Tuesday 10 March 2009

Just blethering........

I woke this morning to the increasingly loud chorus of bird song as the sun struggled to raise its head. Peeking over the blankets, I was unsure what the weather would hold for today and tiptoed out to open the curtains. Brrr, it was still chilly so I jumped back into bed, just as J came in with my morning cuppa. “Morning, honey,” he smiled at me and kissed the top of my head before he went back downstairs to let the chickens out.

The next sound to assail my ears was the dogs barking in delight as they were let out to “help” with the chickens. Their “help” is to snuffle all around the run, checking up on who has been roaming around eating spilt seed, during the night. Their curiosity satisfied, they come skidding back into the house for breakfast.

While all this goes on, less than five minutes has passed but already my mind is at it. It’s the same every day: I wake up and my mind is instantly alert but my body struggles to match the pace. So, this is my time to plan the day. Sipping my tea, I watch as the sun pokes through and patches of blue sky appear through the white fluffy balls of cloud. “Enough blue to make a sailor’s suit”. That was one of my Nan’s sayings and it popped into my mind and brought a smile to my face. Thinking of my childhood and time with my Nan always brings a smile to my face and, after the pain of losing her, I carry her with me always. I find myself still doing things we did together; things I would never have done without her and I smile often at the memories.

A pair of long tailed tits sit on a branch outside the window and peek in at me. They are nervous little birds and soon fly off as the more confident blue tits appear. Note to self: top up the feeders before breakfast.

The clouds roll in and the sky turns grey again as I am in the shower. I can see the field at the bottom of the garden and the pale green shoots are just pushing through the red/brown earth that is so characteristic of this part of the country. It is still too early to tell what it is going to be, but last year it was pasture and I think we are due a wheat crop…………. My mind moves on again: I must change the spare bed as we have visitors due. Mmm, will the sheets dry out today, or shall I hang them up over the Rayburn? Nearly dry myself now, I give lip service to some body lotion – too chilly to dally and get dressed.




Windows open and bed turned back, I shoo the cat out. She loves to jump up on the bed and I don’t mind after it is made, but she always makes a beeline to the warm patch I have not long vacated. With arms filled with washing I negotiate the stairs down and J is just coming back in from walking the dogs. Oh, great! They’re filthy (again!) and after a brisk rubbing down are banished to the utility room to finish drying off. Dog chews are dispensed before they start barking to “ask” for one – they are such creatures of habit.

The washing machine starts its gentle hum and the kettle is sending small spirals of steam up to the ceiling. I make J’s sandwiches for work and then we sit to eat our cereals together. And then it happened. You know the feeling when your stomach flips over as realisation hits? I had glanced at the calendar and realised that I had a blood test in 40 minutes. Darn it! Mental lists scatter as I frantically finish eating, rush to clean my teeth and throw on some lippy whilst doing up my shoes. I have to have blood tests every fortnight for a while now that I have restarted my Bosentan. Liver function can be affected and there is a strict protocol to follow.

I wave a kiss at J as I grab handfuls of keys and leg it to the car. Newent is only 15 minutes away so I may just make it; that is if there are no tractors on the road. And then my mind is at it again as I spy litter floating in the ditches. It was bin day today and we always get litter after a collection. Note to self – get litter picker out of greenhouse where it had been shoved when I went to buy chicken feed last time. Time to be a womble again!

Turning left at the Dymock crossroads, I pass a thatched cottage that is having the roof re-done. It is long overdue and I’m not sure if it has changed hands as there has been a hive of activity over the last few months. The ladders are still on the roof but it is still a little early for the thatcher to be at work. Crossing the motorway bridge I note that traffic is very light (this is not a busy motorway at the best of times, more like a dual carriageway), glance at the clock and dip the accelerator a bit more. I normally pootle about but today I have got an appointment so will get up to the 50mph speed limit.

It was hard to find a parking space this morning but I did find one eventually. Red-faced and out of breath, I check in at the desk. Just made it! 10 minutes later I am walking down the high street to pay a bill at the bank and the sun parts the clouds once more. I pause to pick up two plastic bags that are rolling along the floor and shove them in the nearest bin, tutting. This irritates me soooooo much. Newent is such a pretty market town with its timber framed market house and Tudor buildings. In the summer there is multi-coloured bunting draped across the streets and there are wonderful butchers, greengrocers, bakers, tea shops, card shops and the obligatory “country” store selling wellies, Barbours and cords. It is host to the Newent Onion Fayre in September and the crowds roll in.

Today, though, I have a hefty list of phone calls to make, washing to finish and floors to clean, so I need to concentrate my thoughts once more. And I left the house without making the bed! Major sin!! It is starting to spit as I pass the thatched cottage in Dymock village once more and see that the thatcher has started his work. Eight minutes later I reverse on the drive; 2 buzzards call from above as they circle over our roof and I battle with the gate against the strengthening breeze. I’m ready for that cup of tea now and slide the kettle onto the hot plate as I discard body warmer and hang up the keys. Within minutes it is boiling and I can commit my mental list to paper so that later I can enjoy crossing things out! So satisfying – I love a list and that smug feeling when you reach the bottom. Only trouble is, there’s always another list tomorrow!

16 comments:

Jude said...

Hello, thanks for visiting, we have a dog very similar to the one of the left of the 3 musketeers pic...I'll be back once I've thrown some tea together.....

Calico Kate said...

Hello Woozle have found my way to your blog and have enjoyed it hugely!
Read all the way back and am decidedly green re your bedroom and bathroom. Just love it and I hope you're happy in it. & Oh for stairs with a runner - we are in a bungalow so no stairs for us, I do miss them.
Our cats like the hotspots too and one doesn't wait until we have got out before he gets in!
Great to hear you're on the mend. Will be back soon
CKx

pinkfairygran said...

Such a good blether, thank you for a good read with my afternoon cuppa. I know Newent... visited the birds of prey centre many years ago and generally love the area around there. Seeing it mentioned reminded me of past holidays, reading a book decades ago (or so it seems) THE DAFFODILS OF NEWENT by Susan Sallis (possibly?), all nice memories in their own way. I wish I could forget a blood test until the last minute; instead it plays on my mind for days beforehand, anyone would think I was a novice! But as they have been a big part of my life for almost thirty years, and the needles they use get smaller and are definitely a lot smaller than dialysis needles, so it should be easier. Maybe it's me who gets more of a scaredy cat the older I get. Look forward to the next blether!

Inthemud said...

Hi Woozle,
Not been able to read blogs much lately, but glad to visit you today .
Long Tailed tits are such pretty birds not seen one here lately.

Suffolkmum said...

I do love reading about your part of the world, as it's not one I know at all. Newnent sounds lovely. Such a nice insight into your day (and I think our cats are sisters under the skin!)

snailbeachshepherdess said...

Welcome back to blog land, so glad to see you back and hear you are getting fit for spring. Lovely blog sounds like you are full of energy! Hope to see you soon.

TIGGYWINKLE said...

Enjoyed sharing your day Woozle. Lovely cosy read. Enjoyed the bit about your gran. That's how I would love our grandchildren to remember me. I had an eiderdown exactly the same. Wonder where it got to? I too, live by lists and love striking things off. Catching up after my trip , and must catch up on blogging.

TIGGYWINKLE said...

Enjoyed sharing your day Woozle. Lovely cosy read. Enjoyed the bit about your gran. That's how I would love our grandchildren to remember me. I had an eiderdown exactly the same. Wonder where it got to? I too, live by lists and love striking things off. Catching up after my trip , and must catch up on blogging.

bayou said...

Woozle, this is now the continuation of your "where I live" and I do enjoy reading it. I am happy that you are on the upwards move again and am looking forward to reading more.

Pondside said...

I know that sinking feeling of 'whoops, I nearly forgto!'.
Thanks for the tour to town and the tour of the early part of your day. I'm so glad that life is returning to normal for you and it sounds as though being back on the medication is a very good thing.

Pipany said...

That was lovely Woozle. I particularly knew what you meant about the mind being alert and the body slow to follow! Thank you for that wander through your day xx

Weeping Sore said...

Thanks for sharing “Enough blue to make a sailor’s suit” from your Nan. I know exactly the sky you mean. Your morning was a blessing.

Exmoorjane said...

Isn't that just the worst feeling, when you realise you should be somewhere and had entirely forgotten? I do it often, usually too late to make it. Glad you did.
Off to read more now....jxxx

Chris Stovell said...

Horrible feeling when you suddenly have to be somewhere - glad you made it. I empathized with what you wrote about your nan, I feel like that about my dad.

Sally Townsend said...

That cat looks very comfortable, when I read that you made lists my heart sank, I must start doing so too only I lose mine !!

Fennie said...

Hello Woozle,

Yes I remember visiting Newent and the Falconry Centre years ago when my parents lived in Gloucestershire. A lovely part of the world. So many trees and a rolling landscape. The dawn chorus is really getting going here too.