Welcome Richard

My new grandson was born yesterday. Tori looked radiant (if still exhausted) when they brought him to meet me. I am so proud to be grandmother to both her sons. 

August project 365

This month was eventful!

We acquired kittens. And life will never be the same chez nous. An ex-colleague of mine once said "If there is meant to be a cat, a cat will come." How true. They are rescue kittens, found by son-in-law, and lovely, affectionate, naughty…. They discovered the piano, of course, and had great fun playing it in the very late evening. My poor neighbours! (Makes up for their chickens, though.) We had taken off the keyboard cover to protect Paul's fingers from crushage, but now it has to go back on. I managed to get a key online, so now we can lock the lid. 

We had the first barbecue of the year for Edd's birthday. Sadly, I was feeling too ill to really enjoy it. There was so much food, but I didn't get to try out the home-made marinades. Oh, well. Next time. Might have a winter barbie for my birthday. 

I found a new cafe, very close to my bus stop, on the only day I left the house this month. It is getting harder to get about, and now I seem to be gradually losing the use of my right arm. Trying not to get too depressed about it. 

Discovered that I have been taking my proton pump inhibitor incorrectly since last year. Sigh. Was taking it after food instead of half an hour before food. Also, for the first time ever, I let myself run out of an asthma drug. It was late on a Saturday night, but luckily, I was able to get an emergency prescription by phoning 111. Bex dashed out to pick it up from the new chemists in the village. I don't know what I would do without her. 

Inside the house, I tidied the hallway with a step-basket (to stop things accumulating on the stairs) and a pale green ceramic umbrella stand (for my walking sticks). I also gave in to a long-held wish for a pink Kitchenaid mixer. Tried tidying the upstairs landing by moving the cheval mirror into my bedroom. It had the unintended side-effect of removing a kitten sleeping place. They haven't slept upstairs since I moved it. Weird. 

I wore two more of my collection of striped tops, lengthened the fastening chain of a necklace to fit around my newly fat neck and bought skull-patterned DMs because why not? I also discovered  my Steven Universe gem is hiddenite (which I think is made up, but pretty). 

I finished reading the Bone Clocks, bought two historical crime novels and the last ever Terry Pratchett. 

And the biggest and best news of all, on the very last day of the month? Grandson R was born. He deserves a post of his own. 

July project 365

I started doing this again half way through the month. There's no particular theme, just pretty things I did, bought, wore, read etc. 

So, I wore three of my many striped tops; bought beautiful new pale green saucepans, rearranged my spices in a new cake stand repurposed as a spice rack (it works beautifully); got Bex to put a hook in my bedroom ceiling so I could hang up the mosquito net that has been languishing in the cupboard forever (princess bedroom at last); cooked lamb tagine, salmon with fennel and redcurrants, and poussin; bought navy blue summer Mahabis (the winter ones were so comfy); reorganised the hallway with new green demilune table (wanted one of these for so long) and changed the crystals on the light to pretty pale green and peach (got fed up with the red and blue that were on it before); started to crochet a new blanket for my bed (more green, sensing a theme); wore my flowery linen trousers; bought black and white peppers from the market (I left the house to do it, yay!); and finally finished Reykjavik Nights. Phew.  

Catch up part 2

In February, saw Bryn Terfel in the Flying Dutchman. Excellent. 

Went to Grayson Perry exhibition. Spent £120 on four plates. 

April, and Harriet has baby number 2. Lydia. 

And on the 16th, Tor announced she is expecting baby number 2.

Nothing much more has happened. I'm almost immobile from heart disease. Had a flare up of gout again. But am writing and feeling as positive as I can. Roll on autumn. 

It's been a long time…

It has been a very long time since I updated this. I'm not even going to try to do a full update. 

Early in the year, there was WinterOlympics, mum's funeral, Harriet became a mother, making me a step-great-granny. 

Here's Tyler with his grandad. 

Saw some live cast screenings. Peter Grimes and WarHorse already mentioned. Also saw King Lear, Sleeping Beauty, Winter's Tale and Benvenuto Cellini.

Edd gave up playing in his band. Sad. 

Went to a live recording of the Infinite Monkey Cage. Brian Cox and Dave Gorman. 

Saw La Traviata and La Boheme on the big screen in Woolwich. 

Went on the dangle way!

Got drunk at C2's barbecue, stubbed my toe. So much blood. And the nail came off eventually. 

Saw Kiss Me Figaro at the Scoop. 

Went to Southend with Bex. 

Saw Martin Freeman in Richard III. Good performance, very intimate theatre. Lots of blood and gore. 

And 1984 at the Playhouse. Nearly killed me walking up the stairs to my seat. No lifts. 

Saw the Tiger Lillies

And Ray Davies. 

 

Started writing.  Conceived the Billyverse. 

In October 2014, I had what I now know was a heart attack. A week in hospital, a stent, a lot of drugs prescribed, and I felt iller than ever. Back in hospital just before Xmas. Luckily, home for the actual holiday.