anyresemblance

An upgrade

I got a new phone yesterday for the first time in a few years.  The screen is so clear and crisp it feels like when I first got an iPad a decade ago.  It remains to be seen if my photography improves any.

Yesterday, the shops were open as we ease out of lockdown but I was pleased that actually lots of them are still enforcing quite strict restrictions and some aren't even bothering to open yet.

I walked in the woods with Charlie and then saw our puppy friend, by accident.  They both raced around the courtyard together and had a lovely time wearing each other out.

I am reading the latest Liane Moriarty.  Just when I think I can't read another thing about North Shore Sydney well to do people, she writes another sentence that skewers the characters and highlights the tiresome charades so I am sticking with it.

In this week's decluttering, I have given away a Billy bookcase which was surplus to the library requirements.

The long goodbye

We've have had to make the decision to let our little girl cat go.  She is approaching 16 and the latest tests show her kidneys are now failing.  We'll have one last weekend with her and then the vet will help her on her way.  She has been the most unassuming of cats with a quiet personality but I will miss her very much.

Therapy Dog

I remember a while ago my daughter had a friend whose sister had moved to Western Australia with her husband.  The marriage collapsed and she was so distraught her parents shipped the family dog over to keep her company and help her recover.  

I've been doing the same with lending out Charlie as my daughter is so sad at the approaching end of life of our old cat.  She just needs someone to talk to and he has been perfect company for her.  She took him to work and found the crustiest of her co workers speaking baby talk to him in the meeting room.

Ancillary health

Time was when I probably didn't believe much in the raft of ancillary health providers like osteopaths and podiatrists and thought physios were there for when you needed to recover from a major health operation.  More fool me as I get older and understand that GPs are really generalists and, if you have the privilege to be  able to pay for it, there is a lot to be gained from people who are specialists in one field.

All of this leads to me visiting a physiotherapist this morning who looked at my x rays and scans and told me what was really going on (not a baker's cyst) and tested me out and gave me some super helpful exercises.  He was less than 30 I am sure, but had an excellent manner of testing I understood information and letting me know how to follow up if I had forgotten anything.  I found him so good and reassuring and while it may be 3-4 months, I left feeling my symptoms could be abated and strength restored and any surgery was a long way in my future.

Charlie has gone to spent the day in S's office.  He has occasioned much baby talk from her otherwise serious work colleagues so I think he is a hit.

The poor old cat is not doing so well and pretty sure we are into weeks if not days before we have to make the decision.  Right now she is back with me, and hiding in the bottom of the wardrobe where I have put a heat pack.  She's still eating and drinking so it is not the very end yet:(

This charming man

Haters gonna hate.  

1984.  I am driving down Seven Sisters Road towards Finsbury Park (whose car am I in and why am I driving?) when I hear This Charming Man come on the radio for the first time.  I rushed out and bought the single.

In 2011 or thereabouts I am in a karaoke bar in Sao Paolo and I am singing Never Gonna Give You Up and people come up and danced to my rendition.

Now Rick Astley is performing Smiths covers with the Blossoms and I LOVE it.  

An unfortunate event

I mislaid my ear pods out of their case and spent 5 days looking for them to no avail.  Yesterday, when I was doing laundry, I saw them stuck in the rubber seal around the washing machine door.  They had been through at least 5 washes and have not survived the ordeal.  Which is super annoying as they are so spendy.  However, I am sucking it up as I spent so long last year trying to get wireless earphones that did not drive me fucking insane with itchy silicon or stupid bits that did not fit my ear canals.

I am also considering up-ing my phone game and going all out on the latest phone.  My camera is so rubbish on this phone and more to the point, the screen is so small and I reckon the phone route is cheaper than a new set of prescription lenses.

Something for nothing

I've been gifting things via a Buy Nothing Facebook group.  A cardboard cat scratcher in the shape of a plane to a local cat shelter, the dog ramp which was too slippy and too steep for Charlie to a man who was looking for one for his two beagles, an unused 2021 bullet journal to a mum who was trying to help her 12 year old do better forward planning.  I think I enjoy this more than actual financial transactions and it is always so lightening to have something leave the house.  I also gave a small tv to a friend of my daughter's who is setting up house.  I told her to pay me in cake so she brought round some delicious pastries.

I spoke to my friend this morning who was describing her decluttering efforts and said she had letters I had written her in the eighties.  I was filled with a momentary anxiety that she might add them to her pile but I think I will get them eventually.  I was telling my daughter that she might like to read them.  She said, ok, but as long as you don't expect me to keep them in perpetuity.  Which is fair enough as I guess each generation gets to decide what is worth holding on to.

It has been warm and oppressive all day and the threatened rain has not yet materialised.  S and I watched two more episodes of Only Murders in the Building one of which was so delightful and funny that I am still smiling.  We ate meatballs cooked in Marcella Hazan miracle tomato sauce with toasted sourdough.  Quite delicious but very filling so I am planning on some fruit for dinner.

 

This is what I have been doing

Ever heard of a Baker's cyst? me neither but Dr Google diagnosed me as did my GP and the podiatrist which explained the crippling pain and inability to stand on one leg.  It is MUCH better now but I am having physio and pondering on how flipping hard it is when you suddenly have to crawl to the bathroom.  I am so lucky to a) be able to afford healthcare b) have an able bodied child who can help out and c) helpful neighbours.

The neighbours.  Honestly, I have blown away with their kindness in walking the dog regularly and sending me photos of him blissfully enjoying life and bringing joy.

Thankfully, I did a short walk with Charlie today and it was blissful to put one foot in front of another and not be scared of tumbling to the ground.

In other news I have:

• watched all of Squid Game along with the rest of the known universe
• halfway through Maid
• bizarrely found myself in the Marvel universe and watched the Falcon and the winter soldier
• eagerly anticipate Black Widow coming to Disney+ when I realised it is a Cate Shortland film 
• read the latest Sally Rooney which I really liked, especially the bit where Felix sings at the party
• started reading American Wife
• voted in the Guardian bird of the year.  My beloved Gang Gangs came third but it was an enjoyable distraction
• rejoiced that all the kids are now double vaccinated
• been grateful to be living in this small supportive community

 

Rain

I'm having the week off mostly except for one or two meetings which I left it too late to delegate.  

Today is threatening storms but I set off with Quincy, the on loan puppy, and Charlie to meet a work friend to walk round the lake.  We were lucky that the rain held off and I had a lovely time hearing about her world and getting lots of ideas for things to do in my work world.  We've agreed to do it every fortnight.

I delivered home a very tired puppy and a worn out old dog and now the rain has set in and I have nothing to do but curl up on the sofa and watch the last episode of Hacks (so so good) and read.

Narrow escape

My neighbour's a health professional who has been a close contact and plunged into quarantine.  She has a beautiful but high energy pup so the neighbours have moved into action to help with the dog walking.  Charlie exudes giant big brother energy when faced with this boisterous little thing but they look so cute together.

I narrowly escaped getting pinged as a contact going to get her groceries.  Thankfully I was 30 minutes outside the slot so am ok for now.

Our elderly cat is very unwell and my daughter took her to the emergency hospital on Friday night.  We think the end is close but am hoping that they can stabilise her for a bit.

I started watching Hacks last night.  Jean Smart is amazingly good in it.