Quite a full on day…
Fetched newspaper first thing, then Moira and I walked to
Bathurst Basin (very cold and quite windy) before streamed church.
Read the Observer and watched some cricket on the telly,
before an early lunch… and then another lovely urban sketching trip (this time
to Lake Orta in Italy!).
After sketching, somewhat guiltily, I immediately sat myself
in front of the telly to watch the Wales v Ireland rugby (Wales won narrowly –
but Ireland had a player red-carded after 20 minutes!).
Age had emailed the ‘boys’ and so I responded… along with the
others.
Roast chicken supper!
Evening telly: ‘Pottery Throw Down’.
Image: urban sketchers screenshot of 14 lovelies!
It was going to be a bit of a sporty weekend on the telly
(Moira’s not hugely impressed)…
Fetched the newspaper first thing (no walking on Saturdays),
followed by morning coffee etc.
England v India ‘live’ cricket followed by two Six Nations
internationals. Sadly, the England v Scotland game was dreadful as far as
England were concerned – Scotland deserved victors.
So, I seemed to spend an awful lot of the time shouting at
the telly! Very frustrating.
Oh, and the Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 (although Bears lost to
Sale last night 13-20).
Tried to draft out a brief 600 character document for Urban
Sketchers possible application to Grayson’s Art Club… but found it incredibly
difficult/impossible to contain things within 600 characters!.
Another ‘Marple’ episode in the evening
Image: flying cormorant from the harbour.
With my painful back, I decided that going for a decent dawn
walk and ‘walking tall’ would probably be a good strategy… so I set out
pre-dawn and walked to Ashton Court. A lovely morning and some dramatic skies.
Last night, during our zoom chat with Jennie, we laughed as she recounted her
‘falling in a puddle experience’… well, I did something very similar today!
Making my way between railings at Ashton Court (going downhill), I completely
lost my footing on the thick mud and ‘not-so-gracefully’ ended up sprawling in
the mud (as did my camera!)… with mud ALL over my jeans. I think it must have
looked pretty dramatic because a car kindly stopped to check I was ok. I was
fine – just a bit winded, plus a bit of jarring to my right elbow and left
shoulder.
Anyway, it was a lovely walk and I made my way home via the harbourside
and Gaol Ferry Steps.
Received a reminder (I hadn’t actually realised) from Ian
about there being ‘live’ coverage of the India v England cricket… so I ended up
watching a couple of hours (which was rather nice!).
Read my ‘Shed’ book after lunch and then my birthday DVD
(from Maggs+Jez) ‘Summerland’.
Had another zoom chat with BABEs – in celebration of Gail’s
60th birthday (tomorrow) – which was good fun.
Image: dawn spooky tree (from this morning’s walk).
I went for an ‘early dawn’ harbour walk this morning (still
very dark and just the hint of dawn on the horizon)… but actually enjoyed the
change.
The reason for needing to take an earlier-than-usual walk was
because I was being phoned at 8.40am by our doctor’s surgery in lieu of my
‘Annual Heart Check’ (which they’re unable to carry out in these lockdown
days). The doctor was apologetic, but hoped to see me at some stage during
2021… general queries about general health/fitness, alcohol consumption, weight
etc. It was all generally reassuring (or as much as it could be).
My back is still hurting (and sitting over a laptop doesn’t
really help!).
Moira and I had our normal morning coffee exchange.
Spent part of the morning roughing out a possible second
Italian location in advance of Sunday’s Urban Sketching ‘trip’.
I also sent a facebook message to Jules+Jane about the
possibility of us submitting something (along with tens of thousands of others,
no doubt!) for “Grayon’s Art Club” (along the ‘Travel’ theme – using our
bizarre use of Google maps/streetview and zoom etc etc). I had an immediate
positive response from Jane but, so far, nothing yet from Jules.
Spent a little time in the afternoon trying put together a
few random thoughts on the subject of ‘Death’ (following an interesting
telephone conversation with Robin the other day)… we’re going to talk again
soon on the subject, so thought I scribble some brief notes.
Asda delivery (very welcome!)… the only negative note was
that, yet again, the beef roasting joint wasn’t included (and there wasn’t a
substitute!).
Had another nice zoom chat with Jennie in the evening.
Image: Yesterday’s ‘dusk over Southville’.
My first birthday in lockdown!
Slightly strange start to the day: I opened presents and
cards in bed with Moira (cheese, jumper, books and DVD!), but then had to
abandon things to ‘attend’ Bloke’s Prayer.
Moira and I were able to enjoy a gentle coffee in the living
room later (after her ‘Slimming World’ zoom session!) and contemplate the day.
Chatted to both Alice and Hannah by phone, which was lovely.
Wrote some quick ‘thank you’ FB messages to various people.
Enjoyed some of my cheese (from Gail+Ian) at lunchtime,
followed by Dundee ‘birthday’ cake (made by Moira, of course)!
Had a lovely zoom chat with Iris, Rosa+Ru in the afternoon
(over cake, of course)… Ru had previously delivered some flowers, cake and some
of her wonderful embroidered words.
Also received a birthday phone call from Alan+Gareth… and
later had a fascinating conversation with Robin about ‘death’ (and the
possibility of us setting up some mini-online discussion group – for those in
our age group!).
Storysmith book group later… and, remarkably, out the 11
attending, three of us (Rachel, Jenna and me) were celebrating birthdays TODAY!
Good discussion about ‘Snow Country’… the majority didn’t really enjoy it.
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’.On a negative note: Villa failed to win on my birthday (lost 1-3 at home to West Ham!).
Image: Ru’s embroidered word 'Pocket Talisman'..
Having wondered, last night (when I wasn’t feeling
particularly well), whether or not I’d feel like going walking this morning… in
fact, I was feeling fine (apart from my back) and so went dawn walking to the
Avon Lock (actually the adjacent
flyover). I set out when the sky was pretty bleak but, happily, the sun
came out by the time I arrived at the lock. Then walked back along the harbour
to the Marina/Gaol Ferry Steps and then home. Glad I’d made the effort and felt
duly rewarded.
When the internet was down last week, I resorted to checking
out music on my laptop’s ‘Windows Media Player’ and was very pleasantly
surprised by songs I hadn’t listened to for several years.
Ever since I discovered that my facebook a/c had been hacked
(a fortnight or so ago?), I’d been trying to get facebook to sort things out…
and, annoyingly, it proved to be VERY frustrating and unsuccessful task. I’d
received SEVEN absolutely useless facebook responses (essentially involving a
‘going-round-in-circles’ exercise), but today I received an email from them
that seemed more helpful saying this (and starting ‘Dear Steve’!): We’ve
reviewed the profile that your friend reported and found that it isn't
pretending to be you and doesn't go against our Community Standards. If you
think we should take another look, please reply to this message and let us know’. Well, at least
this gave me the opportunity to ‘make my case’ in response. I look forward to
receiving their reply!
I ended up deciding to colour in yesterday’s quick line
sketch of tulips – it felt like playing with a colouring book (but strangely
satisfying!).
Read a little more of my Clive James’ poetry book in the
afternoon.
Started watching ‘Look Back In Anger’ (1959), but didn’t find
quite suitable in lockdown, so gave up!
Had a worrying FB message from my friend Nikki in France
(she’s got a dissection of the aorta – and they also found a large aneurism -
and was rushed to hospital last Wednesday. It will almost certainly involve
open heart surgery). Worrying.
Evening telly: another ‘Marple’ episode.
Image: Flyover Furniture from this morning’s walk.
Something of a strange day…
I went for my usual dawn walk around the harbour first thing
(I’d originally a rather longer walk down the Avon, but the grey early morning
murk was uninspiring!).
Moira and I had our usual morning coffee together – but not
until almost 10.30am (Moira’s been ‘sleeping in’ of late!).
I’ve concluded that facebook aren’t going to reinstate my old
account and so, very reluctantly, I’ve decided to press on with my ‘new’
version… which obviously involved adding more ‘friends’. Time consuming and
irritating… and thereby the morning and some of the afternoon duly disappeared!
The whole process is SO frustrating – I just wish there was a way I could
actually talk to ‘proper’ person at FB!!
Did a very quick line sketch of our tulips in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘only Connect’ and ‘University Challenge’.
Went to bed feeling sorry for myself (bad back, slightly
twisted ankle, slight toothache, feeling shivery)!!
Image: Tulips line sketch.
