Well, you must all know by now I am a huge Frasier fan ... Having Blogged the end poem so many times, many of you must also now find those words familiar..

But now, as I sit coffee in hand prior to a good river walk, am watching the penultimate episode..

Frasier is talking with Niles and their father about his, the fathers, upcoming marriage and how he made a wrong booking date for the ceremony and party, choosing Eddie's birthday of May 15th, not that of his fiancée July 15th!

The sons say don't worry, we can do it in only eight days.. which means the date would be presumably May 7th that this conversation is taking place... As is today's date!! 

Weird eh!! Coincidence! Strange... 

Yesterday no walk, it was my eldest son's birthday, every year he gets older and older than me! It's incredible!

We had brunch in town, was a beautiful weather day, and we sat in a little hidden area of Bills in Nottingham, was really good.

Then a wander around town, beginning at a bank, I'd had a phone call whilst eating, telling me 800 pounds was being taken from my account and to do this and that .. obviously I'm savvy enough to know a scam when I hear one and hung up, I went to the bank really to see if they wanted the number that called me... He didn't! And he told me everything I already knew about the call, and why, in a very long winded way! Still.. thank you very much!! 

I do still remember the scam that befell me. That I, even worse, made happen to myself by booking and paying for a cab before I even saw it! Holds head down in shame!

Need to get out soon, fresh air and river walking does the soul good. I need that.

M.

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

Oprah Winfrey

Nice little trip into town, Nottingham, this afternoon, appointment for my boob screening! Or as a friendly calls it, boob press!! 

Sorry, saying is all! Too much info? Deepest apologies but my life, as you know, is mapped on my pages, bled out sometimes among the lines, between the lines most often.. afraid of giving it all here, yet, hopeless to keep it in.. or too helpless not to! 

Good at confusing every one with words and plot twists and turns! 

Anyways! I was early, in and out before my appointment time, and time for a KFC, Christmas special! Thank you very much KFC! Been longing for the Christmas special, watching the same advert night after night! Now I've had my yearly taste of it maybe I'll stop saying, 'I want that!' or maybe not!

Was pretty in town, sky a beautiful blue, with red tinges from the setting sun, the Christmas market lights sparkling, people happy.. 

Was lovely journey home ...

This evening the tree! At last? Yes, better late than never I guess! Simple, not too a great many ornaments, not sure if I've lost any, I know I had only bought a new tree the year before I moved, and I think a few more baubles, they're on the tree, and my few tree decorations.. I buy something most years, to add to the tree.. Treeeeee, why have I said it so many times! Leaving it as I've written it now! 

Not speaking into my phone, writing!

Yesterday after I wrote, I opened a Christmas box, and there were only a few Christmassy things in there, the rest were all ornaments! 

Things I had thought lost, but also not the special things I still can't find! 

I think my head is so messed up over the move, that somehow I also keep thinking that I've left stuff in my lock up!! Which is impossible!

How could I have taken to the charity shop the things most precious to me? I'll stop saying this soon, I'll go through everything, one more time, obviously I hadn't, or the things I found yesterday wouldn't have been such a surprise.. 

But, when all is said and done with the boxes, I'll stop, I'll mourn yet more things I have lost, and just have to let go, move on.. kick myself hard, beat my head against a wall and cry yet more tears... 

Change the subject!

This morning I finished watching a great movie, Bride Hard .. watch it! Great movie! Love the Die Hard connection with the name... 

It'll be a keeper on my list!

Now, time for TV, relax, then sleep, fingers crossed; and, perchance to dream.. 

M.

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. 

Denis Diderot

Another nice evening along the river from the other day... starting to feel a bit chill now of an evening and first thing ..

At last I heard from the hospital today about my surgery, it will be October 21st or 27th!! (This was last Monday! I forgot to post then didn't feel well... Excuses excuses!)

So, yes okay, not quite exact yet but almost!

Nothing to report, I can post another photograph of course, and at the weekend the Goose Fair! 

Should have posted this last week... As aforementioned.

There was a day the week before last that I just couldn't move, was so totally exhausted, it made no sense.. Now it does, I have COVID, and again no Goose Fair, it ended yesterday, the fair, probably not the COVID... I woke up Saturday morning feeling more crappy than the day before..

It was only when my granddaughter asked me to smell some strong mints and I couldn't smell them I worried! I have some test kits so gave it a shot! Within seconds, again just like two years ago, November '23, I couldn't believe it when it immediately registered as COVID.

And also can't understand how I have had at least ten days, between the the day I couldn't move and the symptoms coming out?? How many places have I gone, trams taken, exchanges of possible infection.

Anyways, I am now hopefully in recovery, I'll test again tomorrow, Tuesday, see how it comes out. This post is all over place, blaming too much sleep and too much awake through coughing in the night, and pod casts about spies!

M.

Especially beautiful words here beneath..

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever

Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Tapestry in the castle.

So, arrived into East Midlands on Friday afternoon.. bit early for Baz to be home yet, so bought some winter clothes and had the best pizza in Asda! Before going home..

Saturday relaxed a bit and went to the nearby park and the library.. 

Part of the kids climbing walkway.. beginning with a rope bridge, there were many, some bridges made of knotted together type of ropes.. and afterwards I read up to age 12!! Hey ho! 

It was fun!! 

Sunday morning we went to the castle! First time in this life I visited Nottingham Castle! Me being (Maid) Marian! Hahahaha!! 

The outside was good, the galleries were very good, lots of informative displays.. 

There was an area to use crossbows and use your skills, and a bow staff.. inside..

A lot of interactive things in place, great for adults and kids.

Monday after babes in school, Baz and I went to town for breakfast, we went to the Foxy cafe.. very very good breakfast! 

We got cake for later.. as it was my birthday! 

Tuesday I took myself back to the castle and did the Mortimers Hole Tour, it's takes you down through a cave system to come out down on street level.. 

Good tour guide, very informative, so much knowledge going in!! 

And today, again another tour! This time the City of Caves tour! 

As soon as I got off the tram at Lace Market the heavens opened! I pulled a lightweight rain mac from my small bag and that helped.. 

Maybe! So I stood in the doorway of an abandoned building, I noticed something, when you stand somewhere like that you become completely invisible, people were walking past, people unloading stuff from a truck.. no one looks at people in doorways.. 

Anyways! It was over quick enough and I started back down to where I thought the caves entrance was, is.. 

But no sign and couldn't see anything, so walked back up the road and asked someone who sent me completely in the wrong direction! Thanks! 

He was the second person I asked, first was a visitor, second couldn't speak English and so third was just having a laugh!! 

I came back anyway to where I thought it was and walked down a big big flight of stairs.. 

Right here!! At this point!! And lo and behold! The entrance!! 

So very very good, first you gain access to their WiFi and then download their audio tour.. and off you go! 

Excellent!

About forty minutes or so.. was definitely worth seeing.

And amazing knowing all this is under the city, about 800 caves, but they say could be a thousand, all man made from the sandstone.. whole generations of people, people worked and lived there.. there also were no churches, and no policing, which led to the luddites!!

I came back out into the city thirsty! So went back to the Foxy Cafe, and had a toasted teacake and a chai latte!

Lost my leather wrist tie this morning.. Well, didn't lose it, I came out of the Foxy Cafe and a woman chased me down the street with it! But still, it's broken in a bad place and lives no more...

M.

Yesterday the first thing I did when I got off the coach in Nottingham was go to Gregg's.. I had been craving a bacon and cheese wrap, turnover? I think turnover.. So this is what I had to have.. It was just after 10am.. so that and a flat white coffee eating in! It was soooo good!

Randomly the map above.. I was on the main road here in the coach and laughed because of the name of this adjoining road... Bye pass road! Not Bypass.. actually bye pass road! So had to check it out on maps immediately.. how odd!

Yesterday afternoon we went to The Range, I had also missed this store and as soon as I walked in I could have bought a thousand things! Halloween and Christmas had both started in there!! Bizarrely, or not, depending on one's way of thinking! 

So many things there and really only looked around a third of it! 

We walked there and back, I was fairly tired by then! 

I then popped into Asda and the family went on home ahead of me.. I needed a few bits, I bought a three pack of my now favourite Desperados, couldn't find that, and at the self service an alarm went off, you know, just in case I was under age! Guy came along and just put in his pin to clear the sale.. I said, "okay okay, I know I'm old enough but give me a glance first eh!" He laughed! 

I had an early night, slept well, what with the early morning start, travel, walking and strong pain meds at bed time! 

Today, we walked to The Range again, nothing to do with me!! Just had to go back.. 

And later on around the Forest park.. quite a wind picked up, but it was so good to feel the cool breeze..

Although I heard it rained back home yesterday! 

All in all not a bad weather day for a bank holiday!

M.

Some photographs was our walk a couple of days ago.. 

Summer is here in Blighty, 22° at the moment.. Wednesday March 31st..

Quackers!

My mind is flitting today between the here and now, and another moment I'm sat on my day night bed chair in Málaga hospital...

I literally cannot keep my mind from time travelling backwards and forwards.. 

I'm getting a tension headache and my eyes are hurting.. well, my right one, wondering half the time if my new glasses are actually doing anything..

And outwardly.. the world turns..

People are allowed to meet outside and they've gone crazy too many people meeting in too many wide open places.. 

If they're not careful this country will lock down again.. 

Would be okay if the teens to 30's were vaccinated..

Okay I'm done, can't type or see screen easily now.

TTFN

Marian

A Facebook post about getting all the grounded time I never got as a teenager raised some smiles from friends..

It's true, my mom never grounded me, ever, she very probably should have, but she was brought up so strictly, she gave me free reign.. such a long rope it's a wonder I didn't trip over it! Every day!?!

But the responses made me smile thinking how my friends know me..

But how much? That's the impression I give isn't it? An open book, and yes I am very open, my life on these pages, over the years.. all here? You think? No..

I still have so much I keep hidden...  all my blogging all my talk.. yet still only the rare people I let in to my heart and soul..

I am writing in my book again just now, sun pouring through the window, listening to my Spotify playlist, writing these words, feeling very relaxed and thoughts drifting through my mind, good and bad.. happy and sad.. but not lingering..

It's nice, it's good.

TTFN
Marian

You know, it's like life has been hit with a giant pause button..

But only some life.

And hearing the trams, planes.. cars..
As if controlled by robots.

We're suspended in a different time, a different situation, as if by extraordinary means.

I'm watching Netflix and it seems strange to me to see people living 'normal' lives.

The beautiful book above, a gift.. thank you.

I am filling with my saved sayings from my Pinterest board.

Purple ink! Of course!

Take care, stay safe.

TTFN
Marian

Walked past this railing in the past, many times, but never noticed it until today.. my granddaughter pointed something's out there..

Steps down and all overgrown.. good photo opportunity!

Another good walk.. another beautiful day..
In this strange dystopian world we now live in.

Where today's highlight was me watching the progress of an Amazon driver nine deliveries away, but also only four streets away!

I was, much to the annoyance of my son, giving a running commentary of his immentent arrival!

And just before he arrived I went outside to wait! Telling him when we came that that was the excitement for the day watching the route on my phone!!


TTFN
Marian

Today some industrial photographs taken yesterday and today, as I walked around staying safe and far from others..

Yesterday I was on my own, today we all went out together, such beautiful weather, nature has a great sense of humour! When we're all penned in.

Not much to report! Deliveries from eBay and Amazon.. these companies must be some of the few at least still keeping very much head above water...

I came last month with my tiny bag, expecting a two week trip here!

I've 'had' to purchase a few extra items for my now extended trip.. another three months plus, to go now!

So I have also had to acquire a small overhead locker cabin bag, which meant a new handbag!! Lols..

There is logic here, somewhere.

I am praying also that the four placements ahead of me stay in place.. fingers crossed!

I'm a bit of a numbers freak, when it comes to certain things, meaningful dates, numerology, and now and again I check random stuff.

When working at Mercedes, I always noticed 13:13 every single day.. I didn't check the meaning out then, but for some reason a couple of years back I did, on line, and found something called angel numbers when I did so.

And believe you me, I am not clock watching here, but for some reason looked at the time today at 11:11, 12:12, 17:17 and 19:19..

Yes, too much time on my hands! But all very meaningful!

TTFN
Marian

Some photography from my last walk around home before leaving for work..

I walked in the afternoon, and it was already too warm to be walking anywhere at two in the afternoon!!

So above a very dead snake! I'm guessing it lost a fight against a car!

The bridge by the ancient water mill..

Lemons

There is an old abandoned house near this tree on the way into town.. love eucalyptus trees... Amongst my many other favourites!

And so to now...
My much needed medication! Thankfully a wonderful friend back home has gone to my farmacy there, and posted me some! But whilst I wait for work to forward on to me.. I have run out!! Two days ago I signed in as a temporary patient.. accomplished over their website and a couple of phone calls.. at my family's doctors surgery. They sorted me both my meds and told me a prescription was taken to a local farmacy.. It's about ten minutes from here, I could see a crowd of people gathered together, way too close together! In a long line, and shaking hands.. close as close!!

I was luckily on the other side of the road to them.. the line went around the front of a building to a side door!!

After visiting the farmacy, where I didn't even go in, we talked and I was given my meds through a hatch.. keeping distance and safety measures.

Returning home I crossed over well before the growing line, by the church!! I just couldn't believe it!! There wasn't even a foot between people, never mind six!!

Everybody passing by staring in disbelief at them!! Not sure if it could have been a service? Or food bank.. but people not staying safe!!! ?? What is that all about!!

Oh and no cost for meds!!

Today I visited a local store for food supplies; was handed gloves as I entered, he said for my health and theirs.. He helped me and others.. people kept their distance well, all being very self aware.

As I was going through paying, I noticed it was cash only.. he said don't worry, either pay afterwards, using the cash point outside or pay when I could.. wow! I couldn't believe the compassion.. the thoughtfulness..

I did get cash immediately, and having left my shopping in-store, I returned to pay.

Then he gave me a mask too!
This was a small local store.. not a big chain.

I don't know how we'll all be after this is over, the changes me might make..  maybe even some people will have completely forgotten this all after a year... Or less.. but hopefully we're all learning lessons from this, we need to.

TTFN
Marian

Summer Solstice 2019

Ducks in the Arboretum

So today is 2019's Summer Solstice.. it's been so light so early, it's been keeping me awake.. in Spain we don't have these early light mornings or late light evenings, yes it's still the longest daylight day, but not like here in the UK.

Today lots going on in Nottingham, where I have been since Monday..

Unrelated to the Solstice we went into town for lunch, went to Chiquitos, I had a burrito with benefits!

Then late afternoon we went into the Arboretum and watched a show, performance.. it was a mix of acrobatics, and a couple of puppets...

Hard to explain, and not sure the photographs will help...

It took three people to bring the puppet to life, it was clever, just I suppose very different...

Pond in Arboretum

From there we walked into town, and around, and back again to the Arboretum... I have sore feet now.. but was a good day.. a very good day.

Yesterday we went to Highfields Park, we caught the tram, it's across town and out the other side.

The weather report said sun and clouds.. it was, but overall really nice, thought at one point a storm was headed our way.. but it passed over..

I walked a rope bridge..

And negotiated a slide...

We had a picnic, typical British picnic it must have looked too, a family sat eating under a tree, with looming clouds and staying put, just for the hell of it!

As we were packing up three ducks approached to try their luck!

She was a bit antsy when the bread run out and then us too!!

TTFN
Marian

Me above in 2001, feeling alive and hopeful and full of possibilities...

And I feel like that girl again up there; it's a bit butterflies, a bit like jumping into the unknown.

But I have a hand to hold and I'm not alone in taking a leap into a new chapter...

I have spoken to many family and friends, and I know my post today will be, hopefully, a happy surprise to many.

I should if I could have, spoken to more family especially, but I've been working away, as you know. Three weeks, two days, in Neath. Old home ground, which was both good and painful at the same time, and which maybe has helped, helped with seeing so many friends, and mentally also.

I'm at my oldest sons, now until Monday morning when I fly home to Spain.

No more working away from home; no more leaving where my heart resides.

Watch this space!

And for now!

Nottingham's Council House

Last night in Nottingham was Light Night, lots of exhibitions all over the city, which was buzzing, so many people. What we saw was really good, then it started to rain, so headed home.

Big Wheel (Eye)

Light Night

Bit impossible to make out above, but this church had many different activities going on; the best being a steam coming down from tubing with illuminations... Reflecting on the steam itself. A few different patterns, and you could walk thriuth the curtains of colored steam! Was really cool! We walked backwards and forwards through them, several times! Plus a few more times!! 

Cassie and I also walked into a separate quiet chapel, we knelt and looked at a cross on the floor made only of piled up four inch nails.. there were lights hidden amongst the nails, and although I'm not especially religious, it still was very symbolic.

Today my youngest son came to visit, they're staying nearby and will see them again tomorrow.

But today we went into the city for lunch, seven of us! 

TTFN

Marian

I am extremely lax of late! Must do better comes to mind with my Blog posts!

Above a photograph I took from the terrace at home... Not here at work, where I have been since last Tuesday...

And above taken along the La Cala boardwalk, I went to the market first, then down here... The part above the only part I could see that had been affected by the storms... I walked as far as El Oceano at Miraflores near Riviera Del Sol...

A good walk and I had a coffee at the retirees bar... Lol not just for the retired by the way! Good coffee, good food!

I had been feeling a bit out of sorts... Pippa related, and then probably did the wrong thing by stopping in the forest where her and I used to collect pine cones for kindling...

And back home, well, not a good place in my head... But, its passed now, and I know I have to let the guilt go, let the pain go, I knew two years ago this week it would be as it is...

It doesn't make it better, moving on is the only way, blocking thoughts and letting go of what was, and cannot be. My decision for Pippa is still for the best, as long as I don't think about her...

Home... Home is where my heart is, if nothing else, I know this now. Any doubts about this are gone, I love Spain, I belong in Spain, my heart belongs here...

And now! Working in a very pretty area of the UK, Wales, near Chepstow.

I am moving about in too many places! Today every road I took looked like so many others I have taken on placements, I always thought if I was dropped from the sky and landed I would know where I was! Ha, no more! Except maybe where I grew up, now everywhere looks like anywhere else to me!! Lol...

Today I drove to Gloucester Quays; oh British English language, whats with this word!!! Keys!!! Keys!! Its called keys because where the boats dock look like the sticky out bits on keys!!

Anyways! The big shopping centre there, I think I have seen it advertised on the TV for some time when in the UK, first time going there.. It was too busy, too many people Christmas shopping, it was raining and the car park packed when I arrived already! Only about 11:15 maybe... I didn't actually want anything, so just had a wonder about, bought a couple of things!!! Damnit!! (and touche, with my spelling on that I guess!)

And drove back to work, bought some lunch on the way and ate here in comfort, I sometimes have trouble eating well at work, and this placement is one of those, so ate so much I don't think I'll eat again today.

I lay awake last night with an idea for my Blog today, it was nothing to do with this because I have completely forgotten what I was thinking! Should have just written it down shouldn't i! Lol

I had also written a piece on my Kindle midair to Nottingham last Saturday... It was my eleventh flight this year, one more to go next month and that's twelve! Still, better than last year I guess, when I had eighteen flights, although a couple were my winter trip to the states to visit with my brother and his family... Seems so long ago now, and so does that ten week placement I was on at this very time! Some things are best forgotten, others not so.

TTFN amigos
Marian