Good morning Mick and all GN's from a dry chilly North Yorkshire. I did wake up at the annoying time of 3.45am, but then eventually drifted back off to sleep and managed to stay asleep until just after 7. So pleased for the extra sleep but annoyed that I missed Bach before 7 of course.
Well expected to be in a worse state than I am as spent most of yesterday exploring a bit of Durham. The forecast had been for a sunny start but turning to rain and quite heavy showers for the afternoon, so went off early leaving the mess behind to make the most of the good weather. Went to the park and ride, and then annoyingly my bus pass seems to have disappeard, so must find it for future occasions. Anyway , good to be going in on the bus, as you can look round and I always look up in cities to see the roof and the architecture which is often revealing of earlier times. There were some beautiful places, some georgian by the looks of them and wonderful different lights over doorways. Thought the bus went onto one more stop and sat still in the seat , then realized that everyone was getting off and checked with the driver, and sure enough this was the best stop for the centre. So it was a very slow uphill walk, pausing to look around as I went. Got to near the indoor market, and there was also stalls in the open too. Dont know whether they are always there or just saturday. There was all sorts and enjoyed wandering about, buying some lovely home made coffee cake (my favourite) and scones from a charity stall. Lots going on, a young man in raf uniform sorting out his troops for poppy selling and explaining the plans for the remembrance service with people. A lot of shops of interest to me all in a reasonably close area, fruit veg, all sorts of bits and pieces, kitchen stuff, where I searched in vain for the particular make that I like for washing my cashmere by hand. I fear it has gone for good, as things seem to do these days, where they think that writing NEW on something encourages you to buy. NOT ME! I like tried and trusted. Anyway lots to see but of course a great deal of time spent in , what else? book shops. The waterstones nearest me is pleasant with lots of helpful people but it is on 2 levels and the poetry section is up stairs that I cant manage any longer. The staff are always willing to go and get something for me , but that is not the same as looking for yourself. It is an old listed building so they are not allowed to put a lift in or anything.
So, ah ha! Durham wins the prize for accessibility, as all the things I want are on the ground floor. Even nicer the poetry section is in a little bay of its own complete with seat, which I was able to claim for myself. Ah what riches to sit in comfort and within arms reach of so many already loved and new books and authors to enjoy. Think child in a sweetie shop! Not only that but other people who come there are of my tribe, and we speak the same language books and poetry and music. There was even a lady , same name as me, and even same spelling, a professor I gathered looking for a couple of the shortlisted T S Elliot prize. We were both able to pass on a new author to consider to each other, and were both triumphant in finding something we wanted. I emerged with a great book of Benjamin Zephenaih called Dis Poetry. I have always loved his work, think he was a lovely person and enjoyed much of his work. He was a vegetarian or vegan , not sure which , but wrote a great poem that I enjoyed which I think was called Just Talk to your Turkey this Christmas. You might enjoy it if you find it. I did. Then another person in that section told me of a different book shop, where they sold a lot of second hand books of all sorts where the money goes to charity etc. My favourite type of bookshop as these shops you never know what you will find and yes I found a Getrude Jeycell book, so then had to leave quickly before I spent , as Jenny Joseph would say, what I had , and say that there is no money for butter etc etc. So very happy with my trophies and the weather had a couple of showers but stuck my mac on quickly and no problem and then went into the indoor market and looked about a bit and then up to their cafe for a very good thin beefsteak roll with mushrooms and onions and a coffee. There was so much more I would have wished to look at but commonsense (not something I usually use!) said that I was already struggling and needed to get back to the bus and the car where I could have a rest. So duly plodded down to the bus stop and waved goodbye to durham for the moment. There are so many trees and the river and this is the kind of city I like, more compact with still some nature to enjoy. Of course I will be back another day soon, and there is the Botanical Gardens to enjoy, when I can walk a bit farther. The autumn colours were beautiful and whilst my back is of course complaining , it is not as bad as expected, so contrary to your natural instincts to sit down when your back hurts, I think I must experiment and try and walk a bit longer to find the optimum benefit from walking. All the news now is how a longer walk is better than 2 or 3 smaller walks, which may be true, but I have no chance to go for a half hour walk at speed, so shall just do what I can . Anyway getting out in the garden and looking at plants and wandering along past peoples gardens enjoying their efforts too is good and calming too. So not really sure what I am going to do today, apart from of course listening to radio 3 and 4 and of course hearing DID and Private Passions. Havent even seen who the subjects are so far. If it stays dry I shall at least wander round the gardens here and ignore the ironing still awaiting my attention. I have done quite a bit and now have several choices of trousers and tops and a fortnights worth of underwear ready so if the weather deteriorates I shall listen to my programmes whilst tackling more of the ironing mountain. Other than sorting out food, I plan to sit and enjoy my new poetry book as didnt manage to get The Yorkshire Post yesterday. In the far reaches of county durham they didnt have one available!!
Mick , hope the cycling goes well today and you must have enjoyed your team winning yesterday. I have a booked phone call about my diabetes on I think the 11th, but if it is like last time they asked various things and then still wanted me to go in for a check, so seems a bit pointless. Ah well see what they say this time. I am not expecting to get moaned at much this time, as with occasional treats I have been keeping reasonably to a decent diet. Every so often I realize that I am veering off from a good pattern, and go back to my diabetes pamphlets to remind myself about whether what I am eating at present is quite good. Gets boring though , doesnt it having to check up again and again! As they say so many people have diabetes these days I am surprised that some enterprising person hasnt opened a chain of cafes supplying delicious but appropriate food. It would be rather like going to a kosher restaurant, where you know that you dont have to scrutinize everything but can just choose what you like from the menu! Karmalady, you are making a splendid job of your cupboard , and sorting so many things out. Oh I wish I had a Tardis and could transport you to my flat, where I am sure you would have many sensible suggestions as to how I could get more efficiently organised. ! Instead I should take your post as a nudge to myself to make more of an effort. The next horrible cold or rainy day, I shall at least begin to do something practical. GrandMattie, you should have a halo for being so good at the wretched fete, and when they told Iris that she wasnt doing the raffle , if I had been you I would have taken my coat and left with them. That added insult to injury after a very trying morning. I wouldnt be surprised if you just told them that you have finished and done more than your fair share of work for their flipping fetes and occasions. Alternatively you could insist that if you are kind enough to even consider doing any more for the less than grateful people that the organiser of whatever , must stay with you until the dragon appears and soundly warn her off. You serenely carry on cooking or organising and leave the organiser to bar the door to the dragon, (possibly with a bucket of water to put out the flames!) If not then should she enter the kitchen, simply quietly walk out and leave it, hopefully with toast burning or whatever and show that you will no longer put up with this browbeating and disgraceful behaviour not only from them but your vicar seems only capable of handing out jobs to you without ensuring you have the means and the peace and quiet to carry on. Doing a poor job of something is not in your nature, and it is too stressful to complete a long job, without constant interference or last minute changes. If you start a job and the vicar comes and says you need to be elsewhere, hand him a teatowel or a key or whatever and say let me know when you have moved everything over and I will be back!! They are really taking advantage of your kind nature and you do so much baking for them etc that they are behaving in a very rude and selfish way , and do not seem to appreciate all you do for them. Time to sit with a coffee and think what level of things you could do without exhausting yourself, which jobs you like and which you do not, and then declare that in future you are happy to continue to do A and B, but that is all. If they do not thankyou for all your efforts and make some start to making things easier for you, I am sure that there are many other people, charities, groups who would be delighted to gain such a treasure as yourself, and would appreciate all you do. Grandmabatty hoping all goes well with the operation and that things begin to improve for both him and his brother. RoseandLilac sounds as though you had a good day and great that you sold your machine. Well I have been very slow getting going but the sun is shining now and looks quite nice but chilly, so time to creak to my feet, and stick my nose out and enjoy the autumn colours. Hope everyone has a peaceful and pleasant day.
