Flying solo

Sun_Addict

Hi there Robin - hope your lungs recover soon - the hippy way! Can I just say you are an inspiration and proof that life does go on. You have such a full life despite everything that's happened.

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

It's the last day of June. The quiet has now returned following a spell of unexpected, frantic activity; the Nest became a pop-up hostel providing shelter to various family, friends and travellers.
Luckily the remains of my winter store-cupboard were sufficient to satisfy demand, with garden veg of course. There was only a single very mild complaint, from one of our oldest, dearest, most cantankerous friends; that I have allowed PC's 'cellar' to dwindle away, obliging him to drink the cheap beer which I'd bought for baiting mosquito traps.
..Told him that next time he should give me more than two hours' notice of his arrival (said with a grin - that's the kind of fraternal relationship we have ). He was also one of PC's closest mates, so it was lovely to share a few memories with him. As time goes on, this is becoming a rare opportunity in RL.

They were a good batch of guests; accustomed to communal living so just got on with it, and tidied up before they left.
Last night the youngsters all went off to a birthday party, so I cooked Dear Old Friend a decent meal. He's something of a gourmet - offered to take me out for dinner, but I'd have had to drive which wasn't appealing; without thinking I replied that we could eat as well at home. He wasn't slow to challenge my accidental boast (serves me right :rotfl:).

Served us gazpacho and three-cheeses croutons to start. Followed by salmon steaks - baked in a marinade of honey, balsamic vinegar, fresh ginger, plus slices of lemon on top - served with new potatoes, leeks and pepper sauce. Neither of us could manage salad or pudding, so we came inside and watched the Stones live at Pilton instead.
A lovely evening. Our missing companion felt very close. :A

Oh, and culinary honour was satisfied.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Hi there Robin - hope your lungs recover soon - the hippy way!

Hello Sun.A, thanks for dropping in. :cool2:
Think am finally beating off the latest virus, thank goodness. Most of the time, the more natural 'alternative' treatments are effective against minor lurgies, but they're not as fast as Pharmacist's pills and potions - which definitely helped this time.


The end of June financial appraisal looks as bad as last month, mainly due to 'loaning' two of my Divos some funds for specific projects. Am going to write it off as gifts (they both have birthdays within weeks). The van bill was significant too.

<sigh> Oh well, now it's quiet there's no excuse not to clear the dining table [again], and get back to the challenge of Paperwork Mountain.
Deep joy. :rotfl:

please-let-me-be-lucky

I always enjoy reading that you have had happy times with friends and family. It makes me happy in turn, knowing you have enjoyed good food and good company Xx

*Robin*

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

I always enjoy reading that you have had happy times with friends and family. It makes me happy in turn, knowing you have enjoyed good food and good company Xx

Thank you, Lucky. Likewise, am always pleased to hear when you've had a good day, or DH has ticked off another achievement on his road to recovery.

Well. It is such a gorgeous afternoon here; sunny and warm but not too hot, so I was easily distracted from Paperwork Mountain.
The village sports day is in full swing in the valley below, with lots of music, cheering and general merriment. I've been out in the garden sharing the ambience, although don't have a direct view of the swimming competitions and children's races. But the highlight of the afternoon has just started; a marathon run (which I think follows the parish boundaries - quite a distance). Literally hundreds of entrants are setting off along the river bed; those who 'belong' to the village dressed in yellow shirts, everyone else in red. While they're running out of sight, a band has started to play; tea-dance music, Spanish-style. Formal dancing is a surprisingly popular pastime amongst the more mature citizens.

Had m'cuppa tea, so am heading back outside to set up the last batch of canes in the garden - will soon be self-sufficient in tomatoes for making gazpacho [:D] - while enjoying the musical accompaniment.

HeadAboveWater

Ooooh your dinner sounds sooooo yum! Again!! lol

Sounds like the perfect weather for the village sports day! :cool:

Hope you've finally beaten off the rest of the virus!

Hugs to you and tickles to dogs

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Birds are singing, the sun is shining, Visitor and I have just searched the strawberry pots in order to indulge ourselves by enjoying munching a [very small**] handful of ripe, warm fruit - ah, the simple pleasures are good.
..Now watching 10,000€ slowly grinding up the hill on the back of a protesting, overloaded truck. Palm trees. Sold by the cm, so maybe the half dozen huge trunks over-hanging both ends of their transport are worth even more than my guess? Someone is obviously not suffering from the recession...

** All comestible stocks have been much reduced by the recent influx of guests; it'll be a few days before I can breakfast on strawberries again, as the only ones left on the plants now are white or pale green.
Must bring forward the next trip to town for replenishments, but it can wait a few more days - will find out what's run out when looking for ingredients, lol.
Cheese omelet is off the menu, for a start.

CD has finished her steroids but is still ravenously hungry; has nearly gobbled up the whole sack of [previously hated] kibble, which is all that's on offer besides her normal meals. She's eating at least twice the recommended maximum diet for her breed - but it does look like she's stopped losing weight though, which is good.

Right: Banking, then an hour or two climbing Paperwork Mountain before the day's heat dissipates enough to make weeding a pleasure.

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin - glad to hear you're sounding a lot better (CD too!).

*Robin*

Good morning Diary and Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Hi Robin - glad to hear you're sounding a lot better (CD too!).

Well, relatively speaking I have nothing to complain about, do I?

Mind you, the unfortunate bank employee who had to wait on the 'phone yesterday while I spent five minutes coughing, gasping and sucking on inhalers might disagree.. Told him that's why I'd tried to do my banking on-line, but for some unidentified reason their computer had blocked my account. :mad:
Finally managed to put my last remaining CC debt all onto one card at 0% for another year (don't know yet how much my tardiness cost in fees and penalties after m'previous 0% deal expired; somewhere between £50 - £150 I think, plus the 3% fee. ).
There's a lesson here. Interest rates are so low maybe it'd be better to pay off the CC from PC's Death-Duties Fund? If the eventual bill is higher than whatever's left in that a/c, suppose I could then put the remainder onto 'empty' CCs? Curses. Wish I'd thought of that before - would have saved the 3% fee.

CD is sleeping a lot, except when she's hungry. She doesn't want to go for walks, beyond accompanying me as we wander around the garden. In a couple of weeks I'll take her back to DV for more blood tests to check the tumour markers; next steps depend on those results.

FD is feeling her arthritis and is also unwilling to go for proper walks. She's on treatment for the first week of every month to try and stop it worsening. But DV said that at FD's age, hoping for a complete cure isn't realistic.

As time passes relentlessly, the anniversary of the morning PC left this world approaches fast; my heart is filled with memories of those last days. He seems very close; often hear his voice in the distance, and awoke today feeling the embrace of his arms.. :A

HeadAboveWater

PC is still very close to you. It will be tough going the next wee while, but you're a strong person Robin, and we're all here for you too if you need us.

please-let-me-be-lucky

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

PC is still very close to you. It will be tough going the next wee while, but you're a strong person Robin, and we're all here for you too if you need us.

Ditto from me. I know we all have different beliefs, but mine is very much that PC is with you.

Hugs for you and tickles behind the ears for the doggies Xx