Flying solo

*Robin*

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Just echoing what everyone else is saying hope you get some answers next week and that you have a lovely weekend. xx

Hello DFW, sorry for appearing to ignore you; we cross-posted in the time it took my slow connection to load m' previous post.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable [MSE-free ] weekend (think mine has just developed a complication - awaiting further news :cool:).

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Am happily surprised to see MSE 'back in business' earlier than expected.

After a wonderful cloudy and productive day yesterday the heat has returned (apologies to everyone watching rain drumming down.. ).
Our Gathering had to be postponed due to a clash with the village feria; a night serenaded by music until long after an especially spectacular dawn.

Slept the morning away, hiding comfortably inside the Nest with shutters closed and fan spinning.
Now we could go and join our neighbours to partake of community paella - cooked outside in a pan about three metres across - but it's over 50'C in the sun which is enough of a disincentive (and the last thing I fancy eating is a huge plateful of sticky rice when we've got a home-made feast to look forward to tonight ).

Better go and do the prep for that, now I've finally woken up..

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Feels like a long time since being here last.. Three days?

Our feast was up to standard, although a poignant occasion because it ended with waving farewell to Divo Three. He set off for the airport carrying a ridiculously small case! :cool2:

Left me feeling very low; unless something untoward happens, I'll not see DS3 again for twelve months.
Can't pretend it has been easy to be encouraging and supportive while he and GF were planning this trip - am going to miss them both so much - but managed to keep smiling until Daft Dogs and I were out of public view, back at the Nest.

Since then, haven't achieved much; NSDs of course, and another corner of the garden has been divested of weeds which were entirely smothering a row of succulents. PC and I had planted them a day or so before he agreed to consult El Medico about the unremitting pain in his shoulders. _pale_
Was amazed to find most of the plants still hanging on, despite not having been looked after last summer or watered since any rain fell - hadn't realised that they had survived (their drought ended last night ).

:think: Reckon I need to think on that..

please-let-me-be-lucky

You are very brave holding it all together til after divo3 left. I'm sure I would've been a snivelling wreck!

Hugs as always Xx

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin

Just catching up with your diary. You always sound like you have such a lovely time with all your gatherings. I really admire how you've carried on despite losing PC - you're an inspiration! I'm sure Divo 3 will have a wonderful time and it won't seem like 5 minutes before you see him again. Hope you feel better soon by the way.


Hugs from me too.

grannyx2

^^ ditto what SA says. Its really hard when our DC go travelling and all you can really do as a DM is wave them off with a smile. Luckily the joys of skype etc mean you can keep in touch but I know its not the same

Hugs x

Granny x

HeadAboveWater

Aw thinking about you Robin. Ditto what all of the above say!!

Big hugs going your way!

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Thanks for dropping in, and your kind words, Lucky, Sun.A, Granny and HAW.

RL chucked a couple of curve-balls in the general direction of the Nest recently, which entirely squashed the urge to write - not just here, but all the letters/projects/learning I've got on the go..

It's taken some discipline to return, but tbh I need this record of mostly mundane events - writing it down definitely helps think through knotty problems.

First, I must note that late on Thursday night, while listening to the fairground at the other closest village feria - every ride belting out loud clashing music - I became aware of an intermittent rumbling noise. Had the flight-path of incoming 'planes been changed? Were we about to experience an earthquake? _pale_
..That thought sent me scurrying to collect essentials, but Daft Dogs slept on peacefully - so not an earthquake; phew!

Unsettled, I wandered about outside, enjoying a chilly wind blowing off the sea. Suddenly the sky lit up and understanding dawned; a thunderstorm loomed above the city, behind the western hills. For half an hour I watched while bright, silver webs of lightening streaked across the sky, coming closer as the smell of ozone grew stronger in the air.
Then followed ten minutes of frantic activity; getting tools and delicate plants under cover, shutting the caravan windows, disconnecting the Nest from it's mains electricity supply..
Barely needed to use a torch because there was so much lightening, and then another sound joined the cacophony of fairground plus rumbling thunder (which had become pretty constant as the storm approached).
Gentle sussuration gradually growing louder - rain! :j

A spectator would have been convinced that Robin had gone totally doolalley, had anyone been watching my mad dance around the yellow patch of ground which used to be the lawn. Rain fell hard in large freezing drops that weren't far off being hail; soaking me in just a couple of minutes as I revelled in the stinging wetness!
But not for long; suddenly blinded by a fork of lightning reaching for the ground right below the Nest, I remembered the danger of living on a ridge during thunder storms - and dived under cover!

The rain took a good half hour to pass overhead, leaving in it's wake the most exquisite smell of damp earth.. Decided to spend the night on the patio in order to enjoy it as much as possible, and slept well with CD curled up by my feet.

Awoke filled with disquiet; restless and worried but not knowing why. :huh:
Less than 500 mts below the Nest there is now a burnt patch of land where the lightening earthed; looks like rain extinguished the fire before any real damage was done.

Even spotting a deposit from B!ack Horse in my a/c - exactly replacing the loss due to failed transfer - didn't cheer me up. They hadn't 'phoned as promised; this payment signals agreement that they've got a serious bug in their site so I may follow up further, to prevent a repeat.

Next morning, news arrived which explained my foreboding; the spectre of mental illness has crash-landed on my family again.
No, not Roger - he's doing really well since his diagnosis was changed.
This time DS2's new love had some kind of crisis; luckily he woke up when the pills she'd swallowed at bedtime started to take effect, and he called an ambulance in time. She's in ICU, he's obviously very upset and shaken, and the holiday they were going on today with DGD has been abandoned.
Divo Four has been drafted in to support DS2 and try to ensure that DGD has some fun while her Dad traipses off to the hospital twice a day.

You can probably tell, my feelings are mixed. Don't know this GF very well yet, she's not been with DS2 long enough to have found her place in our family. She made no secret of the fact that she's been on anti-depressants for years, and I suspected there was more to her story because she is registered disabled - but she has seemed fine every time we've met; I like her.
DS2 said the same; there was absolutely no warning that his GF was about to take all her pills at once. He told me she was excited about the holiday, looking forward to getting to know DGD better and planning outings for them all..

Until GF wakes up, it's a mystery. I can't help but acknowledge a nub of anger because her actions have ruined DS' precious time with his daughter. Do feel for GF too; the despair that must suddenly have over-taken her - but am appalled at her sense of timing.
Meanwhile DS2 can't afford her share of the rent on their house while GF is in hospital, so Bank of Mum will have to bridge the gap.
Would far rather give him the money as holiday-spends, so DS2 needn't worry about entrance fees or the cost of restaurant meals, plus DGD needs new clothes and shoes (Mum being vocal in her hope that DS2 will take DGD shopping during this visit).

Closer to home, El Medico's pills are starting to take effect; shoes fit and trousers fall down (this is good; was becoming alarmed by the size of my tummy). Downside is that I too need some better-fitting clothes - unfortunately a city shopping-trip with DGD is out of the question.
Divo Four can take her; they'll probably both enjoy the adventure (tbh, he'll do a better job than DS2 would - pre-teen girly fashion is a pretty specialised subject; I wouldn't have a clue either :rotfl:).
I'll go on-line then wait for the post, as usual. There's not many folk about here to be offended by m'builders' bum, lol.

please-let-me-be-lucky

I'm so sorry to hear of GF's overdose . I never know whether people who try to take their own lives are extremely brave or extremely selfish and cowardly. I understand your mixed feelings completely, poor DGD missing out on special time with her Dad.

Exquisite description of the thunderstorm! I feel drenched .

I'm glad you decided to return to your diary Xx

missrlr

Hi Robin just caught up. So sorry to hear the latest news. I hope the GF can get the help,needed

You must have had the same thunder storms as we got, spectacular indeed!