Squishy

I give thanks for the gap between being squished on the sofa by fatigue and pain yesterday evening and then again this afternoon, as in this blessed remission I had a reasonable night's sleep and managed an earlyish start to go and meet Gary on another remarkably pleasant autumn day. For the delight of a road less travelled - and a scenic railway line before that. For a nice breakfast when I could manage to eat it - still having a lot of trouble swallowing sometimes and I'm very grateful when it passes. 

For the good friends I've made since moving to this beautiful part of the world, and all the beautiful spots there are to spend time in with them. For the sight and sounds of the sea and the steam train. For spotting a lustrous black cat stalking through long grass and a grey striped tiger (stuffed? concrete? fibreglass?) on a flat roof between some buildings...there are advantages to not driving a car!

For online grocery shopping and for having room in the freezer to squish in a couple of items I thought would keep in the fridge but which were too short dated for that. I'm not complaining - a full freezer is a wonderful thing when your strength and mobility is erratic, and especially in these times of erratic product supply!

Leftover

I give thanks for being home on the early side after being connected to the machine very swiftly after arrival at the unit and then disconnected a few minutes before my allotted treatment time was up as someone was ready, willing, able...and somewhat keen as they could move on the next patient!). I didn't need asking twice...

For feeling a bit brighter than I did this morning after another poor night's sleep, though weary to the bone. For finding my misplaced keys after looking methodically after I got home instead of dashing around madly like I did before I left! 

For leftovers for my tea so no need to cook first thing or now. For glucosamine complex gel to put on my sore bits after a bath. For the water heating up and a plan to get in it before I fall asleep this time...For the room heating up too after a blast from the electric radiator on an expectedly murky evening. 

Vintage

Dozed off on the sofa last night before I could immerse and woke up feeling so sore and poorly it was a struggle getting to bed, but I'm grateful for sleeping far longer than I have done for a long time...and, in one of the waking up bits, hearing the raging tempest outside. Goodness me it was loud! 

For a good day today - physically feeling strong and well and for the psychological delight of hearing the elevated liver enzyme that has been causing consternation has subsided to such a degree that the specialist nurse on my case agreed I should lower the steroid dose a little more instead of me having to argue about it. 

For a quick trip to my favourite local town with Mima for a recce of flooring for the kitchen...and while I was doing this for my new worktop being delivered to Clive's workplace ready for cutting and delivering to me! So exciting! For the seeing the sea looking so beautiful from the top deck of the bus that I was inspired to use some of the day's unexpected energy to go for a little walk in the bright blusteryness when I got back to admire it some more. Had to go rather further than I intended to avoid pesky humans but though my knees weren't keen the rest of me was delighted. I was very grateful I wasn't far from a bus stop to get back!

For searching through my vintage cassette collection for Penguin Cafe Orchestra and finding The Cocteau Twins instead. Wow, I'd forgotten what ear candy their album Treasure is!

Immersive

How nice to be home and on my sofa with a quick dinner in the oven after a delayed departure from the unit and before a band of forecast torrential rain closes in. For making a slower meal this morning for tomorrow night - a curry with proper pounded seeds maturing in the fridge - and also stewing some pears with sweet spices for desserts. For the immersion heater on for the rather large pile of washing up plus a bath. Yes, instant hot water would be nice but as long as the old fashioned way is working I'm not complaining at all. For working out why the shower wasn't earlier, a switch in the fuse box had become unflipped!

For making various arrangements with various folk for the coming days before various messenging platforms went down. For the irony of also sending a bon voyage to someone going away for a few days who abstains from social media when she does... For a selection of gripping looking books and TV programs to keep me entertained... which one shall I choose next? 

Warming

I give thanks that quite a lot got done here today...mostly by other people which is always a bonus! Of course I appreciate the practicality of having tasks tackled that are hard or even impossible for me to do, but just the acts of assistance themselves can be intrinsically very beneficial, giving a sense of being nurtured and cared for. A great advantage of not experiencing this kind of thing very often is I really notice how literally heart warming it feels and I'm most grateful to Clive and Rachel for giving me that sensation along with the pleasure of their company! 

I give thanks for a marvellously restorative acupuncture session...well it will be restorative when I'm back in the real world I'm sure! For the swift changing moods of the weather. For discovering the aioli I found inthe Co-op and been raving about is actually Spanish which explains a lot... For grouting the lid of this box, my latest and current favourite mosaic piece. You look at it and you're transported to a summer's day or maybe a lush part of Mediterranean. Rather nice as a British autumn night draws in... 

Waterproof

Soo...I've been grateful for a quiet day after a reasonable night and a lie in listening to the rain. 

For spending it alone and mostly home with just a quick trip to the Co op when the weather was not at its worst. For doing some stuff...and not doing some stuff...and meditating which I reckon is somewhere between...  

For my cheerful wellies and cagoule. For the mended gutters. For a stunning sunset glowing between the stormy clouds. For my TV suggesting I watch the True Story before its availability expired on BBC. This has meant everything else is happening an hour and a half later than I thought it might but, despite the film's lack of critical acclaim, once I started I couldn't stop and they seemed to me to be ninety minutes well spent!

 

Puffy

I give thanks for being wide awake at four but, despite having had around five hours sleep (that's a good night these days!) for managing a few more zzz's after a while. It makes such an improvement to both my mental and physical state to get a reasonable amount of rest so I was very grateful for feeling the benefits. For a busy but relaxed morning pottering around with few chores,  even finding time and inclination to do a bit of tile sticking as it's a Michelle day so I could leave most of the housework to her...

For tea and toast watching the rain clouds building and showers falling on the horizon...For the little white puffs streaming behind the steam engine that hooted as it passed. I love their chugging and whistling...but also, I realised the other day, I love the squeaky sound of ordinary train brakes as they pull in to a platform. I guess that's to do with the thought of journeys, adventures and meeting friends, though such delights are mostly just memories now. For living so close to a station.

I give thanks for an OK day at the office drifting off to some meditation music and  watching Netflix shows while munching a large packed lunch. For much laughter on the way home.