Thursday, 30 June 2016

June




So, in June the hospital prescribed another heart drug, which does seem to be helping a bit. I don't seem to be quite so breathless around the house, and I can get to the bus stop without too much discomfort. My health otherwise has been a bit iffy; I broke a tooth (I think the drugs have affected my teeth; they're incredibly sensitive); and I got an infection in my throat which needed antibiotics. 

I cooked paella and bread, square Victoria sponge, lemon pavlova and a fabulous cake with spiced syrup. Bex and I ate out once, at the Old Brewery in Greenwich. We had a sharing platter of whitebait, crab and smoked salmon. Delicious. 

Did more in the way of culture. Two concerts at the Naval College chapel, a baroque ensemble, and harps with singers, both lovely. The June opera on the Woolwich big screen was Nabucco, with Placido  Domingo I'm the title role; and we went to a new opera, Banished, at the Blackheath Conservatoire, but left at the interval. It was too shrill. (Blame it on modern music).

We got a new Venetian blind for the kitchen, which Tor helped me to install. It looks clean and fresh. The old one was in a real state. 

Tim Peake landed safely back on earth, and we had a strawberry moon on the night of the summer solstice. 

I read two books and have started several more. Notably, I began James Joyce's Ullysses on Bloomsday, and an actually enjoying it. Reading has taken a back seat to knitting this month, though. 

Finally, the country went to the polls again to vote on the EU referendum. Shockingly, we voted to leave, which has triggered all sorts of political upheavals. As the month ends, we are waiting to see who will lead BOTH our main parties. Watch this space. 

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

May roundup



There were a few warm days this month, and I managed to get out of the house five(!) times. Okay, so two of the days were trips to the hospital to get a 24 hour heart monitor attached and removed, but still, outside!  I walked to the polling station to vote for the mayor, just in time, before a sinkhole opened in the road  just outside it. No idea how I'll get there to vote in the referendum next month.

Bex tidied the garden beautifully, she and Tor got rid of the old bench, chairs, barbecue etc; and I bought new wrought iron benches. Got to sit on them on the couple of sunny days, before it got cold and I had to shut myself in with the heating on again. The cats have discovered the outside!

Made a wonderful elderflower and lemon cake; and a not-too-bad Goan fish curry. 

Read seven books, including the new JCGrimwood, went to cinema for live broadcast of the Royal Ballet's Frankenstein, an excellent performance, and took a trip to Greenwich for the book festival. 

A better month than last month, I think.