under another sun

A weird feeling as if I had pins and needles in my back in the middle of the night. I woke up and realised that rain was falling onto me through the Velux window. A call from Natwest Bank this morning, finalising the problem that had started in April. All good now I hope.  Fond farewells to the Creates bed and breakfast, with a big cooked breakfast this morning. Packing our millions of things, then Lorraine walked off to the long stay car park and drove the car to the short term carpark behind us. While I was waiting an old lady engaged me in quite a lengthy chat asking me if I had liked Monmouth. Also chatted to the owners of Creates, who are friendly. Car packed, we did a last bit of Monmouth shopping, and Lorraine nipped into he sewing shop to buy some bits, and happened happily on some bra extenders. Homeward bound then. Down the beautiful Wye Valley road, past Tintern Abbey and out to Chepstow and over the Severn Bridge, which is quite long and made Lorraine's stomach go over,...

So list making this morning, a low-key list with easily achievable things on it. Contacted mes amis in Paris, as I'd not heard from them. A strange tale of disappearing emails. However all okay now, and a new project on the horizon hopefully. Spoke to Mum, texted Shaila who is over in the UK taking care of her uncle, and had been in touch.  In the afternoon I spoke to Heather, Kim having returned to Canada. Not Heather's fault, but I need to think about anything else in the world other than matters to do with Janet estate right now. I am sick to the back teeth of the whole thing. Heather returning home this week, and not a good flyer. I wished her a safe journey. During the day I went for a walk in Preston Park, it is a freakishly gorgeous day, and sat briefly by the pond, where I noticed the vast majority of the goldfish were black, presumably the gold ones being easier to spot by things predating on them and have over time resulted in a mostly black goldfish population. I...

Wretched cats woke me at six, and I despised them for it. Back to bed after feeding them, feeling exhausted, and slept till 11. Lovely Lorraine bringing me breakfast in bed, including lots of fried tomatoes I had pilfered from Janet's garden yesterday. A bit of home lurking, and discussing what would happen to the Spare 'Oom, when we turn in into a wee workshop, and measuring walls and so on. I also called First Matie for a chat, which was nice as we hadn't spoken for ages. She has just installed a wood burner. Then off to Janet and Ken's and spent several hours there this afternoon and evening. I felt like I had hit a wall this morning, feeling tired and feeble, however, I snapped out of it when I arrived at Janet's house, which was thronging when Lorraine and I arrived. Rod, Ken's son, and Clare his wife, as well as Georgie and Madeline. Hus turned up shortly after us. Lorraine Hus and I had a long chat with Rod and Clare, to discuss what will happen to Ken,...

Up and sorting a few things to do with work out, and then I walked across to Evolution arts to do stained glass for a couple of hours. Feels a friendly place these days. Yvonne texting me suggestions for horse therapy names during the day, as I'd mentioned this was one of my current briefs. I spent most of my time happily  nibbling bits of glass into shape with pliers. I have accepted slow progress, and no longer strain at the leash, and as a consequence enjoying the class much more. There was classical music on the radio and I said that it was like a rehabilitation centre for people recovering from a mental illness. One of my new classmates said she was an occupational therapist, and this was exactly the kind of thing they did. Then zooming straight to Janet's place for one o'clock. Janet's nieces Kim and Heather had arrived, and Janet was very happy chatting to them. I liked Kim and Heather very much right away.  I spent quite a bit of time with Ken watching him smo...

The chest infection I brought home still making me feel a bit rough. Still a lucky day as I had nowhere to go and nothing arduous to do. Instead Glenice, Heather and Maria came to visit down from Baskingstoke. Glenice is Beth's grandmother, Heather Beth's aunt and Lorraine's former sister in law, and Maria is Lorraine's niece. Lorraine and Beth happily cooking chickens and delicious potato spinach and goats cheese flans. I enjoyed hanging out chatting to Glenice again and to Heather, who I'd only met once before and really liked. Glenice is a stalwart at her church, and I told her about working with the religious charity and was interested to hear her opinions on them. Maria, who particularly adores Beth, is living an increasingly independent life away from home which she seems to be enjoying a great deal. Maria has a extravert and funny personality and talked to me several times too. Occasionally when things get hard to express Maria will look into a reflecti...