Perfectly Vocal

Return of the muse

It seems forever since I last wrote.  So what's new?  New job, still single, still visiting Spain - 6 days and counting.....

I hope the muse is returning

Fairy Tales

Daughter #3 told us today that Hans Christian Anderson was in her class at Primary School.  T, aged 13 looked at her scathingly and replied:

"Don't be so stupid, he's about 50 years old now!" 

In the light of the recent debate about education and A-Levels, it's heartening to have the evidence right in your own front room.  Oh, and there are fairies at the bottom of our garden too.

On The Beach

Every day without fail for the past three weeks, we saw this gentleman on the beach.  He was there from dawn to dusk with his amazing construction of parasol, floats, towels and chairs.  He rarely moved.  His family and friends came and went, but he remained.  Mostly he sat on his chair, occasionally he stood on the shoreline and watched the ships go by, but he was always there, whatever the weather.  What a way to spend your Summer!

Quiet

I've been quiet.  I've felt quiet, in fact I've felt completely overwhelmed for a couple of months now.  I've spent three weeks in Spain, immersing myself in the usual round of beach, local custom, food and the like.  I felt refreshed towards the end of last week, looking forward to my last weekend in Spain, and looking forward to coming home.  A message arrived on Friday afternoon.  My friend who has fought so hard against her illness finally died peacefully and gently on Friday afternoon after a very sudden, rapid and unexpected decline.

Goodbye R, it was always a pleasure to know you. Salud.

What next?

When we wake in the morning, we never know what the day has in store for us.  Sometimes, that's a good thing.  My Dad, who has been home from hospital for 4 days, had a stroke this morning.  I flew home from work, having been alerted by my uncle.  The doctor called and confirmed what we suspected.  Thankfully, it appears to be only a mini-stroke, which should resolve over the next 24 hours.  I'm off to stay with my dad.  I can't help but ask myself, "What next?"

Football Crazy

Daughter #3:

"Rio Ferdinand has a famous dad doesn't he?...who is it?.....Ian Wright?"

Getting in the way

It's been a busy time.  My dad has finally been discharged from hospital after a series of trial stays at home.  By contrast, my friend is still in hospital and has had a very recent crisis.  Thankfully she's pulling round, but any of you out there who believe in the power of positive thought, please send some in my friend's direction.  I'm not sure I believe in it, but it's rather like telling the husband to boil a kettle while his wife gives birth - it gives you something to do, instead of feeling powerless.  Work has been busy, we are relocating to another building.  The move was supposed to take place at the beginning of August, the whole thing has been "Project Managed", but with typical NHS foresight, four of the people moving into our vacated desks arrived last Monday and have spent the week referring to us as "lodgers" and in one conversation which was unfortunately overheard by our least resilient member, "interlopers"!  Said member of our team has now gone off sick with the stress of it all.  Our most resilient team member didn't help matters by declaring that she "wasn't going anywhere until someone measures my arse to make sure it fits in my new chair".  Things reached a head when our coffee, tea and sugar were thrown out of the kitchen cupboard to make way for their huge mug collection, a large sign appeared on the stationery cupboard with someone's name and a direction to ask permission before taking items out and we were forbidden from linking our computers up to "their" colour printer.  Generally I've coped by trying to see the funny side, and there's plenty humour in there, it's all so territorial, but other people haven't seen the funny side and it's taken huge amounts of self-restraint and tact to prevent my team from launching physical assaults on the new arrivals. We received a phone call this morning asking us to pack our things and move next Monday morning.  As one problem is solved, another arises.  So far we have been lucky enough to benefit from free parking.  The new offices have only Pay and Display parking which will cost us £7 a day each.  Ho Hum - now where did I pack my Self-restraint and Tact Manual?

In the garden....again

I love the different greens and foliage at this time of year, and I'd like to think that was what my cat, Colin was impressed with when I caught him in the act, but I suspect not.

I've realised this week's entries are beginning to look a little like a gardening catalogue, and I'm wondering if I'm at "that age" where I'll soon be publishing tips for gardeners.  Come the winter and it'll be knitting patterns at this rate!

After the rain

Taken from my window yesterday evening

In The Garden