I've just discovered they've been changing this blog site, so what, if anything, arrives at your end is anyone's guess. As I've said often enough before, I'm no computer whizz kid.
We're on the last stages of preparation for our holiday. This morning is a case of sorting out the last bit of packing. I've to find some resealable clear bags for all our medication - it looks as though we're taking the whole of the chemist shop between us!
After that it's a sort through my handbag. Anything that might be regarded as dangerous needs to be taken out - I usually keep a basic sewing kit in my bag in case of mishaps. Pills will join the other medications - I always keep paracetamol in my bag as you never know when pain will hit. I also keep pills I have to take with meals in case we should just fancy eating out without necessarily wanting to go home first to find the medication.
Anything not wanted will be left behind. I might as well try to lighten the load as much as possible, especially when we're going by air.
The Fox meanwhile will be on to the bill paying & seeing if he can run off those boarding passes.
The seeds have been planted. I'm hoping to see signs of recognisable shoots when we return. The Fox has put the seed potatoes in egg boxes to chit up. A bit of fertiliser has gone on the beds to rejuvenate the soil ready for the veg when we get home. Papers have been cancelled, as has Angie. Neighbours have been warned. I think we're more or less ready for the off.
So we'll see you when we get back. We're due back early in May. We've only just realised we will have to contend with the May Bank Holiday traffic as we return from Liverpool - oh joy!!. Meanwhile enjoy yourselves as we hope to enjoy ourselves.
Friday 20 April 2012
Thursday 19 April 2012
Busy
It's been a busy day or two. Tuesday saw us at Homebase getting some fertiliser & seed potatoes.
Yesterday was the day for a quick pack. We pared our packing down to a minimum. As a result I was surprised to discover the case for the hold weighed in at 14kg. With this in mind we're thinking we may just add the odd extra T-shirt or two. We should still be way under the 20kg we've paid for. And the shoulder bag we're taking has hardly anything in it except a smaller shoulder bag & camera for more convenient use while we're there. There's obviously a few extra odds & ends to pack - medication for example - but there should be plenty of capacity even if we come back with a few souvenirs.
This morning has been a bit of a rush. As we've used up everything that is likely to go off, the Fox suggested maybe we could have a final curry before we go. (The French idea of a curry involves a pinch of curry powder & that's it! We will miss our spice while we're away.) So I hastily got a beef curry on the go before I even made myself a cup of tea to start the day.
Mid-morning saw me off on the Mean Machine, my electric scooter, to return jigsaws to the library & discover what the next read will be with the book club there so I know what to look out for when we're looking for a few books to buy for holiday reading - we'll do that while we're waiting to board the plane.
Then I quickly popped into the Co-op to buy a puzzle magazine to keep me going on the flight. (I always find it difficult to read or dose on flights. My interest in looking out of the window quickly wanes once we're above the cloud cover.)
Finally it was to the hairdresser for shearing. (The Fox got his done yesterday while I was packing. He also managed to get the euros for the holiday.)
We look all set for the trip. We were surprised earlier in the week to get a phone call from the travel agent. They had been contacted by the French property owner to check when we would be arriving, to let us know they provided a welcome food pack so we wouldn't need to worry about getting salt & pepper, sugar, tea, butter etc. They're also provided washing powder, washing up liquid etc. They were wondering if we needed a board putting down on the cobbled courtyard to make it easier for me in a wheelchair to cross. Apparently there's also a lip somewhere that they wanted to know if we wanted a ramp putting out to get me over. They left their e-mail address & phone numbers so we quickly sent off an e-mail both in English & French. I see today we've got a reply. From the sound of the English they've replied in I think they must be French. The English was on a par with our French ie with the odd wrong tense, colloquialism that isn't quite right. Still it's clear we shouldn't have any trouble communicating with them, between their English & our French.
It has to be admitted their phone call to the travel agent lifted our spirits. Somehow organising this trip seems to have been hard work, with not getting our first choices of places, insurance worries, car hire difficulties, rising hotel prices at Liverpool. We were beginning to wonder if it was worth all the effort. But finally it sounds as though we've found some nice people. Neither the travel agent or us have ever known a gite owner go to the effort to ring up to find out exactly what my requirements as a wheelchair user are. Usually you get there & sigh with relief that I can still walk about a bit otherwise the property would be totally inaccessible despite what the owner might think.
This afternoon it will be a trip down to the Pub. PD has already been on the phone to make sure we're going. He reckons he won't be going out again until we're back so wants to make the most of us while we're still here. We've ignored all his other pleas. This may also relax us a bit after all the running around we've been doing just lately.
Then tomorrow we're off. We're not leaving until mid-afternoon. We're hoping to be able to print out the return boarding passes before we leave home. We've also got the odd bill yet to pay & the last minute bits of packing to do. But that's it. We'll get a meal on the way down or at the hotel in Liverpool.
Now we just keep our fingers crossed all goes well & the holiday is a success.
Yesterday was the day for a quick pack. We pared our packing down to a minimum. As a result I was surprised to discover the case for the hold weighed in at 14kg. With this in mind we're thinking we may just add the odd extra T-shirt or two. We should still be way under the 20kg we've paid for. And the shoulder bag we're taking has hardly anything in it except a smaller shoulder bag & camera for more convenient use while we're there. There's obviously a few extra odds & ends to pack - medication for example - but there should be plenty of capacity even if we come back with a few souvenirs.
This morning has been a bit of a rush. As we've used up everything that is likely to go off, the Fox suggested maybe we could have a final curry before we go. (The French idea of a curry involves a pinch of curry powder & that's it! We will miss our spice while we're away.) So I hastily got a beef curry on the go before I even made myself a cup of tea to start the day.
Mid-morning saw me off on the Mean Machine, my electric scooter, to return jigsaws to the library & discover what the next read will be with the book club there so I know what to look out for when we're looking for a few books to buy for holiday reading - we'll do that while we're waiting to board the plane.
Then I quickly popped into the Co-op to buy a puzzle magazine to keep me going on the flight. (I always find it difficult to read or dose on flights. My interest in looking out of the window quickly wanes once we're above the cloud cover.)
Finally it was to the hairdresser for shearing. (The Fox got his done yesterday while I was packing. He also managed to get the euros for the holiday.)
We look all set for the trip. We were surprised earlier in the week to get a phone call from the travel agent. They had been contacted by the French property owner to check when we would be arriving, to let us know they provided a welcome food pack so we wouldn't need to worry about getting salt & pepper, sugar, tea, butter etc. They're also provided washing powder, washing up liquid etc. They were wondering if we needed a board putting down on the cobbled courtyard to make it easier for me in a wheelchair to cross. Apparently there's also a lip somewhere that they wanted to know if we wanted a ramp putting out to get me over. They left their e-mail address & phone numbers so we quickly sent off an e-mail both in English & French. I see today we've got a reply. From the sound of the English they've replied in I think they must be French. The English was on a par with our French ie with the odd wrong tense, colloquialism that isn't quite right. Still it's clear we shouldn't have any trouble communicating with them, between their English & our French.
It has to be admitted their phone call to the travel agent lifted our spirits. Somehow organising this trip seems to have been hard work, with not getting our first choices of places, insurance worries, car hire difficulties, rising hotel prices at Liverpool. We were beginning to wonder if it was worth all the effort. But finally it sounds as though we've found some nice people. Neither the travel agent or us have ever known a gite owner go to the effort to ring up to find out exactly what my requirements as a wheelchair user are. Usually you get there & sigh with relief that I can still walk about a bit otherwise the property would be totally inaccessible despite what the owner might think.
This afternoon it will be a trip down to the Pub. PD has already been on the phone to make sure we're going. He reckons he won't be going out again until we're back so wants to make the most of us while we're still here. We've ignored all his other pleas. This may also relax us a bit after all the running around we've been doing just lately.
Then tomorrow we're off. We're not leaving until mid-afternoon. We're hoping to be able to print out the return boarding passes before we leave home. We've also got the odd bill yet to pay & the last minute bits of packing to do. But that's it. We'll get a meal on the way down or at the hotel in Liverpool.
Now we just keep our fingers crossed all goes well & the holiday is a success.
Tuesday 17 April 2012
All go
We've discovered where the local trysting spot, the meeting place for lovers, the equivalent of under the clock tower at the station, is. It's on the trellis in our garden. You rarely look out of the kitchen window without seeing a pair of collared doves. This year we've also gained a pair of wood-pigeons. They sit snuggling up to each other, passing on little kisses. It gets quite embarrassing at times to look out of the window over dinner to watch such intimate canoodling.
We are a little anxious too. The trellis is getting pretty rickety. The winter storms have blown sections off, or apart at least. We are thinking of taking it down eventually. But then where will these lovers meet? We're coming to the conclusion if we do take down the trellis we will have to put something there for them to perch on. Perhaps an arched gateway on to the lawned area. Clearly some provision will have to be made for our feathered friends. Meanwhile this bigger, presumably heavier, pair of birds, the wood-pigeons add to the strain, speeding up the need to get around to doing something.
Meanwhile the blue tits are in a frenzy of too-ing & fro-ing with food by the looks of things. New life must have emerged in the nest box. They always have a last look round & breather in the hedge just below, before they fly up to the box. Unfortunately the end nearest the nest box has died - drowned we suspect - so that's another thing that will need to be replaced. We know we want to put something there, something more water tolerant, as it screens off the neighbouring house & garden. Our bedroom window is close to the hedge on this side & we want privacy, even if the doves & wood-pigeons don't!
We are a little anxious too. The trellis is getting pretty rickety. The winter storms have blown sections off, or apart at least. We are thinking of taking it down eventually. But then where will these lovers meet? We're coming to the conclusion if we do take down the trellis we will have to put something there for them to perch on. Perhaps an arched gateway on to the lawned area. Clearly some provision will have to be made for our feathered friends. Meanwhile this bigger, presumably heavier, pair of birds, the wood-pigeons add to the strain, speeding up the need to get around to doing something.
Meanwhile the blue tits are in a frenzy of too-ing & fro-ing with food by the looks of things. New life must have emerged in the nest box. They always have a last look round & breather in the hedge just below, before they fly up to the box. Unfortunately the end nearest the nest box has died - drowned we suspect - so that's another thing that will need to be replaced. We know we want to put something there, something more water tolerant, as it screens off the neighbouring house & garden. Our bedroom window is close to the hedge on this side & we want privacy, even if the doves & wood-pigeons don't!
Sunday 15 April 2012
Language difficulties?
As usual on a Saturday evening, after discovering we had won nothing on the Lottery, we open a bottle of wine. Last night it was a Loire sauvignon. We also put on a CD. Last night it was Juliette Greco. You can tell we're getting into French once more. The French CDs are coming out. As usual we chatted away, discussing all manner of things.
Earlier in the day, I had had my first encounter with the new lady-of-the-house next door, Tonya. I called out a cheery hello but didn't get any response. Her husband came out of the house so I talked briefly to him. I gather we can expect some noise later in the week as they were having some wardrobes fitted. I told him we were off on our hols soon so go ahead with any rave parties they want. We won't be disturbed. I said a further hello to his wife, by this time sitting in the car. She did seem to acknowledge me but that was about it.
I was telling the Fox about this encounter. I speculated that this reserve was maybe shyness due to Tonya's English being poorer than I had understood from what her husband had said. The Fox seemed to think surely she should have had learnt the basic courtesies of saying hello.
Our conversation then switched into French as we wondered if we had been living in France a number of years, would we speak English between ourselves. I suspect we would unless some French people were in the group with us. English is after all the most natural language to us. The Fox suspects we might end up speaking a mixture as we would tend to increasingly think in French. Maybe he's right.
It still doesn't explain our new neighbours lack of speaking. Maybe she's a bit deaf & just didn't hear me. But I can't help thinking I would have at least want to get out of the car to meet the neighbours living in the other half of my semi. We'll just have to see as things go on & maybe her confidence grows.
More startling, though, is that we managed a short conversation in French & the other person could understand what was being said & reply. The revision must be paying off. Hopefully, once in France, French will come trippingly off our tongues so we'll be able to have chats with some French people in their own language. That is assuming we can find some genuine French people in an area of France that has been so taken over by the English with their second homes or on holiday like us. We're both looking forward to the holiday eagerly now.
Earlier in the day, I had had my first encounter with the new lady-of-the-house next door, Tonya. I called out a cheery hello but didn't get any response. Her husband came out of the house so I talked briefly to him. I gather we can expect some noise later in the week as they were having some wardrobes fitted. I told him we were off on our hols soon so go ahead with any rave parties they want. We won't be disturbed. I said a further hello to his wife, by this time sitting in the car. She did seem to acknowledge me but that was about it.
I was telling the Fox about this encounter. I speculated that this reserve was maybe shyness due to Tonya's English being poorer than I had understood from what her husband had said. The Fox seemed to think surely she should have had learnt the basic courtesies of saying hello.
Our conversation then switched into French as we wondered if we had been living in France a number of years, would we speak English between ourselves. I suspect we would unless some French people were in the group with us. English is after all the most natural language to us. The Fox suspects we might end up speaking a mixture as we would tend to increasingly think in French. Maybe he's right.
It still doesn't explain our new neighbours lack of speaking. Maybe she's a bit deaf & just didn't hear me. But I can't help thinking I would have at least want to get out of the car to meet the neighbours living in the other half of my semi. We'll just have to see as things go on & maybe her confidence grows.
More startling, though, is that we managed a short conversation in French & the other person could understand what was being said & reply. The revision must be paying off. Hopefully, once in France, French will come trippingly off our tongues so we'll be able to have chats with some French people in their own language. That is assuming we can find some genuine French people in an area of France that has been so taken over by the English with their second homes or on holiday like us. We're both looking forward to the holiday eagerly now.
Friday 13 April 2012
All set
PD is getting anxious. You can tell. He knows we're off on our hols soon. Suddenly we're getting extra phone calls in the hope we'll go to the Pub with him more often before we go. Unfortunately for him, the fact we're going away means we have more chores to do before we go.
So Wednesday saw us going to the travel agents to collect our travel documents, including the directions to the property we're renting. We've discovered one of Ryanair's scams. You can only print off the boarding cards 15 days before the flight. That means if you are going for a two week holiday, especially if you are going the night before as we are, & don't have access to a computer with a printer, you have to pay them £6 per card for them to do it for you. We're hoping if we try to print them the morning before we leave home we'll be able to do so. We're not in any great hurry to get down to Liverpool so we should have plenty of time If we can't, we'll have a go at persuading the hotel to let us use their computer & printer or find an Internet cafe in France.
Yesterday saw us arranging hair appointments & finding out how best to get the cash with which to buy some euros. Last time we needed some, the Fox went to the Post Office & was told he had to pay by cash. If he used a card, even a debit card, there would be a handling charge. And, of course, he could only get £250 out in cash at a time & we wanted to take more than that. We're relieved to say this is no longer the case. And what is more the local sub-Post Office will have more than enough euros in stock so we won't have to make our usual trip into the main Post Office in town.
I've also been trying to locate a decent street map of the area around the property we will be staying. Although the directions are clear enough to the nearest big town, they seem a bit more obscure when it come to finding your way along the country lanes. I'm telling myself all will be clearer when we're actually there.
Yesterday also saw us do a food shop. We didn't buy much - mostly tinned stuff & a loaf of bread for the freezer for when we return. We did buy a little fresh veg for the intervening time, which we're eating up first. So yesterday we had some lovely fried tomatoes with Balsamic vinegar to accompany yesterday's Durham cutlets - sort of triangular shaped beef rissoles using up leftovers. Today the Fox is making a Lamb & Potato Stew with Spinach for today, using some fresh spinach & some lamb especially bought for the purpose, all cooked in Big Ears, the slow cooker. This afternoon, en route for the Pub, I'm intending to get some chicken for a chicken & green bean stir fry for tomorrow. After that the most I'm thinking of buying will be some fresh fish. In fact the Fox will probably buy the fish when he goes to the barber's as the shops are very close together. Oh, & I suspect we will need some extra milk for our teas before we go. We will buy another bottle on the way back from Liverpool for that all important welcome home cuppa.
The weekend will see any last minute washing done. I'm hoping to get things dry in time to take them with us, though most things we have plenty of other clothes to take anyhow.
I think we're just about all set. There's Basil Bush & the seeds to put in the garden. We would like to get over to a garden centre so the potatoes can chit while we're away & be ready to go in the ground as soon as we're back. Whether we get there or not will depend if we have the time, & energy.
And, of course, there's the Pack, always so much harder work going than returning.
And we mustn't forget to tell our neighbours. There's a bit of nerviness over health down the street after Dave's long stay in hospital. He's now home & on the mend, but we're all fearing what next will happen. We still remember how our neighbours rang the hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Blackpool, Lancaster, when we went on holiday after the Fox had had an angiogram & we hadn't told them we were going away. They assumed he'd been rushed in for an op, or worse. We don't want that happening again.
And in the midst of all this preparation, PD wants us to take him to the Pub!
So Wednesday saw us going to the travel agents to collect our travel documents, including the directions to the property we're renting. We've discovered one of Ryanair's scams. You can only print off the boarding cards 15 days before the flight. That means if you are going for a two week holiday, especially if you are going the night before as we are, & don't have access to a computer with a printer, you have to pay them £6 per card for them to do it for you. We're hoping if we try to print them the morning before we leave home we'll be able to do so. We're not in any great hurry to get down to Liverpool so we should have plenty of time If we can't, we'll have a go at persuading the hotel to let us use their computer & printer or find an Internet cafe in France.
Yesterday saw us arranging hair appointments & finding out how best to get the cash with which to buy some euros. Last time we needed some, the Fox went to the Post Office & was told he had to pay by cash. If he used a card, even a debit card, there would be a handling charge. And, of course, he could only get £250 out in cash at a time & we wanted to take more than that. We're relieved to say this is no longer the case. And what is more the local sub-Post Office will have more than enough euros in stock so we won't have to make our usual trip into the main Post Office in town.
I've also been trying to locate a decent street map of the area around the property we will be staying. Although the directions are clear enough to the nearest big town, they seem a bit more obscure when it come to finding your way along the country lanes. I'm telling myself all will be clearer when we're actually there.
Yesterday also saw us do a food shop. We didn't buy much - mostly tinned stuff & a loaf of bread for the freezer for when we return. We did buy a little fresh veg for the intervening time, which we're eating up first. So yesterday we had some lovely fried tomatoes with Balsamic vinegar to accompany yesterday's Durham cutlets - sort of triangular shaped beef rissoles using up leftovers. Today the Fox is making a Lamb & Potato Stew with Spinach for today, using some fresh spinach & some lamb especially bought for the purpose, all cooked in Big Ears, the slow cooker. This afternoon, en route for the Pub, I'm intending to get some chicken for a chicken & green bean stir fry for tomorrow. After that the most I'm thinking of buying will be some fresh fish. In fact the Fox will probably buy the fish when he goes to the barber's as the shops are very close together. Oh, & I suspect we will need some extra milk for our teas before we go. We will buy another bottle on the way back from Liverpool for that all important welcome home cuppa.
The weekend will see any last minute washing done. I'm hoping to get things dry in time to take them with us, though most things we have plenty of other clothes to take anyhow.
I think we're just about all set. There's Basil Bush & the seeds to put in the garden. We would like to get over to a garden centre so the potatoes can chit while we're away & be ready to go in the ground as soon as we're back. Whether we get there or not will depend if we have the time, & energy.
And, of course, there's the Pack, always so much harder work going than returning.
And we mustn't forget to tell our neighbours. There's a bit of nerviness over health down the street after Dave's long stay in hospital. He's now home & on the mend, but we're all fearing what next will happen. We still remember how our neighbours rang the hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Blackpool, Lancaster, when we went on holiday after the Fox had had an angiogram & we hadn't told them we were going away. They assumed he'd been rushed in for an op, or worse. We don't want that happening again.
And in the midst of all this preparation, PD wants us to take him to the Pub!
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Birthday celebrations
The meal went well. The ditch turned out to be two shallow broad steps outside, or you could do one deep step. Not too bad. All were in good humour. The two hours passed quickly. We were disappointed that there didn't seem much specifically Vietnamese, more Chinese. Having said that the actual presentation & taste of the food was quite different from Ricky's, our favourite Cantonese restaurant.
We decided to go for the set meal for four. The chicken & sweetcorn soup was incredibly thick, full of flavour. PD is not a great fan of sweetcorn so he asked if he could swap the chicken & sweetcorn soup for the Vietnamese hot soup. We gather it really was hot, & full of prawns.
The next course was an array of barbecued spare ribs in sauce - oh you could taste the aniseed of Chinese 5 spice powder - wan ton filled with a prawn mixture & spring rolls with a spicy veg filling.
Finally we came to the main course - duck in Cantonese sauce, beef in black bean sauce, sweet & sour chicken & sweet chilli prawns. By the end the table was bare. The odd spoonful of sauce lay in the dishes but that was it. A very satisfying meal.
My conclusion is that Vietnamese is unsurprisingly stir fry, with ingredients that overlap with those of China. However, I do think the spiciness was greater. The decor too was different, reflecting a difference of culture.
We got back home in time to open a bottle of champers, put on some music & hear the phone ring. It was Mrs B just ringing to wishing me a happy birthday & to apologise for not actually getting the card to me in time. She's been in a whirl of family activity over Easter. It was nice to be remembered. She's hoping to get up to the Pub on Friday.
So, this morning I once more set down to getting today's meal prepared. We're going Mexican with some chilli garlic prawns in tortillas, with saute new potatoes & sweetcorn. The potatoes are parboiled. The marinade is cooling. All I need to do is locate the raw prawns in the freezer. If we haven't got enough, we're hoping to get to the shops this afternoon so I should be able to buy some fresh ones then if necessary. It will be a very small shop as we're aware time is marching on & we will soon be setting off on our hols. That being so there's no point getting much fresh stuff that will go off. Better instead to use up some of the freezer contents.
We decided to go for the set meal for four. The chicken & sweetcorn soup was incredibly thick, full of flavour. PD is not a great fan of sweetcorn so he asked if he could swap the chicken & sweetcorn soup for the Vietnamese hot soup. We gather it really was hot, & full of prawns.
The next course was an array of barbecued spare ribs in sauce - oh you could taste the aniseed of Chinese 5 spice powder - wan ton filled with a prawn mixture & spring rolls with a spicy veg filling.
Finally we came to the main course - duck in Cantonese sauce, beef in black bean sauce, sweet & sour chicken & sweet chilli prawns. By the end the table was bare. The odd spoonful of sauce lay in the dishes but that was it. A very satisfying meal.
My conclusion is that Vietnamese is unsurprisingly stir fry, with ingredients that overlap with those of China. However, I do think the spiciness was greater. The decor too was different, reflecting a difference of culture.
We got back home in time to open a bottle of champers, put on some music & hear the phone ring. It was Mrs B just ringing to wishing me a happy birthday & to apologise for not actually getting the card to me in time. She's been in a whirl of family activity over Easter. It was nice to be remembered. She's hoping to get up to the Pub on Friday.
So, this morning I once more set down to getting today's meal prepared. We're going Mexican with some chilli garlic prawns in tortillas, with saute new potatoes & sweetcorn. The potatoes are parboiled. The marinade is cooling. All I need to do is locate the raw prawns in the freezer. If we haven't got enough, we're hoping to get to the shops this afternoon so I should be able to buy some fresh ones then if necessary. It will be a very small shop as we're aware time is marching on & we will soon be setting off on our hols. That being so there's no point getting much fresh stuff that will go off. Better instead to use up some of the freezer contents.
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Going Vietnamese
We're dining out today. It's my birthday so we're off to celebrate with PD & LIn. It will be the first time the Fox & I have gone Vietnamese. PD reckons the food is good. They often get their takeaways from there. I gather much of the menu is essentially Chinese though there are Vietnam specialities. We're curious to find out what is on offer.
We're equally curious about the building. When I rang up to make the booking, as usual I checked access. I was told inside the door, level access, there is a "ditch". This has left us somewhat bemused. I don't think I've ever been in a building with its own ditch just inside the entrance - a ruined castle is perhaps the nearest to the concept. I'm assuming this is a language mistranslation & they mean a single step down. Whatever it is we will find out this evening. I was told just to let them know we have arrived & staff will come out to get me in. They're experienced at getting wheelchairs inside.
I did contemplate going along to the library this afternoon for the book reading club meeting, having read the appropriate book. I've changed my mind. I've decided it is more important to feel with-it this evening. If I don't go, I will have chance to have an afternoon zizz if I should need it. I dare say I will be able to discover what the next book is & when the subsequent meeting is easily enough.
Yesterday I was pleased to get a phone call from my cousin Ann to wish me happy birthday. It's not that she got the date wrong. Ann is the cousin who has cancer. The next couple of days are going to be busy for her with blood tests & hospital trips, checking how she's doing. It sounds as though she's doing remarkably well. She's still having chemo, but now she's no longer having adverse effects. She's getting back to more normal life, taking Ben, her dog for long walks once more. She's even putting on a bit of weight again. So fingers crossed it will only be good news. I will give her a bell at the weekend to find out. I thought it was nice of her to ring especially when she'd already sent a card with her good wishes.
We're equally curious about the building. When I rang up to make the booking, as usual I checked access. I was told inside the door, level access, there is a "ditch". This has left us somewhat bemused. I don't think I've ever been in a building with its own ditch just inside the entrance - a ruined castle is perhaps the nearest to the concept. I'm assuming this is a language mistranslation & they mean a single step down. Whatever it is we will find out this evening. I was told just to let them know we have arrived & staff will come out to get me in. They're experienced at getting wheelchairs inside.
I did contemplate going along to the library this afternoon for the book reading club meeting, having read the appropriate book. I've changed my mind. I've decided it is more important to feel with-it this evening. If I don't go, I will have chance to have an afternoon zizz if I should need it. I dare say I will be able to discover what the next book is & when the subsequent meeting is easily enough.
Yesterday I was pleased to get a phone call from my cousin Ann to wish me happy birthday. It's not that she got the date wrong. Ann is the cousin who has cancer. The next couple of days are going to be busy for her with blood tests & hospital trips, checking how she's doing. It sounds as though she's doing remarkably well. She's still having chemo, but now she's no longer having adverse effects. She's getting back to more normal life, taking Ben, her dog for long walks once more. She's even putting on a bit of weight again. So fingers crossed it will only be good news. I will give her a bell at the weekend to find out. I thought it was nice of her to ring especially when she'd already sent a card with her good wishes.
Monday 9 April 2012
Spring
Our garden is suddenly bursting into life. The greens look so fresh as the leaves once more put on their leafy attire. The first blossoms are appearing, with the white of the spiraea under the white of the cherry tree. The lawn is once more vibrant & vivid instead of the dull green of its dormant state in winter. As the iris & loosestrife once more start to rise from the soil, the odd narcissus or primula has come into flower. Everything is looking so vibrant after the winter months. So fresh. A fact which is perhaps intensified by today's rain.
For some time I've been aware of increasing signs of spring - first the snowdrops & crocuses, the camellias - there seem a fair number in gardens around here - then the daffs, narcissi & forsythia, now the magnolia & cherry blossoms. Each day I look out to see what new has appeared.
I love the spring so much for this reason. It's the season of new life. And when it is so new it is also so vibrant & full of energy. Pure, too, unsullied by life. It's a season of such hope as the new baby lambs start to appear in the fields. I begin to wonder whether life can really be that bad after all. It's my favourite season & I love it.
For some time I've been aware of increasing signs of spring - first the snowdrops & crocuses, the camellias - there seem a fair number in gardens around here - then the daffs, narcissi & forsythia, now the magnolia & cherry blossoms. Each day I look out to see what new has appeared.
I love the spring so much for this reason. It's the season of new life. And when it is so new it is also so vibrant & full of energy. Pure, too, unsullied by life. It's a season of such hope as the new baby lambs start to appear in the fields. I begin to wonder whether life can really be that bad after all. It's my favourite season & I love it.
Sunday 8 April 2012
La Fontaine
As you know I'm now reading La Fontaine's "Fables". I remember reading some of these stories while I was learning French at school. Those were written in contemporary French, in prose. I suspect it was a simplified version, a bit like the books of the Bible or Shakespeare for children. Anyhow I'm currently reading it in the original.
The first thing I was surprised to see it was that it was written in poetry form. I'm being struck by what a difference the change of form makes. Poetry, of whatever language, requires a precision & concision not normally found in prose. The stories seem shorter but in some ways more pointed.
I'm also being the struck by the need to read them out loud, to hear the sound of them, after I've read through & made sure I've understood the words - a dictionary is always at hand for this purpose.
The other thing about them as poems is that they make short tasters rather stories you can sink into for a good read. It is difficult to go from one story immediately onto the next. They are too powerful to do that.
My vocabulary of animals is increasing as I read the story of "La Cigale et la Fourmi" (the Grasshopper & the Ant), "Le Corbeau et le Renard" (the Crow & the Fox), "La Grenouille qui se veut faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf" (the Frog who wanted to become as big as the Bull), "Les Deux Mulets" (the Two Mules). Some words I'm picking up I can't see I will have much use for in everyday conversation, & will probably be quickly forgotten again. For example I can not see me having much use for the word for a "hair shirt" (le celice) or "salt tax" (la gabelle).
Salt tax instantly took me back to our holiday in the Jura when we visited a 18th century saltworks at Arc-et-Senans.It is a remarkable example of industrial architecture using Classical principles. It is now a UNESCO Heritage site.
I have to confess I'm enjoying these stories & the challenge of trying to understand them. It makes a change.
The excitement of the coming holiday has gone up a step with a phone call from the travel agent to ask us to go in to collect all the documentation for the property, air line tickets & boarding passes. We will go in some time next week.
France, here we come.
The first thing I was surprised to see it was that it was written in poetry form. I'm being struck by what a difference the change of form makes. Poetry, of whatever language, requires a precision & concision not normally found in prose. The stories seem shorter but in some ways more pointed.
I'm also being the struck by the need to read them out loud, to hear the sound of them, after I've read through & made sure I've understood the words - a dictionary is always at hand for this purpose.
The other thing about them as poems is that they make short tasters rather stories you can sink into for a good read. It is difficult to go from one story immediately onto the next. They are too powerful to do that.
My vocabulary of animals is increasing as I read the story of "La Cigale et la Fourmi" (the Grasshopper & the Ant), "Le Corbeau et le Renard" (the Crow & the Fox), "La Grenouille qui se veut faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf" (the Frog who wanted to become as big as the Bull), "Les Deux Mulets" (the Two Mules). Some words I'm picking up I can't see I will have much use for in everyday conversation, & will probably be quickly forgotten again. For example I can not see me having much use for the word for a "hair shirt" (le celice) or "salt tax" (la gabelle).
Salt tax instantly took me back to our holiday in the Jura when we visited a 18th century saltworks at Arc-et-Senans.It is a remarkable example of industrial architecture using Classical principles. It is now a UNESCO Heritage site.
I have to confess I'm enjoying these stories & the challenge of trying to understand them. It makes a change.
The excitement of the coming holiday has gone up a step with a phone call from the travel agent to ask us to go in to collect all the documentation for the property, air line tickets & boarding passes. We will go in some time next week.
France, here we come.
Friday 6 April 2012
The siege mentality
I feel strangely disorientated today. Somehow I can't get away from the feeling it's Saturday. It's something to do with the stillness & quietness of the day. There doesn't seem to be the usual midweek bustle. Maybe it's partly because we went to the Pub yesterday rather than our more usual Friday and it wasn't because of some definite appointment to keep. This feeling began to hit us both last night & certainly now it's penetrated into the core of my consciousness.
I gather from PD, M&S in Lancaster was heaving yesterday. People were shopping like there was no tomorrow. They're only closing for the one day. They will be open for the rest of the Easter weekend.
It has to admitted when the Fox came back from buying the chicken at the butcher's, he commented that the only other customer there seemed to be buying the whole shop. Yet the butcher's, too, is open tomorrow.
The siege mentality is obviously setting in.
It was more understandable in the days of my youth, when most people didn't have freezers. Even fridges were not the kitchen basics they are today. Those were the days when most food had to be bought on an almost daily basis. That's not the case now.
I am confident we could keep going for a long time just with the contents of the freezer, fridge & cupboards even if we couldn't get out to the shops. I suspect that would be the case for most people. But no, it's a Bank Holiday, so vast extra stocks of food must be got in. It's like there's some ancient, now obsolete, inherited gene for stocking up even though there is no necessity to do so these days.
I gather from PD, M&S in Lancaster was heaving yesterday. People were shopping like there was no tomorrow. They're only closing for the one day. They will be open for the rest of the Easter weekend.
It has to admitted when the Fox came back from buying the chicken at the butcher's, he commented that the only other customer there seemed to be buying the whole shop. Yet the butcher's, too, is open tomorrow.
The siege mentality is obviously setting in.
It was more understandable in the days of my youth, when most people didn't have freezers. Even fridges were not the kitchen basics they are today. Those were the days when most food had to be bought on an almost daily basis. That's not the case now.
I am confident we could keep going for a long time just with the contents of the freezer, fridge & cupboards even if we couldn't get out to the shops. I suspect that would be the case for most people. But no, it's a Bank Holiday, so vast extra stocks of food must be got in. It's like there's some ancient, now obsolete, inherited gene for stocking up even though there is no necessity to do so these days.
Thursday 5 April 2012
All change
As we returned home yesterday, my eyes went across the Bay. Sure enough, the Lakeland fells once more have a thin covering of snow. It has certainly been cold enough the last few days. Today, though, I was surprised to find brilliant blue skies. The clarity is astounding. It remains very cold. -7 it said on the thermometer attached to the garden shed this morning. But at least it is beautiful to look out on. I'm even contemplating seeing if I can do a little bit more tidying in the garden later on. I'd like to empty the pots around the bird table & the trough on the wall, ready to put some colourful plants in for the summer should it ever decide to come. I could also do with unstrangling the small triangle where the mint grows. Some ivy grows from there up the wall dividing the back from the front garden. Unfortunately the ivy does occasionally have a go at spreading in other directions, like across the mint bed.
I have plenty of time this morning as the Fox is in charge of dinner tonight. He's already made a pork hotpot ready to warm up this evening. The aromas kept tantalising my nose whenever I woke up during the night, setting up some tummy rumblings in eager anticipation. Thank goodness the smell abates as the meal cools, otherwise I would be feeling ravenous by now.
We're off to the Pub today. We don't often go on a Thursday but we want to avoid the Good Friday crowds. You can see the tourists have already started to arrive. I suspect many people saw that mild sunny spell & hastily booked an Easter break. Now they're coming regardless of the cold, & generally gloom (today being the exception). It's good for the local businesses but does disturb the peace locals grow accustomed to during the winter months, as we once more have to share the facilities with all these visitors.
I have plenty of time this morning as the Fox is in charge of dinner tonight. He's already made a pork hotpot ready to warm up this evening. The aromas kept tantalising my nose whenever I woke up during the night, setting up some tummy rumblings in eager anticipation. Thank goodness the smell abates as the meal cools, otherwise I would be feeling ravenous by now.
We're off to the Pub today. We don't often go on a Thursday but we want to avoid the Good Friday crowds. You can see the tourists have already started to arrive. I suspect many people saw that mild sunny spell & hastily booked an Easter break. Now they're coming regardless of the cold, & generally gloom (today being the exception). It's good for the local businesses but does disturb the peace locals grow accustomed to during the winter months, as we once more have to share the facilities with all these visitors.
Wednesday 4 April 2012
The return of winter
Yesterday I was decidedly off. I'd had a bad night the night before. One of those you spend more time awake than asleep. Throughout the morning my eyes were heavy. I put it down to the fumes from the onion I had been peeling, then frying for the curry. Even my stomach ached once more, along with my knees. All in all I felt decidedly off.
We were going to do our food shopping somewhere other than our usual Morrisons, but in the end we decided to go to our usual supermarket for speed - just a brief top-up fortunately. I was surprised to say somewhere mid-shop I picked up a bit. The supermarket was followed by the library for some new jigsaws & to return "The Heretic's Daughter", not a book I would recommend. I'm not taking any more books out until after our holidays as they don't have any books in French & it's time I turned my thoughts to a bit of revision, hence my new book is La Fontaine's "Fables" from off our own bookshelves. We even went on to the village pub for a quick couple of drinks before coming home. The curry was quickly heated up. Once filled, I rapidly flagged out. I was to bed straight after dinner to only re-emerge this morning, once more feeling myself.
By dinnertime I'd come to the conclusion that ill-ease had been caused by the sudden change in weather. (It is a recognised fact that a sudden change in air pressure affects people with joint complaints.) Winter has returned with a vengeance. The temperature has dropped like a stone. Showers are back, with the odd fleck of something white. Today the gales are blowing. They feel as though they're straight from the Arctic. I said a didn't trust the warmth of late. It seems my fears were justified. My clouts will remain uncast for a while yet. Until we're back from our hols I suspect, maybe not even then.
We were going to do our food shopping somewhere other than our usual Morrisons, but in the end we decided to go to our usual supermarket for speed - just a brief top-up fortunately. I was surprised to say somewhere mid-shop I picked up a bit. The supermarket was followed by the library for some new jigsaws & to return "The Heretic's Daughter", not a book I would recommend. I'm not taking any more books out until after our holidays as they don't have any books in French & it's time I turned my thoughts to a bit of revision, hence my new book is La Fontaine's "Fables" from off our own bookshelves. We even went on to the village pub for a quick couple of drinks before coming home. The curry was quickly heated up. Once filled, I rapidly flagged out. I was to bed straight after dinner to only re-emerge this morning, once more feeling myself.
By dinnertime I'd come to the conclusion that ill-ease had been caused by the sudden change in weather. (It is a recognised fact that a sudden change in air pressure affects people with joint complaints.) Winter has returned with a vengeance. The temperature has dropped like a stone. Showers are back, with the odd fleck of something white. Today the gales are blowing. They feel as though they're straight from the Arctic. I said a didn't trust the warmth of late. It seems my fears were justified. My clouts will remain uncast for a while yet. Until we're back from our hols I suspect, maybe not even then.
Tuesday 3 April 2012
An unexpected visitor
I've just been reading the Fox's latest blog. He somehow manages to encapsulate March & all the main events of that month, including some I've not written about, in one short blog. To think I've been boring you all with twenty odd blogs for the same period! Still, I have to admit brevity was never my strong point. For that matter I'm always a more detail person rather than a broad strokes person. You just have to look at our photos. Most of those taken on a wide-angled lens are the Fox's while I favour the telephoto. So detail is what I'll continue with.
We were just having a last cup of tea before setting off to collect PD to go to the Pub, when the doorbell rang. Who could this be? It turned out it was Shirley from church. I've not been to church for many months. In that time this was only the second communication I've had from anyone who attends there. The first communication was from one of the choir members who used to help me with my wheelchair in the days before I got the Mean Machine, my electric scooter. He sent us his usual Christmas card with all his good wishes.
Anyhow Shirley is one of the group I used to sit with, largely because that's the only space for wheelchair users which isn't behind a pillar & she & a couple of friends always sit at the pew just behind that space.
The church has finally noticed my absence & come round to check all is well with me. Shirley was quite shocked to realise the parish magazine hasn't been delivered to me on a regular basis since the previous vicar left over 18 months ago, leaving me feeling very excluded from the goings on in the parish.
My conscience pricked a bit. It sounds as though the new vicar has now settled in, so maybe a difficult customer like me would be more welcome. I'm not sure. Maybe it's just that a few of the sick & elderly in the parish have died & the pastoral team feel they have the resources to put to take on a new project in need of help ie me. Whatever it is, I'll think on. Maybe I will give it another go, now life seems more settled here at home. We've had time to assess the long term effects & implications on our lives of the Fox's stroke. It's not as though God has ever gone out of my life even if His church has.
We were just having a last cup of tea before setting off to collect PD to go to the Pub, when the doorbell rang. Who could this be? It turned out it was Shirley from church. I've not been to church for many months. In that time this was only the second communication I've had from anyone who attends there. The first communication was from one of the choir members who used to help me with my wheelchair in the days before I got the Mean Machine, my electric scooter. He sent us his usual Christmas card with all his good wishes.
Anyhow Shirley is one of the group I used to sit with, largely because that's the only space for wheelchair users which isn't behind a pillar & she & a couple of friends always sit at the pew just behind that space.
The church has finally noticed my absence & come round to check all is well with me. Shirley was quite shocked to realise the parish magazine hasn't been delivered to me on a regular basis since the previous vicar left over 18 months ago, leaving me feeling very excluded from the goings on in the parish.
My conscience pricked a bit. It sounds as though the new vicar has now settled in, so maybe a difficult customer like me would be more welcome. I'm not sure. Maybe it's just that a few of the sick & elderly in the parish have died & the pastoral team feel they have the resources to put to take on a new project in need of help ie me. Whatever it is, I'll think on. Maybe I will give it another go, now life seems more settled here at home. We've had time to assess the long term effects & implications on our lives of the Fox's stroke. It's not as though God has ever gone out of my life even if His church has.
Sunday 1 April 2012
New & old acquaintance
All the herbs are in the ground now. There still seems the odd gap, but I know Basil Bush has yet to go out & I want to scatter some gaily coloured marigolds & nasturtiums around. I'm also aware it is still very cold at night. Any further planting can wait until we're back from France when I'm here to keep an eye on them, to water them when necessary, to pick them to stop them bolting if it should be warm. I'll wait & see how these go before I add more. I know there are some things as yet still underground. By May they should have appeared if they're going to appear.
While I was doing that, I met our new neighbour. On first acquaintance he seems agreeable enough. Although he is English of Ukrainian parentage - a man indeed who grew up around here - his wife is apparently Latvian. I gather her English is not brilliant, Russian being the language spoken in their home. He is obviously worried how welcome she will be here. I assured him that's no problem as far as we're concerned. Another neighbour came over to join us & he, too, said he was happy to meet a Latvian, the more nationals the better.
So now I'm wondering if I should hastily revise my Russian. I did do Russian O Level many moons ago. It is very rusty now, 40 years on. Even so I am surprised to find I can still usually follow the first few words of Putin's speeches even before the translation appears. I even remember exchanging a few words with a girl from Belarus who worked in Cyprus the first time we visited there in the 1990s. The language is obviously lurking somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind. Maybe the time has come to bring it forward into the light of day once more.
While I was doing that, I met our new neighbour. On first acquaintance he seems agreeable enough. Although he is English of Ukrainian parentage - a man indeed who grew up around here - his wife is apparently Latvian. I gather her English is not brilliant, Russian being the language spoken in their home. He is obviously worried how welcome she will be here. I assured him that's no problem as far as we're concerned. Another neighbour came over to join us & he, too, said he was happy to meet a Latvian, the more nationals the better.
So now I'm wondering if I should hastily revise my Russian. I did do Russian O Level many moons ago. It is very rusty now, 40 years on. Even so I am surprised to find I can still usually follow the first few words of Putin's speeches even before the translation appears. I even remember exchanging a few words with a girl from Belarus who worked in Cyprus the first time we visited there in the 1990s. The language is obviously lurking somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind. Maybe the time has come to bring it forward into the light of day once more.
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