R's rue

Sometimes you just know when you have taken a special photograph. That is how I felt yesterday morning as I  walked away from New Mills. There was thin ice on the surface of The Peak Forest Canal and stoves aboard any occupied narrow boats were pumping out steam. A young woman with a dog checked me out before proceeding along the tow path. After all, all men are potential assailants even when it is three degrees below zero and the sixty nine year old man in question is dressed like an Arctic explorer. I was following her and I could see how her breath was turning to steamy condensation just like the smoke from the boat chimneys. It was all looking pretty dramatic. I was aware of the dog and the different positions it was taking up. Perhaps I should have taken multiple pictures in those ten seconds but I didn't - I just took two. I shared one of them with you yesterday. We will call that Picture A . It pleased me greatly that Steve, Dave and Carol were amongst the visitors who co...

 I wrote this post, yesterday. I’m sat in an empty waiting room.  There is a tv but it’s switched off and thanks to covid there’s no magazines to read. There is a small selection of wooden toys in a box in the corner, the sort no children ever want to play with. I’ve been here for two hours, so far. The vet and his colleague have been treating Roger for the duration. The surgery is seventeen miles from Trelawnyd and so I’ve resisted the vet’s suggestion of going home . I think they’ve forgotten about me. I feel scruffy. I’m wearing my big blue winter jumper, the one with the hole in the sleeve.  I’ve poked my thumb through it now which makes a sort of glove and it feels good as the waiting room heating isn’t on.  The other dogs are curled up in the car. They are asleep. The vet appears, a fresh faced boy of a professional .  He’s articulate and doesn’t treat me as though I’m dense, which I like.  Roger is still somewhat “ jittery’ and need...

 An hour, almost two,  after a walk, Roger started to get restless and odd. He had found something to chew on in a discarded carrier bag  at the lane border and even though I hadn’t witnessed it, I’d seen such symptoms before.  18 years ago my first Welsh had eaten chocolate and was incredibly poorly,  The poor lad vomited and opened his bowels all over Bluebell’s back seat I’m glad he did A day at the vets, is not what either of us wanted but hours and hours  later , after activated charcoal treatment, various blood tests and close observation he was allowed home looking stressed and tired and upset and I drove him home looking stressed and tired and upset ……but very relieved too. from Going Gently https://ift.tt/MAyiIZq

My New York snow globe on the mantle  I sort of don’t know my arse from my elbow. I worked a long day Thursday , then covered a night for a colleague last night and am back doing overtime tomorrow on a long day.  This afternoon and evening I’m arranging fairy lights and eating comfort food. And that’s it. An articulate and rather passionate lady was collecting for the local food bank at Tesco’s  and an impromptu speech to shoppers had me moved to tears. So much so I left her with some selection boxes and tins of dog food.  She was aided by a rather charming looking Father Christmas with a big black beard  I could have have sat on his knee quite happily and shared my Christmas list  I’ve bought a cheap new phone too and a new unchewable cover , and apart from a brief conversation; with Mrs Trellis this morning , I’ve not seen anyone non work in days .  Mrs Trellis had brought me a homemade Christmas card made from cotton wool and twigs...

Je suis ici.  Opening up The mailbox today And seeing all The Christmas cards From people I don’t know But who know me Is exhilarating So special And blows my mind To know I’m so loved Leaves me teary eyed You give me so much And while you tell me I give you something It doesn’t compute When you give to me Expecting nothing back I’m beyond humbled I can never thank you enough Never did I think  This physically disabled body And mentally plagued soul Would find acceptance From this community Much less any community God sees in me Value and hope Worth that is priceless It’s what a babe In a manger Is reminding me from R's rue https://ift.tt/qKTr48C

Big breaths…… I woke up to snow this morning. Got the dogs into the car, took them for a walk at Dyserth Bluebell’s gear stick came undone as we tried to get home. A garage job.  I forgot my phone. Big breaths…… Got dogs out of car, walked towards Prestatyn three miles away, towards my sister’s house  Dorothy was giving up the ghost by the time we made town. My sister gave us a lift home thank goodness. Now I’m grabbing a quick coffee before my brother in law comes to give me a tow to the garage Thank goodness for him. No essay writing ,  No car to get to work tomorrow night  Big breaths ….. What a fucking week  from Going Gently https://ift.tt/vwcgGrL