as it is blardy perishing out there - they were right about it feeling like minus 6!

Where's my mojo gone?

 Gosh, I really DO need this holiday, as I have not a jot of energy.  Vacuumed round this morning and then had to rest before going to the Library, and looking for Rosie books for here in one of the charity shops.

Some books for Rosie, when she is here.  A good haul for just £3.

I slept better last night - many thanks to anon friend who posted about a podcast called Nothing Much Happens, which she said had helped her with her poor sleep.  Well, I have to say, I was very aware of my breathing slowing whilst I was listening - the woman's voice was very slow and soporific and it did seem to help. I only woke once (for the loo)  and then at around 6, my cat alarm clock went off!

 

I went to the Library too, and got these books (well the Brecon Gaols one was a renewal).  As I did the veg for my evening meal at breakfast time, I am now going to go and have yet another daytime nap . . ..

Exhausted - oh, and the holiday . . .

 I make no exaggeration when I write that I was awake for pretty much all of the night, and am absolutely wrung out and exhausted today. I know going out for a walk would be a good thing, or some gentle gardening, but it's all I can do to stay upright.  I have managed to strip (and after a sleep) remake my bed and did some ironing earlier on (but only to warm up). I watched a really good video from Nicola White Tideline Art, where she shared her other passion, going to car boot sales and fleamarkets, and her find of a little book of watercolours dated around and just after WW1.   The paintings were of the Scilly Isles and Nicola visited them, and paired up with another mudlarking friend who was a resident artist down there.  SO much archaeology - I remember a lecture at Uni where we were shown slides of a drowned landscape (Lyonesse?!) and stone walls reminiscent of the Dartmoor Reeves marching into the water, and aerial shots of dark areas which were stone burial chambers.  Now, I really WOULD love a holiday there . . .

Ah yes, my holiday.  I still cannot get myself excited about it - I still view it with  trepidation and anxiety. Lack of sleep definitely doesn't help me.  Once I'm there, I will love it, but I cannot even bring myself to look up any of the archaeology or places we are visiting.  This is very unlike me, but grief works in strange ways.  I must try and motivate myself and get a suitable suitcase down from the attic.  I need to get insect repellent (I ordered it after writing that).  Avon Skinsosoft is brilliant, and I need to get some wet-wipes for hand cleaning whilst out.

Sarah - Deirdre le Faye's book about Jane Austen has just arrived.  I am reading the chapter on Southampton, since I know it so well.  A shame that the house they rented in Castle Square, with its beautiful garden, which sounded absolutely lovely was long gone even before So'ton was so heavily bombed in WWII. I imagine it must have been fairly close to the Tudor House Museum in Upper Bugle Street.  It's lovely to think of them picnicking in the ruins of Netley Abbey when her brother Edward Knight and his family and crossing the Solent by boat to visit Hythe.  All places I know well of course.

Right, this won't do.  I must stir my stumps, as mum used to say - an expression which has survived hundreds of years (recorded in Elizabethan times).

Update: had a short but brisk walk.  Then went and got my hair trimmed in town.  There's a small hairdressers who are often busy, but weren't when I went past, so I went in to book a trim and she did me there and then, pensioners' rate! At least it won't look like I have cut it myself if I find I can't use my tongs in Jordan.  Sure Gabby has an adaptor if needed though.

A little bit of childhood never leaves us

 

I bought this for Rosie from a Charity Shop today (for when she is older of course).  I read these Brambly Hedge books to my girls, who loved them.  The detailed illustrations still lead me into a dream world of little Victorian mice, and wonderfully laid out kitchens and fully stocked larders, with more than a nod to Beatrix Potter's characters.  I could daydream my way through these stories still, about 6 years old in my head . . .

I took myself off to the Nursery near Crossgates, in the hope they would have some deep red Hellebores, but no such luck - colours were pale or a washed out deep red.  Instead I bought an Aubretia and these seeds above.  I need to re-sew the wild flower area by the orchard (hah, and plant my latest apple tree, the Cox, too).  I had a wander round the garden after I had been down the track to bring back my recycling boxes. It was good to get some fresh air in my lungs and to see what needed doing first in the tidying up plans.

I have decided not to go to my Quilting group this week as not feeling 100% (it's a long drive, about 100 miles round trip), and if it's not raining I need to be outside and tidy out in the garden.  

Tea tonight was a stir fry - I get the Aldi Oriental stir fry pack, a sweet chilli sauce and I added a big chicken breast as it's doing two meals.  I added a portion of rice and very tasty it was too.

Nothing much to report, and it was a resting and reading day yesterday.

P.S.  Finished another JD Kirk book today (read it flat out, as resting) and am now about to start on An Isolated Incident by him too.

I'm back sewing Peter Rabbit and have been greatly enjoying the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I find it very comforting, and at the moment anything that brings me comfort is welcome.