Thursday, September 24, 2009
Last Thursday and this Thursday
This Thursday has been rather routine really.
Last Thursday was much better!
We were in North Wales and we left Ekatarina in school and Ashley at home; we had a day out with Pete and Jean.
They have lived on the Lleyn Peninsula for over 20 years. We knew them first in Crawley of course.
I knew Jean first in 1955 - though our social lives at school didn't cross very much. Bill knew Pete when they were both apprentices at Boxall and Collins.
They married in 1962 - it was actually the same day as the first date for Bill and me.
A little later we met up again in their little flat and we have been part of each others' lives ever since.
We drove across the lovely landscape of the Lleyn - to what is the Lands End of North Wales.
We walked and talked and admired the wonderful views and the fresh air.
We looked across to Bardsey Island.
I wonder if one day we could take a boat trip from Aberdaron to the island.
It has been part of my world since the holiday I had with friends of my father on Anglesey, when I was 11. The older people - (the university students) sailed to Bardsey Island for a night and I was impressed with the tales of dangerous seas and remote islands.
And there it is - with Bill's camera ready to take one of the many snaps we took.
Do enlarge it with a click of the mouse to see more details, including the lighthouse.
There is a good path on the hills above the cliffs - part of coast guard work.
There is Pete climbing the path.
I love the barren untamed spaces - just bare rock and heather.
Jean relaxes for a moment.
Guess what they are talking about! 
Today - I look back on a day when I haven't done enough really.
Last Thursday was much better!
We were in North Wales and we left Ekatarina in school and Ashley at home; we had a day out with Pete and Jean.
They have lived on the Lleyn Peninsula for over 20 years. We knew them first in Crawley of course.
I knew Jean first in 1955 - though our social lives at school didn't cross very much. Bill knew Pete when they were both apprentices at Boxall and Collins.
They married in 1962 - it was actually the same day as the first date for Bill and me.
A little later we met up again in their little flat and we have been part of each others' lives ever since.
We drove across the lovely landscape of the Lleyn - to what is the Lands End of North Wales.
We walked and talked and admired the wonderful views and the fresh air.
We looked across to Bardsey Island.
I wonder if one day we could take a boat trip from Aberdaron to the island.
It has been part of my world since the holiday I had with friends of my father on Anglesey, when I was 11. The older people - (the university students) sailed to Bardsey Island for a night and I was impressed with the tales of dangerous seas and remote islands.
And there it is - with Bill's camera ready to take one of the many snaps we took.
Do enlarge it with a click of the mouse to see more details, including the lighthouse.
There is a good path on the hills above the cliffs - part of coast guard work.
There is Pete climbing the path.
Oh dear! We spent time discussing how hills are so much more difficult for us all these days!
Now for more snapshots of us all.
I love the barren untamed spaces - just bare rock and heather.
Jean relaxes for a moment.
Guess what they are talking about!
No - not the beautiful views..... not even the interesting history!
They are discussing the various facilities on their cameras - photography being important to both of them.
I wandered off briefly and took some pictures along the cliffs.
I wandered off briefly and took some pictures along the cliffs.
And then I looked along the peninsula eastwards.
Bangor would be about 40 miles away.
Today - I look back on a day when I haven't done enough really.
I described and listed 6 items for EBay.
The next listing will be on October 18th. I must get a whole load of things ready for then.
Bill continued to tidy the garden.
It is full of colour still - so hardly the time to "put it to bed" for the winter.
The plants we bought on Tuesday are now all planted and look great.
This afternoon I was neighbourly and went to see Frieda. She asked if we could get more Ibuprofen for her. This is what the doctor prescribed for her a while back. She has run out and despite our nagging she still has made no further appointment to see the doctor. Maybe she won't get round to it - she wouldn't want to "waste the doctor's time".
I feel sad about one snip of news which reflects an awful lack of neighbourliness - though I won't feel guilty about it, for it has not been our fault.
Just round the corner live a man and a woman. We don't know their relationship - could be husband and wife, could be mother and son.
We have never seen the woman.
The man is rude and standoffish and has a bad reputation concerning drink problems. He has dogs around which are not cared for properly.
The woman was always at home because we knew she had multiple sclerosis.
The man's face always seemed to imply "keep your distance".
The woman died yesterday - an unknown person to all her neighbours and thus her death is of little consequence. Except that I think we should have known and cared.
I will end on the good news that Ashley has a new computer. The old one was giving much trouble. A computer technician seemed to revive it - and it was working well last weekend; but the last breakdown was the final final straw and Ashley has a new machine and a need to sort it all out.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Was this the hoped for day of rest?
Still no Welsh photos to share with you.
I have been busy today at the computer, but not dealt with any more photos. I think Bill has done most of his.
I have been wrapping and selling and dealing with accounts and paperwork.
Today I sold a book written in English, but translated from the Russian. It will be posted to a German man in China.
I also sold 5 books on lace making, including one written in Dutch.
So, EBay has been successful for me today.
I also did the amazing magic trick of making the ironing pile disappear!
Bill has been out in the garden tidying, moving things, planting the new trailing winter pansies and so on.
It has looked quite grey out there today - and has drizzled a bit.
But he felt very warm.
We might make a trip to Gatwick in the next few days. I just read on the BBC Sussex site that the driverless train link between the 2 terminals will cease to be on the 28th.
Until next summer passengers will have to use buses.
Some other link should have been completed by then.
We think one last trip on the driverless train would be fun.
I am yawning. Time for a drink and some sleep.
Goodnight.
I have been busy today at the computer, but not dealt with any more photos. I think Bill has done most of his.
I have been wrapping and selling and dealing with accounts and paperwork.
Today I sold a book written in English, but translated from the Russian. It will be posted to a German man in China.
I also sold 5 books on lace making, including one written in Dutch.
So, EBay has been successful for me today.
I also did the amazing magic trick of making the ironing pile disappear!
Bill has been out in the garden tidying, moving things, planting the new trailing winter pansies and so on.
It has looked quite grey out there today - and has drizzled a bit.
But he felt very warm.
We might make a trip to Gatwick in the next few days. I just read on the BBC Sussex site that the driverless train link between the 2 terminals will cease to be on the 28th.
Until next summer passengers will have to use buses.
Some other link should have been completed by then.
We think one last trip on the driverless train would be fun.
I am yawning. Time for a drink and some sleep.
Goodnight.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Time at the hospital.
This evening I feel physically and emotionally drained.
This morning I had an appointment at the hospital to see the urology team. Outpatients usually runs quite smoothly, but today things were all behind.
We sat and waited for an hour and a half - leaving me a long time to wonder why my notes had been taken through to the top man, Mr Swinn.
It would be Mr Swinn and Catherine, the MacMillan nurse.
I tend to think that he sees only the people on their first visit or if there are particular problems.
It seems he also likes to keep tabs personally on his patients too. I hadn't seen him for quite a while.
I must tell you that Mr Swinn - is gorgeous! He is charming, polite, friendly and very good looking.
And I love it when he praises me for the way I have dealt with things. Of course he doesn't see me when I am being a resentful wimp! I put on a good show for him.
Today really was routine.
I was surprised to learn that the urine test I had done fairly recently for the GP showed signs of infection. I was not called in. so I assumed all was well. But Mr S thought it best anyway that I had not been dosed up with antibiotics.
I had to do another test today - this time to check for rogue roaming cancer cells.
Hooray, that this is being checked - but a bit of a downer to be reminded that it could show up again very easily.
I had a couple of issues to discuss - which actually Mr S couldn't answer - except to say that if there is not too much distress or problem then I shall just have to put it down to me just being the way I am and having unusual odd symptoms.
I shall return in 6 months time, with instructions to get a chest XRay before then.
We saw Bill's sister, Jane at the hospital. Poor Jane has a number of things wrong and is being seen by a number of different consultants, including Mr S. She often has appointments. I had no idea if she was due any appointments this week - or even if she was back from a week's holiday.
But as we sat waiting I joked to Bill that if we sat much longer we would see his sister..... and in she walked!
This afternoon I have allowed emotional and physical fatigue to take over. I have not managed to do as much as I had thought. I just allowed myself to play some games.
I have begun to sort out photos from our Welsh trip. Maybe we take too many.
I look forward to a pottering round day at home tomorrow. There are boxes of things we have bought to sell that need sorting. There is ironing to be done. And so on.
Right, I have a date with the TV. I am determined not to miss the programme about the choir master - Gareth Malone, lovely man and lovely name.
This morning I had an appointment at the hospital to see the urology team. Outpatients usually runs quite smoothly, but today things were all behind.
We sat and waited for an hour and a half - leaving me a long time to wonder why my notes had been taken through to the top man, Mr Swinn.
It would be Mr Swinn and Catherine, the MacMillan nurse.
I tend to think that he sees only the people on their first visit or if there are particular problems.
It seems he also likes to keep tabs personally on his patients too. I hadn't seen him for quite a while.
I must tell you that Mr Swinn - is gorgeous! He is charming, polite, friendly and very good looking.
And I love it when he praises me for the way I have dealt with things. Of course he doesn't see me when I am being a resentful wimp! I put on a good show for him.
Today really was routine.
I was surprised to learn that the urine test I had done fairly recently for the GP showed signs of infection. I was not called in. so I assumed all was well. But Mr S thought it best anyway that I had not been dosed up with antibiotics.
I had to do another test today - this time to check for rogue roaming cancer cells.
Hooray, that this is being checked - but a bit of a downer to be reminded that it could show up again very easily.
I had a couple of issues to discuss - which actually Mr S couldn't answer - except to say that if there is not too much distress or problem then I shall just have to put it down to me just being the way I am and having unusual odd symptoms.
I shall return in 6 months time, with instructions to get a chest XRay before then.
We saw Bill's sister, Jane at the hospital. Poor Jane has a number of things wrong and is being seen by a number of different consultants, including Mr S. She often has appointments. I had no idea if she was due any appointments this week - or even if she was back from a week's holiday.
But as we sat waiting I joked to Bill that if we sat much longer we would see his sister..... and in she walked!
This afternoon I have allowed emotional and physical fatigue to take over. I have not managed to do as much as I had thought. I just allowed myself to play some games.
I have begun to sort out photos from our Welsh trip. Maybe we take too many.
I look forward to a pottering round day at home tomorrow. There are boxes of things we have bought to sell that need sorting. There is ironing to be done. And so on.
Right, I have a date with the TV. I am determined not to miss the programme about the choir master - Gareth Malone, lovely man and lovely name.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday - not yet a day of rest.
I am no less tired this evening.
I have already fallen quite deeply asleep on the sofa.
One day I will catch up with some badly needed rest.
You will be pleased with me when I tell you that I said I was completely unavailable to do an extra day in the shop on Wednesday. We have nothing planned - and nothing is exactly what we need.
The shop was busy today.
There were lots of sales - and guess who did most of the work?
Yes, that's right. Bill and I didn't go out anywhere, we stayed in the shop and worked.
OK - Monika had good reasons to be out for a long time I guess.
She came in this morning, slightly dramatically feeling emotional because her last child moved off to university at the weekend.
Now don't get me wrong - I am emotional about these things too. I have stood in the vacated room and wept too.
But Monika's daughter is at Royal Holloway - about half an hour's drive away. And guess who we saw today? Yes Belinda needed some help.
Monika drove to collect her. Later they will drive to her old school to collect all her A Level art work - and then back to the college.
Julie, our other companion, has all the wisdom of old age - and sometimes likes to put us all in our place because we are young and know nothing!
She potters about for about 4 hours and that is her day in the shop. She leaves at half past two.
And whilst she is there she needs trips to this shop and that shop and to see a friend.
But it has been fun to sell all kinds of things and see and help all kinds of people.
I actually like Mondays very much.
But Monday must soon end. It is time for a quick drink and then off to bed.
Good night.
I have already fallen quite deeply asleep on the sofa.
One day I will catch up with some badly needed rest.
You will be pleased with me when I tell you that I said I was completely unavailable to do an extra day in the shop on Wednesday. We have nothing planned - and nothing is exactly what we need.
The shop was busy today.
There were lots of sales - and guess who did most of the work?
Yes, that's right. Bill and I didn't go out anywhere, we stayed in the shop and worked.
OK - Monika had good reasons to be out for a long time I guess.
She came in this morning, slightly dramatically feeling emotional because her last child moved off to university at the weekend.
Now don't get me wrong - I am emotional about these things too. I have stood in the vacated room and wept too.
But Monika's daughter is at Royal Holloway - about half an hour's drive away. And guess who we saw today? Yes Belinda needed some help.
Monika drove to collect her. Later they will drive to her old school to collect all her A Level art work - and then back to the college.
Julie, our other companion, has all the wisdom of old age - and sometimes likes to put us all in our place because we are young and know nothing!
She potters about for about 4 hours and that is her day in the shop. She leaves at half past two.
And whilst she is there she needs trips to this shop and that shop and to see a friend.
But it has been fun to sell all kinds of things and see and help all kinds of people.
I actually like Mondays very much.
But Monday must soon end. It is time for a quick drink and then off to bed.
Good night.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Final Bangor activity and home.
Call that a car boot sale Bangor?
No way!
Ashley, Bill and I went to the regular Bangor car boot sale this morning. Its on every Saturday and Sunday.
We had opted not to go to the one on Anglesey at the show ground, because we had read in the local paper that the Anglesey Marathon would start and finish there.
Sad really.... because we heard that the car boot sale was on as well.
The Bangor affair takes place in an empty large work shop/warehouse.
When it was first established the inside housed regular dealers and junk merchants and outside the general public could set up their stalls.
Now, basically it is just the junk merchants. Their stalls are permanently set up, so presumably vary little from week to week.
This morning, at 8 o'clock, many of the stalls had not opened up.
Indeed some of the stall holders were just not around. I was looking at some glass on a table when I was approached by somebody from another stall.
"Oh... she's on holiday", I was told.
So, a huge community of junk sellers - alright for them maybe, but not for us.
We were determined to find something to buy and each of us did - but very little.
Ashley quoted from the Evelyn Waugh diaries he had found about the weekend with the guests from hell.
Evelyn Waugh was a depressive, wine drinking, opium taker!
"The Harringtons (or some such name) came. We did little to entertain them and they were very boring."
We all laughed.
I do hope we didn't fit into that sort of category of house guest!
Then it was time to go.
Sad, of course.
It will now be 5 months until we meet again.
We decided to take a route which included a brief part not travelled by us.
This part was the bit that we failed to reach in May of last year when the car was almost thumped into a stream. It was a traumatic day.
The small junction is very clearly etched in my memory and I felt a part of me was there, at that spot. It vividly looked just as I recalled.
Just as then - we had some lunch in Mold.
It was meant to be a quick stop - but Sunday lunchtime meant that the Mold Wetherspoons was full and busy.
But I enjoyed my jacket potato with chilli con carne and salad.
From there the journey seemed long and tedious - in fact it was long. Traffic moved slowly in parts.
The M40 was congested from Oxford onwards and the M25 was exceedingly congested from the M40 round to the M3 junction -it was a long slow crawl.
The total journey time was 7 and three quarter hours.
Home now though.
The washing machine is set to come on at 3 in the morning.
And tomorrow we are up early to sort things out for a day in the shop.
Later in the week we will start to sort out some photographs.
No way!
Ashley, Bill and I went to the regular Bangor car boot sale this morning. Its on every Saturday and Sunday.
We had opted not to go to the one on Anglesey at the show ground, because we had read in the local paper that the Anglesey Marathon would start and finish there.
Sad really.... because we heard that the car boot sale was on as well.
The Bangor affair takes place in an empty large work shop/warehouse.
When it was first established the inside housed regular dealers and junk merchants and outside the general public could set up their stalls.
Now, basically it is just the junk merchants. Their stalls are permanently set up, so presumably vary little from week to week.
This morning, at 8 o'clock, many of the stalls had not opened up.
Indeed some of the stall holders were just not around. I was looking at some glass on a table when I was approached by somebody from another stall.
"Oh... she's on holiday", I was told.
So, a huge community of junk sellers - alright for them maybe, but not for us.
We were determined to find something to buy and each of us did - but very little.
Ashley quoted from the Evelyn Waugh diaries he had found about the weekend with the guests from hell.
Evelyn Waugh was a depressive, wine drinking, opium taker!
"The Harringtons (or some such name) came. We did little to entertain them and they were very boring."
We all laughed.
I do hope we didn't fit into that sort of category of house guest!
Then it was time to go.
Sad, of course.
It will now be 5 months until we meet again.
We decided to take a route which included a brief part not travelled by us.
This part was the bit that we failed to reach in May of last year when the car was almost thumped into a stream. It was a traumatic day.
The small junction is very clearly etched in my memory and I felt a part of me was there, at that spot. It vividly looked just as I recalled.
Just as then - we had some lunch in Mold.
It was meant to be a quick stop - but Sunday lunchtime meant that the Mold Wetherspoons was full and busy.
But I enjoyed my jacket potato with chilli con carne and salad.
From there the journey seemed long and tedious - in fact it was long. Traffic moved slowly in parts.
The M40 was congested from Oxford onwards and the M25 was exceedingly congested from the M40 round to the M3 junction -it was a long slow crawl.
The total journey time was 7 and three quarter hours.
Home now though.
The washing machine is set to come on at 3 in the morning.
And tomorrow we are up early to sort things out for a day in the shop.
Later in the week we will start to sort out some photographs.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Lots of being busy
More tired than ever!
Back to Anglesey this morning to a car boot sale at a field in Benllech. Successful buying - books for everybody, clothes for Ekatarina and even some things to sell.
The sun didn't appear so we didn't go down to the beach.
Instead we called in at a local farmer's market held in a school hall. There were lots of tasty samples and we succumbed to some buying.
Bill took Liz to do some shopping - good to have a car around sometimes. She bought 2 big sacks of seed for bird feeders.
Then Bill and I took Ecky to Penrhyn Castle. It was a good afternoon - lovely interior and grounds.
Ekatarina was invited to make pot pourri in the kitchen - thyme, rosemary, caraway seeds, cinnamon etc crunched up in a pestle and mortar. It smells great I look forward to having mine at home.
Sausage and mash for dinner tonight.
Ekatarina has a cold.
I have my.... ahem... digestive problems.
Early to bed once again I think.
Tomorrow we will go to another boot sale and then pack up our things to be on our way. I really would like to be back home early evening.
Back to Anglesey this morning to a car boot sale at a field in Benllech. Successful buying - books for everybody, clothes for Ekatarina and even some things to sell.
The sun didn't appear so we didn't go down to the beach.
Instead we called in at a local farmer's market held in a school hall. There were lots of tasty samples and we succumbed to some buying.
Bill took Liz to do some shopping - good to have a car around sometimes. She bought 2 big sacks of seed for bird feeders.
Then Bill and I took Ecky to Penrhyn Castle. It was a good afternoon - lovely interior and grounds.
Ekatarina was invited to make pot pourri in the kitchen - thyme, rosemary, caraway seeds, cinnamon etc crunched up in a pestle and mortar. It smells great I look forward to having mine at home.
Sausage and mash for dinner tonight.
Ekatarina has a cold.
I have my.... ahem... digestive problems.
Early to bed once again I think.
Tomorrow we will go to another boot sale and then pack up our things to be on our way. I really would like to be back home early evening.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Within alien Anglesey.
Been to the alien world of Anglesey today and I am exhausted.
Ashley directed us to Parys mountain, site of a huge 17th 18th 19th century copper mine.
It was all reds, oranges and fantastic.
The colours were fantastic - the size was mind boggling, and we loved it.
The landscape had a very alien quality and it is no wonder that episodes of Blakes 7 and Dr Who have been filmed there.
We walked for nearly 3 hours.
Our pictures during next week of course,
Lunch in Amllwych.
Picked Ecky up from school - hooray, its Friday and no school for 2 days!
We walked again a little - across the fields by the school, showing that it is sited on the extreme upper edge of the town.
Home for make believe games.
I have dozed through Strictly Come Dancing.
Up early for a car boot sale in the morning.
Goodnight.
Ashley directed us to Parys mountain, site of a huge 17th 18th 19th century copper mine.
It was all reds, oranges and fantastic.
The colours were fantastic - the size was mind boggling, and we loved it.
The landscape had a very alien quality and it is no wonder that episodes of Blakes 7 and Dr Who have been filmed there.
We walked for nearly 3 hours.
Our pictures during next week of course,
Lunch in Amllwych.
Picked Ecky up from school - hooray, its Friday and no school for 2 days!
We walked again a little - across the fields by the school, showing that it is sited on the extreme upper edge of the town.
Home for make believe games.
I have dozed through Strictly Come Dancing.
Up early for a car boot sale in the morning.
Goodnight.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
To the end of Wales
Lovely day today with our old friends - not suggesting you are old of course, P & J, but we have known each other a long time now.
We took Ekatarina to school and saw the lovely new school building.
Then we took Ashley to Morrison's for heavy things - easier in a car than on the bus.
And then to Pete and Jean's - about 20 miles away.
We had a cup of tea and then drove westward along the north side of Lleyn Peninsula until we reached the end - the Lands End of North Wales.
The landscape and coast are beautiful and dramatic - all pink heather and rocks.
We were as far as we could go - but just a little further west is Bardsey Island. lying in the sea like a huge tadpole.
We walked and talked and took pictures.
Then we drove back a little way to Aberdaron - a wide sweeping bay.
We stopped at a pub and ate a light lunch overlooking the sand and sea. The promised sun had not appeared but we convinced ourselves that it was not too cold to sit out on the terrace,
We visited the little church on the hillside.
The poet, R S Thomas had been the vicar here and there are exhibits relating to his life and work.
The graves are packed in on the steep slopes above the bay - certainly a beautiful spot to rest in peace.
When we got back to P & J's we found a policeman investigating our car.
Bill had moved it and parked outside a neighbour's house - a neighbour who was away from home just now.
The story is silly and slightly complicated.
Neighbour's daughter is in Spain and on receiving an email from her father thought "Strange, this can't happen - father is not at his computer, he is in the Lake District."
Daughter phoned a friend who drove by the house to check if there was a problem and spotted strange car outside.
Friend phoned police!
We had another cup of tea, admired P & J's new garden room, created from an old outbuilding. This makes it sound like a large estate - it is not.
The garden room looked lovely. Well done P & J.
Then we drove back to Bangor and cooked fish en croute with little boiled potatoes.
Time for bed soon.
We'll have a day out with Ashley tomorrow - a trip to Paris Mountain on Anglesey is planned.
We took Ekatarina to school and saw the lovely new school building.
Then we took Ashley to Morrison's for heavy things - easier in a car than on the bus.
And then to Pete and Jean's - about 20 miles away.
We had a cup of tea and then drove westward along the north side of Lleyn Peninsula until we reached the end - the Lands End of North Wales.
The landscape and coast are beautiful and dramatic - all pink heather and rocks.
We were as far as we could go - but just a little further west is Bardsey Island. lying in the sea like a huge tadpole.
We walked and talked and took pictures.
Then we drove back a little way to Aberdaron - a wide sweeping bay.
We stopped at a pub and ate a light lunch overlooking the sand and sea. The promised sun had not appeared but we convinced ourselves that it was not too cold to sit out on the terrace,
We visited the little church on the hillside.
The poet, R S Thomas had been the vicar here and there are exhibits relating to his life and work.
The graves are packed in on the steep slopes above the bay - certainly a beautiful spot to rest in peace.
When we got back to P & J's we found a policeman investigating our car.
Bill had moved it and parked outside a neighbour's house - a neighbour who was away from home just now.
The story is silly and slightly complicated.
Neighbour's daughter is in Spain and on receiving an email from her father thought "Strange, this can't happen - father is not at his computer, he is in the Lake District."
Daughter phoned a friend who drove by the house to check if there was a problem and spotted strange car outside.
Friend phoned police!
We had another cup of tea, admired P & J's new garden room, created from an old outbuilding. This makes it sound like a large estate - it is not.
The garden room looked lovely. Well done P & J.
Then we drove back to Bangor and cooked fish en croute with little boiled potatoes.
Time for bed soon.
We'll have a day out with Ashley tomorrow - a trip to Paris Mountain on Anglesey is planned.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The day we went to Bangor.
The day we went to Bangor was going so well.
Then we ground to a halt on the M6.
The message boards, at least, were able to tell us of the accident ahead. Umpteen emergency vehicles got by on the hard shoulder and we waited for them to do their jobs.
In many ways we were fortunate because we were close to the accident with a long, long tail back behind us which took much of the afternoon to clear.
Once the emergency vehicles had left we were on our way quite quickly.
We arrived at Bangor at just gone 4 o'clock. Ashley and Ecky were back from school. We enjoyed a cup of tea and then went shopping. We went to Lidl. I made up a bit of a menu for the next few days as we went round.
Home again - and Ecky had a bath. As she played with all the bubbles we told stories about the land of bubbles and all the people who lived there. This land is in the sky.
It got linked with the moon and we called it Fablunia.
We have eaten. Ecky is in bed and we will go soon too.
School tomorrow of course.
And Liz is leaving for work at just gone 7 o'clock at the moment.
Tomorrow we will meet up with Pete and Jean. We may explore a little of the Lleyn Peninsula which we haven't seen for many years.
Then we ground to a halt on the M6.
The message boards, at least, were able to tell us of the accident ahead. Umpteen emergency vehicles got by on the hard shoulder and we waited for them to do their jobs.
In many ways we were fortunate because we were close to the accident with a long, long tail back behind us which took much of the afternoon to clear.
Once the emergency vehicles had left we were on our way quite quickly.
We arrived at Bangor at just gone 4 o'clock. Ashley and Ecky were back from school. We enjoyed a cup of tea and then went shopping. We went to Lidl. I made up a bit of a menu for the next few days as we went round.
Home again - and Ecky had a bath. As she played with all the bubbles we told stories about the land of bubbles and all the people who lived there. This land is in the sky.
It got linked with the moon and we called it Fablunia.
We have eaten. Ecky is in bed and we will go soon too.
School tomorrow of course.
And Liz is leaving for work at just gone 7 o'clock at the moment.
Tomorrow we will meet up with Pete and Jean. We may explore a little of the Lleyn Peninsula which we haven't seen for many years.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday in the shop
I have wasted this evening - how foolish when we are to embark on a long journey tomorrow and I have things to get ready.
But, then again, maybe it was wise to relax and hopefully to feel fresh early in the morning.
I certainly hope the weather will be better for the journey. It has been nasty weather today.
But I was indoors for most of it - in the shop.
Bill drove over to Dorking and the first job was to load Stephen's car with Jo's furniture. Stephen was going to deliver it this evening.
I then had fun making sure that Jo's areas looked good.
Bill then went back to Crawley to sort out a few chores. The rain meant he didn't clean the car as planned.
As we watched people scurrying by, bodies bent into the wind, under umbrellas, we knew that sales would be few.
Though there have been some interesting people in.
This afternoon we got the character customer for the day.... I recalled Jasper Carrot musing in his comic sketches about how he always seemed to be sitting next to the nutter on the bus, as our "nutter" walked in.
Whoops! very politically incorrect that!
I saw this tall, quite good looking man, come in and my heart sank - I knew I would be in for a difficult time.
He had been into Rocking Horse - so I can't have seen him for 18 months or more. He seemed to be amazed that I remembered him - but his problems make him unforgettable.
He has little or no short term memory.
"How much is this?" he asks..."What is it made of?" and within seconds he will suddenly ask again "How much is it?"
Conversation like that is difficult.
But people with problems are just people and he had as much right as anybody to enjoy browsing and buying - and he was determined to buy something; though he didn't know what.
So I walked round with him telling him things and then telling him the same things all over again and again.
A number of things took his fancy.
Until suddenly he pounced on an old glass lamp shade and said that he was determined to have this.
"I am a good customer aren't I?" he asks from time to time.
His long term memory is OK and he was able to chat with Stephen about shops that used to be in Reigate, though his conversation is rather childlike.
Then he spotted the juke box.
He was captivated and wanted to know how much it would cost.
He couldn't grasp 4 and a half thousand and he settled on 4 grand.
" I'll offer you 4 p" and he laughed loudly at his wonderful joke.
We do meet a variety of people in our shop.
This evening I have been to see Frieda with her instructions for cat feeding - and locking the back door.
I have been on the phone too.
And I have played games.
Bother! I forgot to watch almost all of the programme about the choir master and the community choir he encouraged.
Right - time for a cuppa and then off to bed.
I can sort my clothes out - and all the medical needs in the morning. Better not to rush too much - we will not be away very early.
I am sure I shall write a little on Ashley's computer tomorrow evening.
But, then again, maybe it was wise to relax and hopefully to feel fresh early in the morning.
I certainly hope the weather will be better for the journey. It has been nasty weather today.
But I was indoors for most of it - in the shop.
Bill drove over to Dorking and the first job was to load Stephen's car with Jo's furniture. Stephen was going to deliver it this evening.
I then had fun making sure that Jo's areas looked good.
Bill then went back to Crawley to sort out a few chores. The rain meant he didn't clean the car as planned.
As we watched people scurrying by, bodies bent into the wind, under umbrellas, we knew that sales would be few.
Though there have been some interesting people in.
This afternoon we got the character customer for the day.... I recalled Jasper Carrot musing in his comic sketches about how he always seemed to be sitting next to the nutter on the bus, as our "nutter" walked in.
Whoops! very politically incorrect that!
I saw this tall, quite good looking man, come in and my heart sank - I knew I would be in for a difficult time.
He had been into Rocking Horse - so I can't have seen him for 18 months or more. He seemed to be amazed that I remembered him - but his problems make him unforgettable.
He has little or no short term memory.
"How much is this?" he asks..."What is it made of?" and within seconds he will suddenly ask again "How much is it?"
Conversation like that is difficult.
But people with problems are just people and he had as much right as anybody to enjoy browsing and buying - and he was determined to buy something; though he didn't know what.
So I walked round with him telling him things and then telling him the same things all over again and again.
A number of things took his fancy.
Until suddenly he pounced on an old glass lamp shade and said that he was determined to have this.
"I am a good customer aren't I?" he asks from time to time.
His long term memory is OK and he was able to chat with Stephen about shops that used to be in Reigate, though his conversation is rather childlike.
Then he spotted the juke box.
He was captivated and wanted to know how much it would cost.
He couldn't grasp 4 and a half thousand and he settled on 4 grand.
" I'll offer you 4 p" and he laughed loudly at his wonderful joke.
We do meet a variety of people in our shop.
This evening I have been to see Frieda with her instructions for cat feeding - and locking the back door.
I have been on the phone too.
And I have played games.
Bother! I forgot to watch almost all of the programme about the choir master and the community choir he encouraged.
Right - time for a cuppa and then off to bed.
I can sort my clothes out - and all the medical needs in the morning. Better not to rush too much - we will not be away very early.
I am sure I shall write a little on Ashley's computer tomorrow evening.
