Good morning Mick and all GN's on a mild monday morning in North Yorkshire. Another crotchety night and after going to the loo at 4.30am never got back to sleep, but am trying to at least train my body to not expect coffee at that time of morning. So I have done my morning reset by creaking up and then with dressing gown on and coffee by my side letting Bach cheer the morning and pretend that this much better moment is the beginning of my day, and hope the rest of the day takes its tone from the second start.
So yesterday I was quite tired from my jaunt to Durham and had a quite lazy day, but enjoyable listening to some lovely music on radio 3, and hearing Private Passions etc etc. All the while just pottering about, managing to do small jobs and looking to see what the week brings on the radio and marking them up so that I dont miss them. Bits of paperwork done, and a look through emails and getting rid of stuff and so forth. Doesnt sound much but actually mentally it was very good. I had been getting quite irritated because really I make unrealistic plans for what I can do that day, based on my ability to rush around as if I was at least 10 years younger. Of course I then never do all that I plan and then feel stressed out. Silly me ! Actually not planning any specific jobs to be done , meant that I was pleased with what I managed to do rather than be annoyed at what was missed. Better attitude but after years of being a planner so as not to miss things dont know if I can change habits of a lifetime. Perhaps still make plans but dont be so uptight about what was not finished.
So I did feel more rested and calm yesterday evening and watched Antique Road show but later the Billy Connolly programme was on and I think he is a lovely person and very funny, and his physical ability to show you without words totally believable characters is great. It was all funny of course but there were one or two jokes where I laughed until I nearly cried. What a cheering happy thing to go to bed on rather than the news from anywhere. I do not put my head in the sand, and try to support campaigns that I believe in and do my share of voting and so forth whether for small things locally or major things countrywide, but I know that it does me no good to go to bed having heard the news , which these days leaves me either sad or mad, neither of which is condusive to good sleep. I have restarted my habit of having a small notebook by my bed. It is not for anything specific, but I find it very useful for parking worries. It is typical once I have got to bed to suddenly realize whatever I havent done , so made a note I need more bread, or must post the insurance letter or whatever. So to stop me trying to keep remembering it in the night or worrying about it I can write it down and look at it in the morning. It works well both for ordinary stuff like that and also to write any daft thing that comes to mind, whether it is wondering if that new rather shy lady will come to the meeting again on thursday, to mutterings and rise of blood pressure from any mention of such villains as Trump, Putin or Farage!! So today will be a variety of things but must ring up for an appointment at the doctors, which I have been putting off as other things more important at the moment. I am not saying that keeping on top of the diabetes is not important but it does not come in the top ten of ways I want to spend an hour. You do get to know how you are roughly health wise, and whilst I am always prepared to listen to experts, I think I am aware of times I need to check something out and other times that I am going along in a normal - for me - pattern. So I plan today to check through my diary, make sure I havent forgotten some important appointments or things that I want to go to and then plan which fireworks I can manage to get to and enjoy. I do love them all, but could do without the big noisy bangs but love the great star bursts in the sky and catherine wheels etc etc. I am 80 going on 8 you see and hope I never watch any fireworks and feel no excitement or pleasure,. I am sorry for the people who think that you grow out of enjoying such things and going on roundabouts etc etc., and dont care if I look like the mad granny, but invite other people my age to join me. Well at least just think I let other people think that even though they cant do X or Y at least they are not as crazy as me!! On go the purple and red hat!!
Mick , hope your new doctor turns out to be ok and doesnt drone on and lecture you but gives you any helpful ideas for the future. GrandMattie, my saying to dozy people is "When in doubt use brains!" so also hear in my head Rene from Allo Allo saying " You stupid woman!" Well what a good job you checked and sorted it out. RosesandLilac, sounds as though you had a very productive day even though you were tired by it all. So cheering when a painting turns out well isnt it? Hope the gardening foray goes well. Hoping everyone has a decent day and something positive to look forward to. I need to get up and walk a bit, getting cramp so will come back later to see what others are up to . Have a good day folks
Thinking of you.