This started out as trivia, but grew into something really important

1. Deaf? WHAT WAS THAT??? Hmm. Oh yes. Still deaf. I have the tv on so loud you can hear the noise 2 roads away, and get this, I have a headache. From the noise. Which I can't hear.


2. Chocolate? Nearly history. It is sitting ever so comfortably around my waistband. Which is garrotting my stomach.


3. Friends? Met up with some for coffee, and they are fine, but have to shout as I have yet to acquire an ear horn. Which precludes female chatter. Conversation has to be fit for general consumption. Within a mile radius.


4. Fun? I am the one providing the amusement for all and sundry in my afflicted state.


5. Cleaning? I don't think so.


6. Washing? Done. We did need something to wear after all.


7. Ironing? You have to be joking. The sun is shining.

If you were hoping for pearls of wisdom, move swiftly on. None of those here today.

NOW for something really important.

Boomama has leapt into action once again, to organise help for Heather and her family, in her own inimitable fashion. If you do not know Boomama, you have no idea of what an amazing young woman she is, and how she is swiftly becoming a catalyst for so much GOOD in our blogging community. She is the one who makes things happen in a way I can only applaud. Go now and visit both those links.

Links. Here comes that pearl of wisdom after all. We link to each other, and form a web. Forget the internet-speak and see it more as spider-speak. We are all individual people linking together to cocoon a friend in our own small way. Individually, we are insignificant. Scattered around the world. Together? There is no limit to the difference we can make. Cocooning one of our own in prayers too, is unbelevably powerful. I am honoured to be able to link up with so many amazing women and to share the laughter and tears, to be a part of that invisible web.

I have just been reading Heather's latest update. Go now and read. I nearly deleted the first half of this post. How trivial and unimportant somethings are. This is who we are, isn't it? Woman who deal with the trivial and banal, and the overwhelming and life-threatening. The sorrow and fear , anguish, love, joy, and happiness. I am thankful for so much in this moment.

Thankful for a great deal, really!

For those who may not know, now and then I post 5 reasons to be thankful. Last year, when things were rather difficult, I began what is now a habit. When I wake up, the first thing I do is think of 5 reasons why I am thankful. It is amazing how it colours your day, no matter how challenging your circumstances may be. They can be profound, or very simple, but every day I have at least 5, and sometimes I post them, and sometimes I don't. So, when you see a list, that is what they are. Just so you know!

1. Inspirational authors


2. Housegroup


3. Cheesecake


4. Being ignored by inspectors


5. Lesson plans written

Easter is coming soon, and David and I are going to Switzerland for a few days, and will bring Mum home with us. I get to go and be in the mountains. How lucky can anyone be.

Distractions

Before I forget, my daughter-in-law has been bitten by the blogging bug, and has started writing, so go on over and say hello! Hungry Hippo is her place.

I am sitting here with the phone tucked under my chin, plowing through all the paperwork, doing very unexciting bits and pieces, and chasing reports which never come, and my head hurts. I want to be doing exciting things. New things. I am in a blue funk today and I don't like it. Reading some of my favourite blogs is a way to distract myself from lists of solicitors I need to check out. I don't want to be doing this.

So, what are my 5 things I am thankful for today? This is an effort to snap out of it...

1. My daughter has had a super birthday
2. I am about to have a tutorial in 2D design from a young friend
3. Coffee
4. Quiet
5. The sun is trying to shine

Another photo

1. Swiss sales (REAL ones!)
2. Vögele
3. Inspiration
4. Imagination
5. A son who says he doesn't want to be spoiled

You can see the walls round the Old Town in this photo taken from the roof terrace at Manor (a department store)....at the top between the trees.

More sawing and more walking

1. Sleep
2. Marge's pattern books
3. Walks with my son
4. Letters all posted
5. Peter's safe return
   
   I am obsessive. If I start doing something, I can't stop. I have been in the garage sawing for the past few days. Marge has so many patterns and books and ideas are blooming, and as I said, I can't stop. The more I do, the quicker I get, and more adept too. Note the pile of sawdust. I have not put the photos of what I am doing on the blog, because some are for presents. You may be lucky enough to get one! But i have been having fun.

And with Peter in Austria, I have been walking the dogs. Naxos adores his Dad, so was deeply depressed when he realised he was not coming home on Sunday. Mum and I took them out yesterday, and we went to Linie 8, with Naxos dragging me sideways because he wanted to see Marge. Mum stopped there for coffee, and I ran (and I mean ran) around the lake with them, before collecting Mum on the way back. Then Nax slipped his collar so I had to catch him. And last night he ate the lasagne dish, which was cardboard, so was even more pathetic. Life is not dull around here at all.

Today David and I walked to Eienwaldli again with them, and they were fine. Except that I forgot to take their treats, so they refused to come out of the river for ages.

The weather is ok at the moment. No rain, but not much sun. You don't notice these things when you are in the garage sawing! But in Austria, it has been very wet, and Peter arrived home 2 days early this evening. The trike is very low, and passing lorries nearly drowned the poor man. He now needs a special helmet, and wet weather gear. The leather is no protection from the wet and cold. He did mention wrapping himself in cling wrap. But he says it was absolutely beautiful. We need sunny days......I refuse to consider this could be autumn yet.


So there you are, so you can stop sending messages complaining that I have not blogged since Saturday! In between there have been chats with Anita over breakfast, lolling about on the couch in the evenings, visits to the shops for food, and at last I am starting to sleep. Well, after Friday night at the hotel, when the tour group on the floor above were still playing what seemed to be football at 12.30am, and I had to go and tell the duty manager I was about to become very unreasonable, sleep is something to be thankful for!

Garden (note the beautifully mown grass)

1. So many messages from friends who are thinking of me
2. Invitations
3. The view from any window here
4. Being able to help
5. Long chat on my mobile (Nick, you may be paying my phone bill!)

More sun and more walks

1. Mountain walks
2. Long chats with friends
3. Paprika chips
4. Afternoon naps
5. Washing machines

Hello.......... I am back. Yesterday we went to Stans shopping with Marge, and then she and I had to go down the mountain again in the afternoon to look for stuff for the baby, so 2 trips out of the village in a day. We didn't get much else done, apart from a coffee at the Boden at lunch to swap cars. No real adventures to report.

I walked over to Linie 8 this morning and stayed to help price things as they arrived.

This is what I see from my chair in the sun on the balcony at Marge's house.

This afternoon I took the dogs for a walk in the forests on Brunni.

I keep saying how beautiful it is. And i wish you could actually stand where I stand and turn in a circle and see what I mean when I say it is 360 degree perfection. I really love it so much.

This is the End of the World. (Really.... that is what it is called.)

I don't think it gets more Swiss than this......

And David wanted a photo of this. Who would think of painting a cement mixer to look like a cow????? I think all cement mixers should take on characters at once. At least it makes you smile to look at them!

Sun arrives!

1. Sunshine
2. Happy son
3. Snow ploughs (I think)
4. Flowers in bloom
5. Call from my daughter
   
   Today there is not a cloud in the sky, and the boys have gone off on the trike down the mountain for an adventure. Please note the blue sky in the photo. And shadows! David was really excited about his first trip on it, and so help me, all the Asian tourists gathered outside to take photos of them. Then one Indian lady even asked if she could come and look inside the house. I don't think so. So Dave has had a brush with stardom. Good. We are meeting them at the End of the World at Horbis for lunch.
   

Mum and I have been in the garden,and she has been cutting all the grass between the paving slabs, and is now unable to stand up staright. I have put all the pots out, after 2 weeks under cover to protect them from the rain. And as a final exciting extra, a parade of all the new snow ploughs etc has just gone through the village, past the house, to the Sports Hall Park over the road, for an exhibition. The Swiss folk music band is tuning up as I speak. Perfect weather for snow ploughs. The first day the sun shines. It is Marias Hemel Fahrt here......... Mary's ascension into heaven, and it is a public holiday. I have no idea what it would be called in English, but i do know that you are not supposed to work on the garden etc on Holy days, including Sundays. I was going to paint the railings, but I can't. So I will go and laze in the sun.

Anniversary

1. The young Mr and Mrs Langdon
2. Comfortable couches
3. Letters completed
4. Messages from friends
5. Memories

It is 3 years today since Andrew and Ann got married here, on a blazingly hot day. Today I woke in a cloud. As in a real cloud. Then it rained. But it is still great to be here, and the mountains are as beautiful as ever, and so what if it feels like autumn.

Yesterday we went to Emmen shopping, and then Marge and I did her lawn. Well, she mowed 90 percent, and I did 10. I sort of gave up when my cream sandals went a queasy shade of green. So did my feet. I held the bags open for the cuttings in a helpful fashion, and picked a few deadheads off the petunias, while she whizzed about doing everything else. She never stops for a second. It is quite exhausting sitting watching her. Mum unpacked the boxes I brought her, and we also had coffee with Anita at the hotel. And I have spent a lot of time sprawled on the couch doing very little. It is good. It is all so familiar and it is such a stunning place to be. I am so lucky to have a sister who lives here.

We are here.....

This was the sun rising over the Channel.
We had agreat BBQ with Andrew and Ann, and then got up at 2.30 to get to Dover for the ferry. Nearly 9 hours drive later, we arrived in the rain, and unloaded the car. I still cannot believe how much I managed to cram into it. I cannot find the exclamation mark key on the keyboard. I need my glasses but they are in the lounge and I cant be bothered. Sigh. We are here. That is all that matters.

1. SeaFrance
2. Safe journeys
3. Superb navigational skills of son. He did not get us lost in Strasbourg, Kelly. 2 exclamation marks.
4. Welcome from family
5. Mountains (even hidden by clouds)
   

Escape

Simon and his tyre blower up thingy

Bekah who turns 5 tomorrow

Ferries

Dishwashers

Jean's hospitality (and great food!)

Well, the bags are packed and we're (almost) ready to go. I cannot tell you how much I need to get to the mountains and stop thinking. So does David. We need to get away from the phone and the infinite number of things that crop up each day. Everything can wait now. I would prefer to be beamed up and plonked down there without having to drive for 9 hours across Europe, but that is not going to happen, so we will just head off and get there when we get there. I know what I mean.
Friends have been wonderful, and will be looking after everything here, including the beans and tomatoes of course. So I can go and not have to worry about anything for a little while. And being in the mountains certainly does restore my soul. I will report in once we are there.........

Wildlife

1. 1. Rainy days
2. 2. Friends who check up on me
3. 3. Post that arrives on time
4. 4. Raspberry cheesecake
5. 5. Internet booking

Ok then, I have bought and distributed the mouse exterminating stuff. It could be working as I speak. It better be working as I speak. It will soon be an ex mouse. This is, you understand, the highlight of the day. Life gets extremely exciting in the wilds of middle England. Who needs safaris. Did I ever mention the SNAKE I once saw slithering over the neighbour's lawn from my landing window, heading for my garden????? I looked like the road runner at the top of the stairs as I yelled "Snake" and whizzed down the stairs and out the door to tell them. I don't like snakes. Fortunately it was winter and it moved slowly. As it was coral, it clearly was not a native Brit. How was I supposed to know it was a corn snake? And there was clearly no corn in the neighbour's garden. And as far as I am concerned, a snake is a snake, and should be gone. Geoff was the hero of the day and caught it and put it in a bin till the RSPCA people came to get it. This was a while ago you understand, but I was traumatised.

Rodents

1. Cooler days
2. Rain for the garden
3. 2 sons who have been a great help in different ways
4. Daughter's safe arrival back in NZ
5. A reminder that people are more important than things

There is a MOUSE in the garden shed. I do not do mice. Where are men when you need mice evicted? I am not into humane things when it comes to rodents. I went to get a chair in a bag thing from the shed, and so help me, this grey (little) thing shot out the top and over my shoulder and ran away. To my credit, I did not scream. I just zapped inside and bolted the doors. I need industrial strength mouse dispatching stuff. I don't care that it was little and probably a field mouse and some might think cute. Tough. It probably has a very large mother and father lurking somewhere like Jaws.

Picnics and concerts

1. Friends who can certify things
2. Picnic at Althorp
3. Nectarines
4. Music you can sing along to
5. Sons who can get birds out of the kitchen

Today was different. After a cloudy start, this evening was stunning, and hot. Pete, Glynis, Mr X (as he insists on being called to retain street cred) and I went to a Westlife concert in the grounds of Althorp. Yes. Westlife. I have to say they were very good, and polished and it was a great evening. Most of the time was spent having a picnic in the sun in lovely surroundings. We listened to Roxanne (never heard of her and not all that keen to hear her again) for 20 mins, then canned music for an hour before Westlife arived on stage. It is the whole package with the picnic that works though. Lots of laughter and fun. Meanwhile David was telling all who phoned that his mother was at a Westlife concert, with much amusement. I did ask if he wanted to go instead of me, and his response was "you have to be kidding". Oh well. I offered. And I had fun.

Paperwork

1. Nice people on help desks
2. Mint cornetto
3. Unexpected phone calls from distant friends
4. Encouragement
5. Weekends

I hate paperwork. Especially when it involves making calls to Singapore. Lots of phone calls. I have spent the last 2 days wading through paperwork with singular lack of enthusiasm. Some people I have had to speak to have been absolutely lovely, and extremely helpful. Others are beyond belief, like the woman at our satellite provider who insisted that unless I could provide a password, she could not help me. Password I screeched? What password????? She needed to deal with "the person named on the account". He's dead I yelled in an undignified fashion. That is why I am calling. Password please???? I wanted to crawl down the phone line and do some serious head bashing.

Then I was told that doctors sometimes take 7-10 months to return paperwork to the Coroner. More screeching of disbelief. Sigh. Do not assume I always screech. Just sometimes. The paperwork has to be done. I just don't want to be doing it.

It is hot and humid and I am wiped out. Margaret popped in for coffee and provided some much needed light relief, and I dropped in briefly at Bekah's 5th birthday party. Lots of little girls dressed in party dresses. Musical bumps. Pass the parcel. I felt old again. They were so sweet! And I had a call from my friend Gill in Zimbabwe, who offered to come over and stay for a while if I needed her to. I am so lucky to have so many friends there for me.

Crawling out of the tunnel

1. Sisters
2. Airconditioned cars
3. Groaning tables full of food that magically appears
4. Peter
5. Louise

It is 7.15 am and I have been up since 4. I have just dropped Marge at Luton to fly back home to Switzerland. Saying goodbye seemed to mark the end of a phase in a way. I am so glad she came. Diana goes down to London today for the weekend. I had the radio on in the car on the way back, and realised that I have no idea what is going on in the world at all. This is a first for me. I don't think I have heard any news, or read a paper for the past 2 weeks. Time seems to have stopped. The numbness is more all-encompassing than I realised.

Yesterday the temperature reached 37 degrees, and the humidity level was appallingly high. Moving at all meant dripping. It was scorching on Tuesday as well.

Diana, Lilian, Ann, David, me, Andrew

The service was lovely...... informal and personal, and we were stunned by the number of people who came. It was just wonderful to see so many friends, and so many from Geoff's work as well. And getting to know his sister was great too. I cannot find the words to express our thanks for all the love and support and care we have been showered with. Term ends today, and the summer is officially here, and so we have to move on into a new phase. And I must not forget those beans.....

Flying dogs and other things

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Help
4. Advice
5. Love

What an unreal week this is. Have you ever felt like you were a stranger in a foreign land that you do not want to be in, not able to read the signs, speak the language, and with no road map?? That is what it feels like.

But.... the house is full of cards and flowers. The phone rings all the time. Friends pop in and have been wonderfully supportive. Diana is home, and she and Katherine have been enjoying having the luxury of time to catch up, and there has been laughter, as well as tears. Seeing the babes again was great fun. Plans for Tuesday are coming together, and I am learning rather fast that accepting help and asking for advice is the only way to do things. We will muddle through. It is unbelievable how in the space of a few hours, everything in your life can change.

Today Morgan, K's dog (not the calmest dog in the universe) decided to leap out of a first floor bedroom window into the garden, and the first Katherine knew about it was when someone rang the doorbell and announced she had just jumped. She was running about in the garden, and after a visit to the vet, was pronounced healthy. No broken bones or internal damage. She is, however, a little stiff. Flying dogs. Give me strength. After watching her head-butt my display cabinet and do a twirl on my coffee table yesterday, nothing surprises me any more.

I am thankful

1. Medical science
2. Surgeons' skill
3. Supportive family and friends
4. Every new day
5. Strength

35 Degrees

1. A cool breeze
2. Fridges
3. A shady tree
4. Answered prayer
5. A voice at the other end of the phone

Today I took Diana's shoes to Basil, who is heading back to Wellington. It was so nice to meet someone who knew her in her New Zealand life, and to hear him say such lovely things about her was a delight. I am biased, I admit, but it is great to hear! We sat in the garden with Meg and had a cool drink and chatted for a while.

Andrew and Ann have been and gone. Apart from seeing Geoff, they watched the football and went for a walk this morning as well. We had a BBQ last night.

Today was stiflingly hot. If you sat in the sun for a while, the heat dried the sweat as it poured. If you went inside you dripped. Yes, I know it sounds particularly fetching, but believe me, it was unbearable. I considered putting my head in the freezer.

There was a shared lunch at Jean's today and the kids were the only ones with the energy to move. Everything seems to slow down. It is too much effort to move, and even thought slows to what is almost a halt. You think about emptying the dish washer. Repeatedly for an hour or 2, but doing it is too much effort. I do not envy the tennis players at Wimbeldon tomorrow. Or for the rest of the week. Let me just check.... Yes, the 5 day forecast is all over 30. Thank heavens exams are over for David. Jeans garden is perfect for parties...... lots of flat grass to run around on for the kids, and places to sit in the shade for the older ones. What a happy place her cottage is for all of us.

Friday

I think a heatwave is on the way.

Starting the day thinking of 5 more things to be thankful for is great.

1. Hair straighteners
2. The courage to speak out and ask questions
3. Microwaves
4. No hose pipe ban
5. Anne

Andrew and Ann are coming tomorrow. That will be lovely. I must go and water the garden before it gets too hot.