Five skive...

Juicy black cherries and Tunnocks wafers, getting ALL the washing up done, doing nothing watching telly instead of trying to achieve, clean sheets...sleep!

Three and Four

My third happiness of the day was eating my slice of pie in a sheltered nook on the seafront. There was a strong breeze, scudding clouds in the sky and bursts of high tide spray on the sea wall but the sun shone warmly on me for the duration. I read a new letter from my new penfriend I'd picked up on the way out. He seems an intelligent and interesting chap with a sense of humour and a kind word to share. If he weren't where he is you wouldn't guess from his correspondence. Of course, it might all be made up...but so might this! It felt like a good trip altogether...I had a little chat with people in the shops and offices I went to and with an elderly lady I sometimes meet going up or down the hill. She always looks astonished someone would stop and speak to her. I like to say hello to people, exchange a greeting or at least a smile.

My fourth is that I have a whole day tomorrow when I don't have to be anywhere or do anything in particular at any particular time. Too much of that can be a bad thing...too much solitude rattling around in your own head but sometimes it can be very nice indeed, restorative and recharging!

Not decided on a fifth yet, a few things spring to mind but I might find something even better yet, who knows?

In and out

First of all today I'm thankful for a long lie in. You might think these are an automatic perk of my situation...think again!

Secondly that now I'm nearly ready to go out to do some odds and ends in town. I've taken a snack in case I need a rest and find a peaceful scenic place to sit...

See you later!

Getting the picture?

A needlewoman's impression...full of pins and optimism. Or perhaps it should have an asterisk by it linked to a note in small print at the bottom saying 'serving suggestion only' since this may not be the final arrangement exactly and I do intend the final verson to have the leaves actually sewn to the backing!

Looking good so though far eh? I'm loving the bit I've been doing today, thinking up the colour leaf I'd like to put in somewhere and then seeing if I can make it out of the colour threads I've got. Like mixing paint only not quite so messy. My Tree of Life is, not for the first time, one of my things to be grateful for today.

And another is that Laura managed to turn around a couple of sticky moments in the wallpapering. That wasn't meant to be a pun! There were a couple of times when I was a bit worried that things were not looking good especially as we don't have enough left for rehanging any drops...but she saved the day and the paper. Well done Laura!

Lastly there is something too long and complicated and muck stirring to go through another time today (it's already been in my mind, the chatroom thread that started off the recollection and explained in brief in person to Laura)...but a current rather awkward situation reminded me of something far worse from a couple of years back, something that left my soul a little battle-scarred. I saw that old memory in a new light and it's given me some new strength emotionally. What doesn't (quite) kill you doesn't always make you stronger straight away!

Tall talk...

What a lovely morning it is here...breezy and cloudy and showery and warm and sunny. Like Neopolitan icecream...a selection of favourites in one slice! My first gratitude of the day has got to be British weather...I absolutely love it! Apart from anything else it gives buttoned up British people something to talk to strangers about in waiting rooms and queues and bus shelters. And, if we're actually out in it it gives us the chance to remember we are alive, real live flesh and blood creatures experiencing real events through our sensory organs including our skin. If you accept that what we perceive around us is solid and real of course, which of course is highly debatable both from the philosophical and the quantum point of view. Probably best not to raise that kind of thing at the bus stop though. Someone might have to edge so far away from you they end up out in the rain!

Secondly I want to sing the praises of the silly things people say. You know...the really silly things when your brain is not engaged so your mouth carries on on its own. A dear work colleague (now departed to the realm of the living) and I used to collect these, including and perhaps most especially our own. It all started when I asked him how old he was and he told me, and I said 'Oh, you're the same age as my son.' and he replied...'Oh, how old's he then?'. Still raises a smile...I'll see if I can remember some more to raise some for you, my small but perfectly formed fanbase...including Lyn who says I cannot see her but I can! There's one I thought of last night that had me laughing out loud so I'll save it for later.

Lastly for now, not really a gratitude but just of note...The kind young man who sometimes brings my Tesco order. I had to ask him today, there reaches a point when it becomes rude not to. How tall is he? Six foot nine!!!

Walk talk

My third happiness of the day is that my cooker now fits properly between the kitchen worktop ends instead of being wedged in with not a crumb's worth between a cut and trimmed side and an uncut one that every man I knew had done the head shaking/sharp intake of breath thing about. Thank you Alan! It looks so different...like a real kitchen! And no, I'm not putting a pic on here because I what I think is wonderful and 'done' is probably still like the 'before' pictures in some peoples' homes. Trust me...unless you've seen the before pictures from here you've really not seen horror!

I had a late acupuncture session to accommodate the oncologist's call and managed to walk down and back... the first time I've managed both ways for a while. I didn't take any especially scenic routes just the normal one that takes in a few metres of seafront. The early evening sun strikes the rocks and headlands at an angle that really accentuates their shapes and they look even more beautiful than in the day. It was warm and I thought how lovely it would be to be going out for the evening for a spot of something to eat perhaps or just to linger with someone enjoying the view. Send your request to the cosmos I thought tell them you want to eat out... and as I neared my flat some people leafletting for one of the local Indian restuarants handed me a menu. The cosmos really needs its ears syringed sometimes! But I give thanks for the fourth time for living in such a lovely place and having the opportunity to see it at such a lovely time of day!

And fifthly I give thanks for having someone to listen to me moan in real life once a week and stick needles in me to try to make it better. Thank you Rachel

Talk talk?

The first thing I give thanks for today is having a conversation with Kate in Facebook last night. If Kate reads this she'll probably go 'what...? We exchanged a couple of messages, that's all.' But Kate has not ventured into the Valley of Death (long may she stay in the Green Grassed Pastures of Wellness!) so does not realise how hard it is to get a two way phone or internet connection there!

And the second is for a rainy day so I don't feel I 'ought' to be out there enjoying it!