Well Blessed

16th Jan 2019



Well Blessed - My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I didn't realise the number I'd reached was a significant number.
So I was taken by surprise at the amount of attention it ( I ) was given.
From the first moment, when my thoughtful husband gave me my card and then a present. It's not something we normally do, giving each other presents, unless it's a special birthday, so I was delighted to get this unexpected gift - a small, portable, old- fashioned radio which I've been wanting for sometime. So useful, in the house, for taking with me to whichever room I'm in and also just right for taking with us on our jaunts in the camper. It's beautiful and a bit retro - I love it.

I did make myself a tasty breakfast. Quite often don't have breakfast , or maybe just a bowl of porridge, because, well, you know it's "good for you". I very rarely have anything cooked ( yes, I know technically,  porridge is cooked, but it sort of doesn't count) and I'd never had this  before although I'd wanted to try it for a some time:
Baked egg and avocado - delicious
 


Then the joy, walking into my writing group and being sung to by my lovely writer friends. If it wasn't for Facebook that probably wouldn't of happened. And it was a great session too.
After stretching my mind for a bit with character study,  home to pick more cards up from the mat . So many cards... and such a lot of well wishing.  I was a little overwhelmed .
In the afternoon a visit form a dear friend with flowers, chocolates, another card and stories ( that's the best bit).                                                                                                      


Eight grandchildren for lunch with their two mums . And again more cards homemade this time- love the homemade ones- and cake and the children brought a little game that we could all play with. Proper party style.

Then in the evening a visit from two sons - hugs and stories to share. And also during the evening,  phone calls from those other children who, with living further away didn't get to see me.

And finally a gorgeous Indian meal with a beautiful daughter. She helped us make wise choices  from the take away menu, which turned out to be just right. Oh, and with the meal a glass ( or was it two) of red ..
But it's not the things I got, which is neither her nor there - I'm not materialistic at all - it's the fact that people, especially my wonderful family think of me. I feel so appreciated.

I am truly well blessed . Don't know how come I deserve so much love.  xxx

The Music of Life

11th April 2018

As the noise in the church hall buzzed around us while we prepared dinner for fifty, with the accompaniment of clattering pans and tinkling glasses and happy laughter, i was reminded that this time last year I was just getting over a problem I'd had with my hearing. It's interesting how much you notice different sounds and appreciate them when you've been struggling to make sense of the world whilst "locked in" your own quiet space. It's earily isolating. It has given me an empathy with those like some of the people we served today who suffer so much with hearing loss.
Last year I wrote a poem about it:


9th April :
For a few months I have been troubled with poor hearing. It was probably wax and has since cleared up - well almost. Whilst not being able to hear that well I discovered how much I value ( or should value) that particular sense.

The Music of Life

It occurs to me to be thankful 
That I can hear those particular sounds.
His soft voice -  a whisper,
"Are you awake?"
Delicate singing of birds greeting 
The day.
Welcome sound of water running 
In the kitchen,
Kettle boiling,
Cups clattering,
Tinkling of spoon,
Music playing - radio 2, 
Soft steps on the stair,
When he  brings the tray
With morning tea.

Buzz of bee circling the garden,
Water bubbling in pond 
Disturbed by fish.
Engine of aeroplane 
In distant blue.
Revving of neighbours car
Like clockwork.
Fluttering sound of trees 
Rustling leaves in breeze.
Shrieks of joy from children 
Two gardens down.
And the doorbell ringing
Calling me urgently 
To come and answer 

For all the above 
And much, much, more,
I am so thankful

TToT

6th Jan 2018

Today folks I'm joining in with the Ten Things of Thankful brigade. If you want to do this too just put it into google and away you go. Then link up to share with the others.
The idea is to look back over the last week and find ten things that you can be thankful for .

So, let's make a start:

1 Firstly I feel so blessed to have a wonderful family - yes, there's a lot of us but I love each and every one enormously and am so very proud of them. 
2 In particular I am thankful for my darling husband of forty five years who is such a treasure . Always there for me or any of our loved ones. 
3 I am thankful that I live by the sea. I went out twice this week for walks with my gorgeous daughter.
4 I am thankful that I got three new writing journals for Christmas - that'll keep me going. 
5 I'm thankful that I got to a writing for wellbeing workshop yesterday - it always inspires me, hence...
6 I am thankful for having some time to myself today - not much, but it was needed and valuable.
7 I'm thankful for that radio programme that I got to enjoy - it was totally unexpected.
8 I am thankful that, although I've put on a few pounds over the Christmas time, I couldstill get into that dress i wanted to wear today - I did wonder if I would. 
9 I'm thankful for the comments that some lovely people have posted on my blog these last few days - it's always so uplifting to know that somebody is reading the rubbish I write.
10 I'm thankful for my friends  - whom I love and must try to see more often 

Well, that just dribbled out .
Now it's your turn.
It does make you think .
It also makes you realise that there are so many things that are good in your life.

Found

22nd May 2017

The birds are making a racket but I love it and am thankful. I don't think I can get to TTOT today ( Ten Things Of Thankfulness) 

One more though - I did do a book review for a magazine this morning and sent it off.

That'll do for now. 

A little story from the prompt "found". 

Found...

Sally rolled out of bed, stretched, took her pink dressing gown from behind the door and slowly put it on taking time to tie a neat bow at the front.  She loved its softness against her skin and hugged herself as she went to open the curtains.  The bright sunlight that entered the bedroom, showed up dust and untidiness, which she hated, so she set about making the bed and clearing the clothes from the floor, taking extra care with her husband’s things, folding everything neatly and putting them in his drawers. 

She arranged the items on his bedside table as she liked them:  the lamp with movable head so he could read in bed, the photo of him with a lump of rock - apparently a particularly important find.  She spat on it, then polished it with her sleeve and placed it back with delicate precision.  Lastly she picked up the book he’d been reading for over a week now, “Reading The Rocks” by Marcia Bjormerud, a present from her the previous Christmas.  

Instead of putting it back she took it with her downstairs to the kitchen, where, after filling the kettle, she sat and opened it.  On the inside of the cover she had written-

To my dear husband with much love.

Hope this gives you many rocky moments to remember.

Happy Christmas,

Sal

Rocky moments - she thought he would find that amusing, but, as with most things, he wasn’t moved at all. Apart from seeing him reading the book avidly night after night she would never have known if he appreciated it or not.

She flicked through a few pages aimlessly, then threw it down on the table and went to make herself a cup of coffee, switching on the radio as she went by.

And now the news where you are. – she pours water into the mug  - Early this morning the  body of a man was found in the  River Colne, three miles north of Watford.  – she puts sugar in, one, two, three, stirs, takes her cup and sits at the table -  The police haven’t released his name but say they are asking for witnesses and think it may be suicide. There have been two other deaths in the past year in this stretch of the river, both of which turned out to be suicides.  

Sally sips her coffee.