He's back!

 

Hi Everyone

I hope you’re all keeping well.  It’s such a long time since I put pen to paper and, although a third of the year has gone, I’d still like to wish you a Happy New Year.

Firstly, I’d like to thank those who sent me birthday wishes.  It’s so humbling to know I’ve got people all over the word who are kind enough to do so.  My 80^th celebrations started in February when my very good friend the Vicar (it’s not like me to be nice to her but this time she deserves it) took me out for a meal.  Thank you, Vicar!

As you know my birthday was at the beginning of March.  My last meal out was 31^st March.   I had a long and wonderful time made even better by your comments.  Reaching 80 years was so good and my next target is 90.  Some of the gifts I got were bizarre.  Someone sent me an incontinence sheet and a wee-wee bottle. I’m always playing pranks on people so it must have been pay-back time.

I attribute my good life these days to my little dog.  Most days we walk two or three miles.  We see deer, Canada geese, egrets.  The birds are singing and the trees are coming into bud, the crops are growing and the wild flowers are out.  All in all, it’s great to be given such beauty to enjoy.  And it’s all down to the Vicar’s Boss!

On one of my other posts I have told you I’d found a long-lost friend in New Zealand after forty years.  Well, I’ve got back in touch with one of our bridesmaids whom I haven’t seen for a very, very long time.  She’s moved many miles from me.   We met up in a pub and her hubby and my daughter came along too.  I didn’t recognise her but she recognised me.  It was so emotional.  She sent me a photo of herself aged eighteen months when I was fifteen. 

It won’t be long before I post again if the vicar lets me (she’s kind enough to copy this out) - I’m creeping again.

Please look after each other and remember, it’s because of all our yesterdays we can enjoy all our tomorrows.

All the best, Jack

 

Going down the plughole

 I haven't gone down the plughole but I have had major alterations to the house including converting the bathroom into a wet room. I wrote a little about this in February.

There have also been major alterations outside to improve accessibility for me.  

Just two photos for the moment.  One of the view from my front door on Monday and the same view yesterday.  

The back door and garden access has also been altered but I'm not showing you that as I am teasing Jack who hasn't seen it any of it yet.

The Big Eight Oh!

 I have just put myself in disgrace with Jack for publishing his age.

Tough luck, Jack

But have a happy birthday.

More yarn bombing pictures

Outside the jeweller's

 

Near a butcher's

Costa got a look in!

Yarn Bombing

  I was incredibly busy yesterday.  The decorator was here painting the bathroom, work around the kitchen door starts next week and I knew I didn't have a moment to spare.

Then I got an email telling me Brigg had been yarn bombed and somehow I found two hours to nip over there.

Street signs are enhanced

A whale got stranded

Paddington needs looking after.  

Knitted hanging baskets bring summer colour to a February day.

I'll bring some more photographs another day!

Update

 Life is a tad disrupted at the moment.

I was rather ill for a couple of weeks and the least said about that the better!  Thank you to those who contacted me, though.  

My lovely landlord has decided that the time had come to do various adaptations to my house to enable me to live there as long as possible, so it has been decided to create ramped access at both the front and back doors, ramped access to my garden, modifications to some of the doors and to replace the bathroom with a wet room.  And today work has started on the wet room.

And my landlord thinks that there will be a considerable trip hazard while the wet room is being created, and as for the time being there won't be a loo, it has been decided that I have to go to a holiday "cottage".  So I am staying at this lovely property about eight miles from home and am treating the time as a holiday.

Information needed, please!

 I've had my regular mediaction delivered for yonks.  I just order on line from the GP who authorises it and sends the script, also on line, to my chosen pharcmay which for many years has been the Co-op.  Until recently I was very happy with the service but it has been reorganised and I am now distinctly unhappy.  It takes over a week to be delivered and they don't tell me when they can't supply something.  At the moment beither of those is a major problem as I am well organised to cope, but there may come a time when I won't be as able.

I've had a flier from Royal Mail offering a similar service and I wondered of any of my readers use it.  If you do, or if you have done, could you comment below as to what the service is like.  I would be very grateful!

Life's little pleasures: coffee

 In several years I have written January posts about life's little pleasures and I want to do that again this year.  

At the moment I am enjoying two small pleasures which I enjoy almost every day - a cup of coffee and some thinking time.

I sometimes kid myself that the first coffee of the day is essential but I know I am kidding myself.  All I need is a drink of water, but I am able to have a rich, freshly-made cup of black coffee.  Many people can't afford the coffee or don't have time to make it or enjoy it.

I have three cups spaced through most mornings but it's that first cuppa which is the most special.  There's something comforting about the smell, the warmth, the taste which sets me up for the day.  I can sit and ruminate, plan the day. remember yesterday and just let my mind wander as I sip my brew.  

It's good to start my day with an attitude of gratitude.