Morning (just cant say good today!) Michael and all GN's on a dark still morning in North Yorkshire. I have finally managed to get up, having had a horrible night with bad cramp to add to everything else. I am having to move with great care, as my flipping leg is still sort of juddering and threatening to start again! I have the Nightmare song from G and S going through my brain and the bed certainly looks as though it has been to sea!! So whilst no doubt many people are thinking about the Budget, I am down to simple basics such as dare I go and make a coffee yet!! So whatever plans I did have in mind are thrown out, and the day will be governed by how long the cramp lasts and the only definite thing is I need to get down the market at some point if possible.
Yesterday was a mixed day, not getting planned things done, but sorting different things. The weather was bright, very windy, but sunny, and so I was determined to get out for a little while on the yellow peril and make the most of the sunshine before the promised rain arrived. I had one or two things to do, and I was checking emails etc and saw the confirmation of my order from Seasalt for a pair of trousers, but they had the wrong size on them, so the first thing was to get to the shop and check what had gone through and either change or reorder the right size or whatever.
I was full of aches and pains and unfortunately even with a shower and some painkillers I was still struggling and very frustrating as things like picking pens up off the floor was like a mammoth task, so getting out was the best thing to do. Once I got going, but taking me ages to start, I was quite enjoying the morning, being blown about but not cold, and the clouds racing across the sky and then at times an extra strong wind would have people hanging on to their coats and leaning into the wind like a Lowry painting.
I arrived at Seasalt and as I was in such pain and struggling, I couldnt face getting on and off and trying to walk to the desk, which is half way down the shop, so rang my bell and called out to ask if someone could come to the door. I saw one lady look up rather puzzled, but I beckoned to her and she came down to me. Explaining why I wasnt able to walk up to the desk and showing her the email on my phone, she then went off to try and check it all out. It took her some time, but yes confirmed that the wrong size had been entered by their staff, and so I asked her to change it and was going to leave, but she then said that the wrong one had probably already been despatched, so that rather than have to wait for that to arrive and send back, I could order the correct size as a different order, so that that would be being sent straight away rather than waiting for the first one to arrive, but that of course that would be returned etc. So it had to be a bit of "high finance" reordering the correct one et. The only good thing was that they were having this sort of pick a prize thing, where you picked a closed ticket out and they had different prizes on, so you could have 10 or 15 or 20 % off anything bought that day. Ha ha, for once I did well and got a 20% off so that took a bit off the price of the newly ordered trousers, and added to the better side of the hassle of it all. I have ordered them to go to the shop, I am not faffing about waiting in for the delivery people, so they will let me know when they arrive. Such high finance happenings here!!
By the time I had finished all the toing and froing with this and been for the bread it was already gone 1215 and I decided that I deserved a little treat and to enjoy the wild but sunny weather, so I carried on to the other end of the high street to my favourite fish and chip shop, where they know exactly what I want and cook me a fresh piece of fish and put plenty of vinegar on it . Then I went off to the park with it, and with my eyes shut I could think I was at the seaside. The wind was very gusty and quite wild, the clouds racing across the sky and the gulls swooping about so I could have been at Saltburn. The fish was beautifully cooked and fresh and I really enjoyed it and hopefully got them a couple of other customers as a man and then a couple passed by and commented , saying that it looked good. I told them where I had got them from and recommended their very good fish freshly cooked. So finishing my fish in record time, I carefully put the box in the bin, and then set off to cafe Nero for a much needed coffee and a chance to tidy myself up from the very windblown look.
It was a quieter cafe as I was a bit later and I think the staff were pleased to have a gap in the queues as they had obviously been busy, with many tables still with crockery on them. They are usually very good about clearing up as they went but when I had tidied myself up and found a comfortable seat I enjoyed my coffee and sent a text to a friend to see if she was in town to come and meet me. She wasnt free but I was quite happy to be able to check through my shopping list, read the bit of the Yorkshire Post I hadnt got up to before, and watch as the staff restored the cafe to its neat and tidy state and restored chairs to their right place. They even had time to restock shelves before more people began came in so think they were glad of the breather.
I eventually made my way home, with still no sign of an rain, and glad that I hadnt taken any notice of the forecast. Got things sorted out and then finally made up my beef casserole, tidied the fridge a bit and checked on dates etc. Then had something to eat and had planned to g o to the games night on the buggy again , but then the rain arrived and it was very dark too and so I decided that the car was the best bet, and off I went , nearly running into a most stupid man in dark clothes on a bike cutting across, with no lights on!
A few of the regulars were absent for various reasons and we ended up playing Carcassone, which suited me very well. I am gradually understanding more of the rules etc and ways to play without having to look up things and check all the time. That is the game I have bought but not really had much time to go through it and in any case I find it easier to learn by actual playing than just reading it up. So quite a good game, with less stupid mistakes on my part, and a little more idea of strategy learnt for the future. Didnt stay for a further game, as my back was too painful and I felt very tired in any case, so home and watched Downton Abbey. All things to keep my mind off my son's ear problems. He is seeing the consultant on thursday and I do hope that he gets better news, or that at least some clear plan of what they are going to do. It is constantly in my mind as they have said if he needs an operation it could be quite difficult, so can only wait to hear what they have decided and hope that they do whatever is necessary quickly. He already has a hearing aid in the other ear so it is an anxious wait.
So while the rest of the country thinks of the Budget and what may or may not be in it, I have been much more concerned about family things. I have of course followed the news etc., but have never been bothered to follow endless speculation of will they wont they do this or that. Well I suppose as I dont have millions in the bank or several houses, I have less to worry about.
I plan to go to the market, then get home and at last attack the ironing mountain, before having my casserole and going off to whist tonight, where no doubt there will be much talk of the budget and what it means to everyone. Being in a farming community the inheritance tax situation for farms is a major topic. The difficulty is that now some of these big companies see buying farms as a way to make money and avoid taxes. This means that the cost of farms is going up anyway, but that the tenant farmers dont own their land and the smaller family farms who had worked very hard to improve their holdings, so that on paper they are worth a lot of money, but the families have very little cash or savings. The farm will be run by perhaps 2 or 3 families so perhaps the parents and two children with their own families. They often work at different parts of the farm, so someone may be the sheep expert and another do more arable work etc., but they all work together to improve the soil and the land and constantly think of long term improvements for the farm, to get better crops and so forth, and to pass on a better farm to their children. But they dont get a big wage and work longer and harder hours than many jobs. Animals need feeding and checking every day , whether you feel well or not, and christmas day you will be out checking the flock and feeding like any other day. There are no days off with livestock. When they plan for changes in fields or whatever they are thinking of planting trees to give shade in 20 years time, the hedgerows are there to give shelter to stock but also allows wild margins to flourish and provide corridors for wild life to move about .So when the papers go on about wealthy farmers I can assure you that the majority of family farms have never had money to spend, rather whatever is saved goes into needed machinery or improving stock. Ah well here endeth the lesson!!
How lovely , have just had Bach on the radio and now it is the Trout Quintet, to cheer the morning. It is daylight now, rather grey but the rain is held off as the wind is still rustling all the tree but not as strongly as yesterday. No sign of squirrels or pigeons so far , too chilly to rush about so far. I can see my salvia in one of my pots swaying about quite a lot. I shall try to get a couple of cuttings from it today, to make sure I keep it in case of a frost killing it off.
Well I am still wary of doing much moving about , as my leg is still threatening to set off with cramp again, but need to make a move soon. Hope you have a good trip into Bicester Mike and see a few friends.BlueSapphire looks as though you are having a great time. I went to what was Yugoslavia in those days in the late 1960's and drove across from Zagreb to Beograd and then down to Trogir and Dubrovnic. We travelled all over and camped and enjoyed the country very much although the roads then were rubbish and with a mini esate, quite low to the ground quite boneshaking! No doubt it is all very different these days .Roses and Lilac, how lovely for you to have all your family visiting and of course you are a very proud granny. I think I will look up about those magnesium tablets you recommend and check that there are no contra indications with the medication I am taking and maybe it might help, whether actually or as a placebo, I couldnt care less so long as I get more sleep!!Karmalady I see you as the equivalent of a child in a sweetie shop, surrounded by all your lovely pieces of fabric and trying to choose which to use first! Greyduster I know what you mean about M and S. I went to their place in the designer outlet in York and in the past there has been been quite a choice of things I might buy, thins time apart from a bra absolutely nothing appealed. At this time of year any jumper I wear has to be quite a long line one. I hate short ones that only just come to the waist and then you have a cold gap if you are bending down or reaching for things. M and S dont seem to have any cohesive idea as to who their customers are. They are never going to keep up with the speed of the latest fashion for the young people, yet they dont offer a very great choice of interesting things for an older set of customers. I only used to use them a lot when I lived abroad as we all did. If you got something from M and S you could ask anyone going back to the UK to take it back or change it for you as there would be stores all over the country and you were not asking someone to go especially to a particular town. so they were convenient but never the height of fashion even in those days.
Ah ha the entertainment has arrived. Squirrels one and two are racing up and down the fence and tree whilst the pigeons have landed, 3 today, and are wandering around pecking at I know not what. Time for me to risk a trip to the kitchen in search or much needed breakfast, and then venture out to the market.
Wishing you all a good day, may you find time to walk in your garden or in a park, to remind us that we can still have something lovely to look at and walk in, whatever the Budget has to say. Travel safely and hope to hear better news soon from Marydoll, sending her good wishes .
to a proud nonna
