Contrasting

I was grateful the acupuncture left me feeling so mellow, and with a weary achy  body as well it would have been a damn fine day to do nothing at all...but as that wasn't to be I give thanks it was a damn fine day anyway! For trying to take unavoidable  things as gently as I could. For warm sunshine streaming in through my windows despite a chilly breeze outside, for the contrast to last night's torrential rain and for the golden sky in the early evening. 

I give thanks for Julie coming round to help with some jobs a bit beyond my current strength and skill, eat cake, gossip and natter, and generally buck me up a bit. For my slow cooker sorting out some supper while I'm off to soak in the bath. For a good book to read while I wallow...ooh and for remembering some new secondhand ones arrived today! 

Punctured

I give thanks for an OK day at the office, with some trials overcome and a chance to practice patience. For a nattering with one of the nurses whose company I enjoy, but I've not seen to talk to for a while. 

For whooshing through the giant roadside puddles on the way home and the sound of heavy rain when you are snug and dry indoors. For Rachel being here before me, with my pre-made curry heating up and the kettle on. For a good catch up chat, shared supper and a restorative acupuncture session. 

For being on my sofa...and more or less still awake, though definitely in an altered state of consciousness!  For nonetheless  remembering, and managing to write a blog post...

Pleasing

I give thanks for having an unusually pleasing day! Sometimes it seems as if the universe is conspiring against you but the last few hours it must have been conspiring against someone else instead! 

For waking early but after a reasonable length sleep, and up for cooking butter bean curry for tomorrow's supper and Quorn chicken, leek and broccoli pie for tonight. I didn't make the pastry, but I sure did make a lot of washing up so I give thanks for making some headway with that too! 

For happy phone triage - liver enzymes going down so steroids can go down a bit too - plus another call from the hospital about my urgent need for more vaccine. I'd been getting twitchy about this as if you ring the GP you are told to wait until they contact you and the main jab centre is about as far the other side of the city as I am here, but armed with the magic of my many comorbidities I have secured an appointment at the local hospital in two weeks' time. 

For my Amazon order arriving while I was in the building but not in the bathroom! 

For fixing Netflix which had stopped working on my TV, and time for a bit of a potter with mosaic bits before a taxi to Jo's for afternoon tea with her and Liz. For a very enjoyable time with plenty of laughter, commiseration and good (bad) things to eat!  For Jo's hospitality - including boxes of excess treats to take with us and a(nother) lovely present from Liz. 

For feeling up to walking home - it helped my back stop hurting and made my knees ache instead, but the mizzly drizzle was refreshing and waves thumping and spraying against the newer sections of sea wall exhilarating. For arriving just as the rain started taking itself seriously, and just as the cafe next door was closing so I could ask the staff for some info not available online like their phone number and whether they do takeaways. They do, and that could be handy for tea one day when there's not one I made earlier... 

Foul

Last night the weather report for today was foul so I'm grateful when I went out this morning there was just a little drizzle and breeze. 

For a long line of geese on the bank of the brook all with with their heads tucked under a wing, and for four little ducklings preening themselves under the warming bulb in the  aviary.

For a day of such smooth efficiency on the unit - and nothing untoward occurring to break the spell - that patients were whisked in and out with unprecedented speed and staff were able to catch up with all sorts of other tasks as well. It made for such a pleasant atmosphere!

For the mist coming down from the higher ground and stormy glowering clouds in unhealthy shades this evening, but avoiding getting wet again though apparently it was raining most of the afternoon. 

For leftovers from my packed lunch to have to take my meds, and for supper ready cooked and ready to be heated up when I am ready myself. For being able to curl up in the meantime with a blanket and my aches and pains and weariness. 

Outdoor

Gosh, I seem to have been on the go almost non stop today...so for starters I give thanks for that, and also for not really noticing until several active hours had passed which is a pretty good sign one is in a relatively good state of health! Yesterday I was such a feeble weeble, and it's so hard to tell from one hour to the next, let alone a whole day what state I will be in, but as long as there's still some times of feeling fairly well then I am truly grateful. 

I give thanks for abandoning the indoor busyness to eat some lunch in the park, and then meet Mima for a cuppa when she came to deliver my possessions that has travelled back in her car after our time away. For the 30 mins free car park having a free space for her car, and for the nearest cafe having a free table for two outside in the still wonderfully warm sunshine. For the waitress perfectly timing delivery of the pot of tea and toasted tea cake I'd ordered in time for her arrival...and for being astonished by how reasonably priced they were. I actually got them to check they'd not made a mistake, but they hadn't! 

I give thanks for resigning myself to the fact that after resigning myself many times to fact that it is the 'last day of summer', this time is the actually is. All the weather sites show rainy cool days from now on but it's past the middle of October with only a handful of those so far so we sun lovers have no cause to complain...and I give thanks for all the extra outdoor time I've had. Even without a pandemic outdoor time is always a my favourite - as long as I'm not freezing cold or soaking wet! 

Pretty

I give thanks last night I pretty much stayed awake until pretty much bed time and for pretty much sleeping until getting up time too. Simple pleasures eh?

For the bright start to the morning before pretty mistiness rolled in, and turned quite dark, until golden sunlight melted it away for most of the day. For a bright start myself although that also soon disappeared. For doing a pretty good job of reminding myself at intervals during inactivity that there's no need to provide a list of achievements - not even inside one's own head. 

For using the energy and inclination I did have wisely - making a pan of savoury soya mince and veg plus a wholesome desert of apricots with a sort of flapjack topping. For keeping on top of the washing up as well, and potting up my poor cramped lettuce seedlings though the mess I made doing that will have to stay messy for now!

I give thanks I've had my flu jab, and so far haven't bleated, though I could probably do with a shear! For a timely Tesco delivery and for managing to make room in the freezer for the substitute larger box of fish fingers sent when the smaller ones were out of stock. 

Loving

I love that I can still go away away from home now and then...and also that I love the home I come back to! I've lived in some places/situations where you inwardly groan on your return so I know this is not to be sniffed at. 

For feeling well and strong this morning, and for warning myself that would probably mean I came away from treatment like a limp biscuit. Turned out to I was correct in my evaluation. Damn, there's times I really would rather be wrong! For recovering gradually...and for Paracetamol for the aches and pains I seem to have gathered along the way. 

For discovering some new seasons starting of programmes I've enjoyed of old on both terrestrial and streaming TV - just what is required as the darkness of night begins to eat into the day. And talking of eating - I give thanks for some easy supper heating up.