Good morning Mick and all GN's when they join us. It is very dark, no sign of stars or light at all, but no sound of rain, which is all I can tell at the moment.
I have had a very poor night and could definitely do with the human version of WD40 to try and loosen up. Well as the saying goes " Take what you want - and pay for it! " Very true today. I was glad that I managed to get to Muker show, but Oh dear, everything I did reminded me how decrepid I am becoming. Even with them kindly getting me a parking space as near as possible to the show, it was a real effort to get round. Not helped by the expected short but heavy showers. In the past I would have quickly run into a tent or under cover somewhere. Now cant even get up off a chair quickly so just have to get wet!!
Still on the plus side , the band played well as usual, I saw many friends from the band and the choir, and it was lovely to see them all, and catch up a bit. My friend came with his dog, who was very well behaved, but is 10 years old so quite an old boy. He looked with interest at the sheepdog trials but didnt bark or try to go towards it but looked up at times, as if to say Huh I could have done that better. The usual tents and stalls were all there , but I was really struggling to get round, which was very frustrating to say the least, and each obstacle would remind me how I used to dash about and make sure I missed nothing. Never mind, I managed to get there, but sadly just could not stay and stand and sing at the end, which was a shame. If I am a bit better I shall go to the concert on the 6th remembering Norman and it will be a splendid do as not only are all the usual band members past and present going to be there playing, many many players who have been taught or played at concerts for Norman are coming and it will be definitely a gathering of the best players around. People are coming from far and wide, and his grandson is coming from Scotland to conduct, so not an occasion to be missed and will go down as a special day to be remembered in Swaledale.
So down to more mundane things today. When I am able to move about a bit better I want to get the washing going, and then get out to the car, to restore it to its normal setting, and take out stuff from the show and the chairs etc . Then I am at a meeting this morning, to which I understand a local councillor will be coming, so my chance to speak about the dreadful state of roads and paths and ask why they could find the time to come round repainting yellow lines and no parking etc ., with I might add about 5 of them yet as usual 3 watching and 2 doing the painting! Yet not one pot hole filled in or even painted round to show where it needs doing. Huh!! Never mind , drip drip will be my way, and they will all sigh when they see me at meetings and read my letter to the local paper, but will learn if they dont already know, that I shall continue to bring the subject up and we already have a plan for everyone to photograph the worst potholes near their house and then I am going to put a map of the town up and we will pin the photos to the map, making it clear that this is something that must be addressed and that we are not going to be quiet about it. I usually look at the courses that are available at this time of year and look to see what I might join - that is if they are not on a thursday! At the moment just about everything is on a thursday, and like today there are two meetings this morning, but even I cannot be at both at the same time!
What are other GN's planning to do this autumn in the study or courses line? I still have not heard from the surgen, which is very annoying, but the minute I am allowed , it will be back tot he swimming pool. Hopefully I will be able to get back to swimming every week, which will help me get some exercise in a less painful way, and have to gradually build back up to my 30 lengths a session, which was the most I used to do. They also have a sauna there which I used to use at the end of the swimming. Then I plan to see what computer programmes there are. By that I dont mean learning COBOL or whatever, but want to learn new things and remember previous ideas on how to use it safely, especially with all these wretched scams etc. I also hope there might be a chance to update my phone skills , as although I use my phone for a variety of things, know that there are a lot more things I could do and again safety is the key. My son just about lives on his phone, in terms of being able to do his banking and check up lots of things etc. I want to do more , but again need to be sure that I can do these things safely. In any case, I never want to use it 24/7, or think it is more important than actual people but to be more savvy would be good. I get frustrated using the phone to send messages or text as I am a touch typist and can write very quickly on my lap top, but it takes me ages to use the keyboard on the phone as the things are so close together that it is easy to misspell or hit the wrong keys.
Well folks there is a very little light in the sky and it looks slightly breezy and dry, so time to creak around and start the washer etc. When I write on here i read all the posts that are there and make comments on various things, but of course while I am typing this, other people are sending in posts and I can see how long I have been writing by the amount of posts now ahead of mine but which I have not yet read!
I hope everyone is adjusting to the new month ok and that grandchildren are settling in well at school and now we are able to catch up with friends who have been on childminding duties over the holiday Time to sort bits in the garden and on wet and horrible days get out the seed catalogues ready to begin again. I still have not been able to plant all the various things I have bought as bargains, and think that I shall now have to get someone to do the practical digging and planting for me, but I shall most definitely be in charge as to what goes where. So hope the day goes well for everyone and do factor in a well deserved coffee or tea, and perhaps a catch up with old friends.
