👾 dernier jour

 👾  a lot happened this month. We were overseas and engaging w / M ... s relatives

we both had monster colds. M  ...is finally, starting to kick hers

' boro weather is indeterminate. we are much cooler than yesterday w / rain threatening

🛌 closing out the month

 🛌  continued

' the dreamer ' position for sleep

yes. slept w / a pillow between my knees. slept thru the night, no staying awake bouts

tired feeling ? yes, but much better than yesterday [ day 1 ]

Maybe, good   We shall see said the Zen Master

it has started. I'm hiring people to do work around the house and in

👀 " dreamer " or ......

 👀 ... the ' soldier '

May 29. What ?
these are sleeping postings that are neutral. Meaning low stress. Dreamer is on your side w /  a pillow between your knees. I chose this one.
Alternately, on your back flat out [ or a slight support for your knees, a towel ]

Both are meant to keep both knees off the bed. The ultimate goal is a relaxing posture for the night

Result. I slept thru the night BUT do I feel tired. Almost exhausted.
to be fair. most mornings are like this, lately

perhaps, you can't catch up sleep in one night

dreary in the ' boro. rain fell and will fall again

💝 om May the 28 th

 💝.... the weather in the  ' boro
yesterday broke the mould, warm and little wind a summer day optimized
today, and following, shows a pattern of rain and unsettled conditions

truly, I don't feel that I've had 2 ' normal ' days in a row for a month and some weeks. Certainly. UK travel was unsettling or I never settled down comfortably
and since coming home [ approaching 11 days or so ] w / the cold and getting back to Canadian life, really, uncomfortable is the word

we shall see said the Zen Master

in summary. medically, my hip and inner thigh pain is becoming a non issue, most days. to be sure, I've adjusted to the problem re : bending and putting on socks

prior to travel, I purchased wool socks. supposedly, comfortable, wicks away moisture and dries faster than cotton. the socks have been all that. Plus, the socks are ankle height, and much easier to put on
I didn't realize that the wool socks don't snag on my toenails as much [maybe, later as they wear, so far so good.
yesterday, was ultrasound and X Ray of the hip area. we shall see said the .........

the house. for approximately 3 months, I have done less maintenance and general fixing up then I thought that I'd done in past years
I imagined that I had recognized and realized that I need to pull back from doing many chores that involve lifting and ladders [ mostly ]

🧭 on the 27 the of Amy

 🧭  ' ... finding your way in the world today ..
... takes everything you've got ......  [ from Cheers, the TV sitCom ]

feel that way - especially, the last 10 days. travel and a cold and aging
however. 4 weeks ago,my hip ached and the inner thigh [ as reported ]

however, returning from our trip [walking and not much else ] the hip pain has been minimal or almost gone

ah. the good and the bad. always

🧛 on May 25

 🧛 this week, the most exciting element is a ' ultrasound and X Ray ' double header. 

I suppose if you moan and whine enough, then you should get the ailment looked at. Yes, the left hip is going to be imaged

🐦 on the 24 th

 🐦 at the school
where I taught for 29 years and months and days. my pension was exactly that 29 yrs but missing 30 by a month. water under the bridge
there is Reunion Day for the students and staff since 1971

a session in the afternoon at the school itself followed by a night time get together, near by

originally, I was to attend a breakfast at 9 AM then visit the school [ running from 11 to 6 ]. And get to the nighttime event

I've pulled back. Now. Visit the school for a few hours and rest and attend the night get together

Follow up. Skipped the breakfast thing w/ friends. I got to the school at 11 AM [ official start ]. I enjoyed a 2 hr and bit stand around, meet and greet former students and staff. Very Enjoyable.
I needed a break by then and headed home. Relax etc

I arrived for the Evening Event on time. 10 or so people were already in the room. I bought a diet coke and chose a table at the back where 4 or 5 people were sitting. I thought that I would introduce myself and stay a few minutes
Of course, knew Caroline and then Cathy and turns out that I knew their brothers and sisters. In all, never left that table. People decided to come to the table and I sat.

Such kind and thoughtful people. Sadly, I discovered a former teacher had passed the week before and a couple of students had sad news too of ailing siblings

My hearing was overwhelmed and after an hour and some, I said farewell. 
There was an alternate get together down the road. I was tired and deaf.
BUT I had promised to try to attend both. I stopped and repeated the process. Kind and thoughtful former students.

Tired. Came home

🍥 into the third week

🍥 ... follow up. caught a cold in UK, flew home and still lingering effects

rainy is the forecast but the weather will clear for Saturday

🎴 XXII of V

 🎴ah, yes, the flower of the deck

rainy  in the ' boro. Dark clouds all day and steady wet

the kind of day where you accomplish much but look back ..... huh, you say 

🧑‍🚒 May 21

 🧑‍🚒 .... a dull looking day out there

then the rain came and stayed

however, snapping out of the doldrums of the week. I got out and had the truck washed. I got new keys cut

Whew discovered that we only had two sets of keys for the new front door lock. On loaning out the one for next door, yes, one left
the problem arose b/c most occasions, I don't need a key [ only my phone ]. 

Ah. what happens w/ no internet or WiFi hook up. 
We shall see said the Zen Master

🧑‍🔧 a wee look back

 🧑‍🔧  .... on the 20 the of May. Coffee and typing, sunny view out there

Thus. on the recent trip to the UK. Decided that instead of the blog, I would add a hand written diary of happenings. Initially, I was pretty industrious ...... obviously, the trend did not continue
In fact, that notebook had jottings from the 2020 trip to Florida. OK. 
what happened ! I was getting a cold [ that sounds weak ]. Perhaps, thinking of home. We were both tired. We commiserated and I know that I was planning the packing and other doings for getting home

 

🦥 a slothful day

 🦥 or productive one

overcast and dull, out the window. we are green and growing

🐣 🐤 🐥 ...... and on

 🐣 🐤 🐥 unfortunately, the yellow on my lawn is dandelions. The dandy's have found a new home

of course, I wasn't here for the crucial growth spurt period. meaning that the dandelions have established themselves

oh well, dig ' em out

🎀 🌿 a double ....

 🎀 🌿  my attempt at creating a new icon [ no, I cannot join them together ]

rainy and dim out there

coffee [ yesterday s and re - heated ]

still fighting this cold / cough. Of course, not quite comfortable ...... stuffy, temperature regulation is poor. Just off, sub normal.

if you're wondering, this is typical cough and then cold comes on
what fooled me, is that, I usually, start w/ a sore throat. 

💤 the aftermath

 💤  it seems that I conveniently forgot, L .. M .. s first rule of travel

Do not leave home. You see once you have blown thru that ..... well everything after is your fault

for the last 3 days in UK, I was stuffed up and doing little coughy fits. In order to fly, I purchased head and cold meds [ w / caffeine ]

yessir, suffyness gone but [ you got it ] couldn't sleep the night before the flight.

Thus tired and groggy I got ready

Finally, realizing that I had my allergy meds w/ me [ non caffeinated ] What a ' dopey feeling. My head cleared up but sleeping on the plane was never going to be easy

and was not

 I was super warm part way thru the flight

At present, w / nighttime flu / cold / cough meds on board. I feel slightly light headed and a bit tired

⏳ travelling day in the Jolly Ol'

 ⏳ yessir, we are on the move. 

1.   Staines upon Thames to LGW, from 7 AM to 8 :10 AM

2.   LGW followed by a hour and a bit wait in queue at the airline. Problem was getting across the city timely to LGW, thus better to be early .

we were. an expited sortie thru security, very efficient and non stressful

our wheelchair guides were pro s for sure

however, the operative term is better early than never "  we overheard a couple tell the information officer " we missed our flight. what do we do ? '

3. we were carted to the plane 

 4. we survived the flight. Folks said ' great flight '.  I was screaming in my head [ b / c I couldn't hear properly ] GET ME OFF THIS PLANE !!!

5. service transfer was capable and the last lady porter, got us to luggage and thru customs
She transfered M .. in her wheelchair to our pick up point for the limo

TERRIFIC

🦠 it will grow on you

 🦠 and or never stop growing, take your choice
Alright, honourable mention

Hello to BTopenworld and all who sail in her
you and yours were marvelous hosts and go to buddies
many enjoyable chin wags and such
I am glad that we made the effort to hop the pond

hoping that you read this. you said you would 

🥮 by any other name

 🥮 on the 13 the of May 

On the off chance that  K ... has started reading the blog
Hi to Ashford. on a sunny day

🧭 051225 is the date

 🧭 ...... marking your way in the world
and don't get lost 

easy to say BUT how often .....

sun is trying in a hazy view and you can feel the humidity 

🐼 the eleventh of May, '25

 🐼 ... in a panda - less land .......

sun is out the ripples on the water. stuff is definitely alive. very comforting looking out there

coffee, not so great. a hodge podge affair so not the coffee s fault

her name was stefka simone [ I know, I use no names to protect individuals ]
exceptions to the rule. great service at the bank. a pleasure to deal w/ and there were long term benefits from her help
I spent a day trying to recall that name. finally, ' pop ' the first / last name was there AND w /in minutes Yessssss...ss I knew that I 'd got it back.

🎴 ten days into May

 🎴  ... the ' flower playing ' card
I'm assuming its from ' twittering birds or

a vista

 this morning in Devere Cotswold Watery world. A big and spacious living area - water scene in front, cruising swan and shore birds [ coots or moorhens ???? ]

photo to follow

thus celebrating kindly people - thoughtful and productive
ALL around us.

🥮 ah the eigth of May

🥮 ... we are in England for VE Day

somehow an added dimension being here

some notes.
breakfast came from Lidl. A clean modern and savings glory kinda place. Guessing here, but likely 20 - 30 % below other venues
To wit. My egg and prawn sandwich [ tasty and all ] cost 1.89 GBP vs 5.37 at Pret Manger.

M ... s pain au Chocolat was .69 vs 2.75 at Pret

now the walk is triple the distance [ Lidl to Pret s location ]. Still. 

🍘 Mai septieme

 🍘 ...... or May 7 2025 and we go on ...

thus, simultaneously [ maybe ] I was keeping a pencil and paper account of the day. thinking that I preferred or have always needed to hand write notes and entries

for cross - over here is a potential [ hand written ] entry

Mahonia Lodge report. This cottage affair is found on the grounds of Mercia Marina, Willingdon near Derby. Originally, a canal boat basin and docking facility, Mercia has become a focal point for many other aspects of outdoor / non city life.
Added amenities include shopping and dining and tours both nautical and terrestrial.

M... s cousin and second cousin owned canal boats at Mercia. Thus, this weekend we rented a cottage on the surrounding grounds, minutes from the basin. The well appointed cottage was a three bedroom affair w/ one bedroom, en - suite, and a bunk bed style room for 4. Nicely done in wood trim and fully kitted out. Plus dishwasher and laundry.

a thoroughly enjoyable venue and home this weekend to a family re -union

🍹OK Dokey May the 6 th

 🍹 ... and the world ticks on

and on ......

.... and on

Still w/ you and typing away to the ether
ether / or and more

follow up. health news. the hip pain and inner thigh strain / hurt are still present
reluctantly, not to get carried away, I think the overall discomfort is decreasing.
Surprisingly, the flight w / the stretched out positioning we had ....
maybe, taught me how to treat the discomfort
and / or the attention that I have been giving the problem exercise etc are helping
I noticed that I'm developing skills on sock and pant putting on...... straight leg and not bending overtly.

Live and learn 

🏞 " May the Fourth Be with You "

 🏞 .......  long ago in a galaxy, far, far away  ........ there were .......

sunny and cool bouts of clouds

🌿 May 3 rd

 🌿 ..... happy birthday to E .... 
she is 23

sunny and brightly cool

🧞 on the first of V

 🧞 and dancing round the May pole. we won't

sunny and warmer of the year. like ---- summer