Lighthouse

I did thank Fiona for tagging me, but after a little thought, I wondered why. Eight random things about myself. Hmmmmm, quite a lot of thought will be needed for this one. I'm happy to play along, although I won't tag eight other people. I don't know that many people!



So here we go and in no particular order.



1) I don't bite my nails. Not since I started dealing with continence problems. It's advice given to me by a nurse, and I can see the reason why.




2) I hate surprises. I like to be well prepared, and try to envisage all possible situations that could and might happen. It's like having a 'B' movie running through your mind where you play all the parts. It doesn't always work.




3) I have gained patience. Gained, because it was something I didn't have when growing up. I was very impatient and combined this with a quick temper. It's something I'm glad I lost with my youth, even though it was only a few years ago!




4) I'm rich. Rich because I have everything I need. That's not to say that I don't want things but most of those would be for other people. I like the simple things in life, good food on the table, fire in the grate, pleasant company.............. and a good Merlot!




5) I believe in a God, but not in a religion. Think of the pain and suffering caused by religion in this world. I just hope it's not a committee running the show......... although that could explain some of what happens in life.




6) History fascinates me. If ever it became possible to time travel, then put me down for a seat on the coach. I would be quite happy to observe and listen. As long as I could ask the occasional question, like 'why'?




7) I always try to be punctual, making sure I have plenty of time to attend an appointment. And if I am going to be late by even a few minutes, I always try to let the person know. It's something I fine annoying when I'm left waiting around, so I try not to do it to others. My daughter was three weeks late........... but she's apologised for that. It wasn't her fault!

8) I have about 40% hearing. It's hereditary. My father had the same problem as did his father. A lot of the trouble is from tinnitus which has crept up on me over the years. I'm getting better at lip reading, and a pair of new digital ear pieces have helped. But the best thing is, I can totally 'switch off' when I want to. Great to have a bit of peace and quiet at times.

Well, thar ya go, that's eight, or is it 8? Some serious and some not so.

You could hear the throaty purr of the Harley a quarter of a mile away. The outlaws were coming to visit. Neighbours cringed behind net curtain at the sight before them. Big R sat astride the hog looking like a cross between ZZ Top and Grisly Adams. D rode high on the pillion, her skin tight leathers doing little to hide her tattoos and piercings. Both wore tattered denim waistcoats emblazoned with 'Looe Chapter'.

They were on a laundry run, but I knew that was code for a supply drop.
"Hi", I called from the doorway as they parked up.
"Not yet, but soooooon", they chorused in reply.

They had brought gifts. Home baked chocolate biscuit, no doubt laced with something you couldn't buy over the counter............. at least, not without a prescription.

Within minutes the bong was stoked, primed and afire. Now, I could write and tell you how the afternoon went..............if I could remember. I did think that it was a mistake to have my mother in the room where substances were smoked. Within a few minutes of heavy breathing, she insisted she showed us all how she used to dance as a child. It mainly consisted of pirouetting on tiptoe and holding her dress over her head. Thank God I had insisted on clean underwear when she was dressing that morning.

My head was still spinning as they left. All the dusting and Hoovering to impress had been in vain. The neighbours came out of hiding as our little estate returned to normal................. 'till the next time.

Every years seems to bring something different. Wasps, although it's a little early for them, ants, or greenfly etc, etc. This year we have been plagued by moths. Not the big 'round the light' variety, but the little flitty-flutty-fings that fly erratically passed your line of sight every few minutes.

I've been killing dozens daily. Clapping them out of the air to a chorus of 'Another one bites the Dust'. True, my Buddhist upbringing has taken a knock by this show of violence, but they should know better than to invade our space.

I don't think I have tipped the balance of nature too much, as there seems to be an ever increasing number of the critters volunteering to be clapped. I just hope they stop soon. The vacuum cleaner bag is nearly full.

The last few weeks have taught me one thing. How frail the mind can be at times. It's an age thing, and can be quite amusing, but it also brings worries.

My mother has never been able to get my name right, so I'm not bothered about what she calls me. She has used my father's name a few times, and I know this worries her much more than it does me.

Not knowing the day or forgetting the month is something we all have problems with at times. "Going up to bed" when we have no stairs, is a habit of a life time. These little mistakes are easily passed over.

She's also asked about my brother, the one that helped her back into bed in the middle of the night, a few days ago. It was me. I have no brothers, or sisters for that matter. I thought she should know that. I passed it off as a joke and she seemed happy enough to do the same.

Then there was the other woman, not my wife, who had coffee with us the other afternoon. I promised her there was no other woman. Two in my life are more than enough.

We were going out, and I caught her putting on lipstick, only it wasn't. She was using a pink highlight pen. But it wasn't a problem. She was making a good job of it............. and the colour suited her.

It's not every day. Most days everything is very normal, and then something will slip out and stop you in your tracks. And you wonder.

It was our last visit on Sunday, to the house in Torquay. I loaded the car with all we could carry, mostly junk, to be sorted and disposed of when I have the time. The keys were sent off on Monday to the people who are handling the sale, and by Thursday, the locks had been changed. They don't hang about!

I suppose there should have been some regret when I closed the door for the last time, but all I could feel was a sense of relief. I couldn't wait to get started on the journey home.

It took the usual two days to recover, and in those days I contacted all the utility suppliers, insurers, and anyone else I could think of. I'm bound to have forgotten someone, it's Sod's Law.

I am still amazed with my mother's reaction to all this. There's been no questions about what's happening, although I've kept her fully informed at every stage. No regret on her part about leaving her home of sixty years, or none that she's shown. Some might think it a little strange, but in all honesty, I'm not sure what to think. Just lets say, she surprised me.

Now it's a case of sitting back and waiting for others. A situation with which I'm always uncomfortable, so lets hope things move along at a pace.

The hedges are full of it. Brush against the leaves and the scent of garlic will follow you on the breeze. I've never tried it, but I understand it can be used rather like spinach, cooked for seconds and served, or as in a salad, with mixed leaves.

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.......and in flower.

A messy eater........

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Sharing breakfast with a chaffinch.

..........An Update.

Meet the wife. Yes, there's a pair.

Now we must hope for a good breeding season.

Labels: bird talk....

Hopefully in a few days I would be able to post a result of the hatching's.

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But only one of the three eggs hatched.

And the little fellow became........

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......... then flew away!

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Beautiful Evening......

The high pressure that's settled itself over the U.K has given us some interesting sunsets recently. Unfortunately the lack of cloud has made them somewhat less memorable than they could have been.

But tonight's wasn't too bad!