Good morning Mick and all GN's from a very dark and cold, but no rain as far as I can tell, morning in North Yorkshire.
Physically moving about a bit better, but still very poor sleep.
Today I have a meeting with someone at Upfront, to help me sort out yesterdays panic!
My day yesterday started quite badly and went from bad to worse, somewhat of a nightmare all round. So wasnt in the best state to begin with, but the news that my bank was going to close here in I think May, was a poor start. Then later I got the post and was puzzled to see 3 letters from Ealing. which I dont think I have visited for more than 20 years. When I opened them I found they were each parking fines, which if I paid them immediately would cost me £180 in total and if I delayed would cost me £360 , as they stated that I had parked there illegally this month. On the back it offered me options to state whether I was the driver or someone else etc, but nowhere did it show where I could state that someone has obviously cloned my car number and I wasnt even in London on those dates. The big worry is not just the parking fines, which whoever it was , has no intention of paying, but what it could do to my credit rating etc. Not having much money I have always tried to keep up to date, pay my bills and not get behind etc so that I am seen as a trustworthy person, should I ever need to borrow any money or some problem arise.
I really felt very panicky , as I could not see how I could prove that it wasnt me. Fortunately, when I calmed down a little, I realized that on one day at least I was in a meeting with others in Upfront. Thank goodness for that, as I can now go there this morning and it is also good that it is an official place, not just a friend speaking etc., so she will be able to back my story that I have been here in Yorkshire on those dates, nowhere near Ealing. But it still leaves me worried about what else these people may do, and if I am going to get stopped by the police etc ., because my immediate thoughts are if some of these county lines drugs people , or in any case , someone up to no good , is using my registration plates. I see possible problems ahead, so I am thinking that once we get this parking stuff sorted I might try to preempt any problems by either ringing 101 or calling in a police station to show them these pictures etc., and ask if there is anything I can do to stop more of this happening. I do keep a diary or calendar of appointments, which will at least help me to remember what I was actually doing on a specific day, but I can see this going on for ages , with no way of my being able to stop it carrying on.
Wont bore you with the rest, but the day continued on these bad lines, I didnt get to the meeting at all, missed something else and was glad to see the end of the day. My cleaning ladies did come, and fortunately they know how to get in, if I am not here, because by the time I had done various things in the town and got back , they had come and done a good job and left. So that was cheering to see places looking a bit better, but because of dashing out I had forgotten to put the beetroot jar and another one and the discinfectant bottle out for Jess to open. They all sound small things but oh how everything added to the frustration of the day!!
Anyway on to better things today I hope. I am going to get this sorted out being there at 9am, and hopefully after that I shall go and have a calming coffee and possibly a look round the garden centre. I still cannot find my reading glasses, that I have only recently bought at great expense, and I rang Jessie to check and thank her for the work yesterday, but she didnt find them either and she is very good at finding stuff, so that is another flipping thing I have to either spend half this afternoon checking everywhere in the flat, and then trying to retrace in my mind where I have been and ask all the shops and cafes etc that I have been to , if I have left them there. Not really being my week is it? Never mind, although I am reasonably intelligent there are some superstitions I choose to believe in, and I choose to think that moving to another month is a new beginning and things will improve in February!!
I am certainly hoping to start the month with something nice if the weather is reasonable, as there is a garden open for seeing snowdrops, so that should soothe my path, although of course I will still have the heartache missing my lovely garden on 3 levels where I had over 100 rare snowdrops. It will be good to mix with other galanthophiles and talk flowers and gardens and look forward to enjoying many more garden visits and more daylight and warmth to look forward to. So roll on February. Ah , and now my morning is improved with my Bach and one of my favourite pieces from the B minor Mass, so deep breathing and calmness and a resolve that today will be a better day.
Hope you have a good trip today Mick and I think I may follow your example and treat myself to fish and chips today.
GrandMattie, hope you have a dry walk today and sounds as though you had a good time at tai chi yesterday. Pantglas hope the weather improves for you. I do not seem to have had any news about FGT.s and dont know if they are on at another time or no longer on this thread. Bellasnana hope you enjoyed the mens tennis and get to your hairdressers in good time. Karmalady you get so much done in your day, and actually get the jobs finished! My brain still thinks I can do things in the time and manner I used to , and I am constantly frustrated and annoyed by how little I get done, compared to what I thought I was going to manage. Also stuff like not being able to open things and turn mattress over etc , really irritates me and I must somehow get to a place where I just accept that I have to have help with some things these days. But that is a hard lesson to learn, as being independant and doing it myself , my way, has been important in my life. Ah well I shall limit todays expectation to the hopes that I get this wretched parking stuff sorted and find my glasses!
Wishing everyone a good day, may you also succeed in something important to you today. Dont forget to look out at the shoots coming up and plants starting to grow. Nature is there for us all to enjoy , thank goodness , and goes on serenely, whatever we humans are doing or not doing. I shall attempt to take my own advice on that today!!