Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

It certainly has changed, we were inspecting the bobbin Mill at Stott Park the last day I was in there. Boots and outside gear!
Not sure what I'll be doing yet. No cooking and no shopping so shed?

[Sue]

Ah yes the. Bobbin Mill, went there years ago, about 23 to be precise. There were still plenty of walkers in the bar area, plus their dogs. That was also very nicely done up but not as posh.

All packed, we have to be out by 10 but we will be earlier. We afe going to the local cafe for a cooked breakfast, our usual Sunday treat. Then we shall drive home, get some washing done and out for 5.00 for the Model Engineers annual meal.

[Sue]

It’s going to take hours to digest that lot!
What is the fascination with the ladies rest room? Do you fancy the wallpaper?

Hopefully I shall be progressing with the gardening today. Visitors expected this morning and rain expected this afternoon, but somewhere in between I hope to garden...

We didn’t eat again apart from finishing my birthday cake about 9.30 pm.

[Stanley]

Busy as usual Sue!
I got sidelined this morning, Jack coughed! This is a sure sign that I have to vacuum dog hairs up! He picks them up as he plays with his ball and can't deal with them. I am going one further this morning, giving him a good brush and combing out! I don't have to do it very often as he sheds his coat all the time.

[Marilyn]

I bet you brushed enough off Jack to knit him a pup.
My son brushes his Labrador once a week, and can knit a pup with the mound of hair he gets off. The dog feels so much better afterwards too.

[Marilyn]

A storm last night must have rained mud. Our front door copped the brunt of it and needed a good wash down this morning. The day hasn't really got any better, being dark, wet and windy...so a good day to read my Ipad user guide I think. I keep meaning to find time to do it and have been given the perfect day!
That and a bit of cooking (with the kitchen light on so I can see what i am doing).

[PanBiker]

You didn't have the giant hailstones then Maz?

[Marilyn]

Not that I know of, Panbiker. It was pretty windy when I snuggled down to sleep about 9pm...and I slept pretty good until the Sciatica woke me about 04.30am as per usual ( it usually grabs me anywhere between 3am and 5am). I think hail would have woken me, had there been any because I am a fairly light sleeper.

[Stanley]

Maz. My Dad always used to say, "When all else fails, read the instructions!"
Getting scrubbed up to be at Airedale for 1pm appointment for BCG treatment. Having 500cc of live bugs pumped into me holds no fears by now, I think I am getting used to it!

[Marilyn]

It’s just that there are a few more features, such as working with split screens etc.

Good luck today. Hope your recent viral infection doesn’t add to your woes in the next few days. Take it easy and be kind to yourself...sleep as much as you like but keep the fluids up.

[Stanley]

It was only mild Maz and is gone completely. I shall be cutting back on the fluids after 10AM, if I don't I know I will have two hours of misery after the treatment as you have to hold it that long to make sure you get a 'good infection'.
Funny old world, getting deliberately exposed to a live bacteria as a prophylactic against another condition. I suspect that in ten years it will be seen as medieval but it's where we are at the moment!

[Sue]

Hope it goes OK Stanley. Very nice meal at the Engineers do last night. I rarely have dessert as I am not keen on sweet things so I usually have cheese and biscuits. The portion was huge so Bob and I shared it, very nice

We came home to the usual mail, some more cards more birthday cards which was nice, plus a few small card making things I had ordered from Amazon, a sewing pattern , a seed ordering catalogue and a letter about an insurance that has matured that my dad took out when I was born. It won’t be worth much but I have emailed for information. Finally I had a letter from the Dr re making an appointment for my annual blood test as I am now classed as pre diabetic . There was also a message on the phone to contact the GP which I think must be about my minor surgery appointment. The washing was all done and dried before we went to bed so this morning will be ironing after our usual Monday morning swim. Later I need to collect my friends sewing machine from the repair man.

This afternoon its the hairdressers for a well needed cut, plus a nice sit down and a read for a couple of hours My hair always gets a bit wild when we are walking and swimming daily when we go to the Lakes. This evening is art.

This morning I will weigh myself to check on the damage after Christmas and birthday celebrations. Hopefully last weeks activities will have kept things in check!

[Stanley]

I reckon being on the diabetic programme is a good thing Sue, especially if like me you are a marginal case. You get the advantages of the care without the worst downsides of the condition. (See the recent reports on longer life for Metformin users!)I have decided to ditch bed this morning as I have to be out of the house at noon scrubbed up and ready for Nurse Helen. So I am doing odd jobs like some cooking etc. After that I shall be taking it easy until the side effects of the treatment become clear. I am not expecting anything worse than usual but having your immune system stimulated to this extent needs watching, it carries consequences.

[Marilyn]

Just waiting for the wash to finish so I can hang it all out on the line before getting stuck into a bit more gardening.
We are still in a mess in the kitchen, with the fridge still in the Dining Room and pantry contents all over the table. Plumber has been a no show today. I asked D to phone him and he refused. ( typical of my husband...the tiniest things annoy him and can send him into total meltdown, yet a mess strewn across two rooms doesn’t even warrant a raised eyebrow.) I shall be happier in the garden where I don’t have to look at the mess!

[Stanley]

Courage mon brave! It will happen.....
I shall be doing as little as possible and drinking lots of water. I'd forgotten how interesting immune reactions can be....

[Sue]

Woken late this morning, nearly 9 hours sleep.

Out for a birthday lunch today with friends, pilates and yoga tonight. Perhaps I shall do a little writing before I go out.

[Sue]

Another poem, originally written in 2009. This months challenge was to review something we had written before and review and improve. I altered a few bits, changed the punctuation and the rhythm.


Perpetual Motion version 2

Flowing gently, oozing from the ground,
slow movement, constant trickle but little sound.
Pond skaters dancing, darting here and there
Water Boatmen rising, falling, surfacing for air.
The water, quickly moving, from this homely spot,
pushes through narrow spaces , over jagged rocks,
perpetual motion driving and forcing the water on,
away from these pools shimmering in the morning sun.
The shallow trickle, building into a might roar,
crashes down from great heights to a rocky floor.
Its massive foaming fronds encompass ferns,
Mosses and frightened birds, that do not learn
the importance of this powerful force
pushing its way forward away from the source .
At last , the motion falls to a gentler pace
as the river widens allowing more space
for gentle meanderings on this final journey,
now one of solitude, peace and tranquillity.
Perpetual motion still remaining a force
as this gentle giant follows its course
with pace unchanged until it meets the sea,
a vast expanse, space to be free
Where upon the gentle heat of warming rays
pushes fine droplets upwards, and beyond into space.
Convection carrying the droplets high,
forming cotton wool balls floating in the sky.
Slowly these balls of fluff turn grey
as they accumulate debris and decay.
Heavier and heavier until ,with one sudden burst ,
they gush from the sky and down to the earth,
seeping through the grassy mounds
to caverns deep, deep beneath the ground.
And then, as if by chance there below,
perpetual motion recreates this eternal flow.
Flowing gently, oozing from the ground
slow movement, constant trickle but little sound.
Pond skaters dancing, darting here and there.
Water Boatmen rising, falling, surfacing for air.
The water , quickly moving from this homely spot,
pushes through narrow spaces , over jagged rocks.
Perpetual motion driving and forcing the water on,
away , far far away , and beyond

Sue
2020

[chinatyke]

[Stanley]

You weren't wasting your time Sue. Nice!
Same as yesterday, quietly pursuing routines and resting as much as possible. Doing nothing that isn't essential to good order and military discipline!

[Sue]

Bob has a dental appointment this morning, so we shall walk there together, into Rochdale then up towards the station. It should take about 45 minutes. Then back to Rochdale to the bank, the optician and finally the bus station where we need to pay a new annual charge of £10 so that we can use the trains in Greater Manchester for free with our bus pass. It is free now but that will stop on February 1 st. when this annual charge comes into force, created by Greater Manchester Mayor to fund free passes for 16-18 year olds I believe. £10 for a year is nothing, a bargain I think when you consider the train fare to Manchester from here.

This afternoon is sewing with Maxine. We shall discuss the finishing of Bob’s shirt, ie the collar and after that the dreaded yellow top. I bet you thought I had forgotten about that , pilates this evening.

[Stanley]

Good God! I thought that top had receded into the mists of history!
Have a good day. I shall be doing nothing so exciting, just being extremely kind to myself. (Always a rewarding pastime!)

[Tizer]

Great poem, Sue, thanks for sharing it!

[Sue]

Great poem, Sue, thanks for sharing it!

Thanks Tiz, the water cycle!

The yellow top has been refitted this afternoon, taken in, taken up, recut and all marked up for me to sew. The sleeves will be fitted when I have done all of that! The fabric definitely stretched during the pressing whilst being made up. It will be finished, slow but sure.

[Marilyn]

If all else fails, chuck it on a hot wash and see how it turns out...

I’m reading 50 Shades of Grey - well - I should say I have STARTED reading it, but I’m that damn bored with it, I may abandon it. Just a lot of tripe thus far...

[Stanley]

I got that out of my system a long time ago Maz and then gave it to my grand daughter....
I had an easy day, got all my jobs and walks done and was in bad early for a good sleep. It's working, I am feeling a lot better apart from the lethargy...... Onward and upwards!