December will be magic again

Maybe. One day. This year is going to be hard, though. Since my last blog here, we lost Tony, and that is a very low blow on behalf of the universe.

This blog is no longer easily accessible by phone, and won’t even let me upload a photo, which is really unfair, given the circumstances.  My iPad defaults to my google mail and won’t even admit that I have a blog at all on this site, so I think it’s time to say goodbye to blogger, and hello to something new somewhere else.

30 weeks into 2017

I've let this blog lapse a bit, because I've been concentrating on my other one.

So, I'm feeling a bit better. The cardiac specialist put me on a new drug, which has helped. I am no longer hyper aware of my heartbeat, which is a relief, and I am gradually becoming more active. Losing a little bit of weight has helped, and will continue to do so, I hope. I'm now down to 7 teeth and a few stumps, which is not so good, but dentist phobia cannot be overcome. I'm getting a few grey hairs as well, but not too many just yet.

I've done a lot of "culture" stuff since last I posted here (check the musings block for details of that), and have plenty of future things lined up for over there.

I'm trying to keep the house in reasonable order, and have changed the colour scheme to peaceful green in the living room, which incidentally shows Ori off to best advantage.

The next phase has to be the hall and stairs, which need painting, and the kitchen, ditto.

I can't promise to come back here quickly, but I'll try not to leave it so long next time.

February

I started this month by winning a prize! This is very unusual for me-I almost never win anything, but I entered a twitter competition and won a copy of the new edition of Jo Nesbo's first book, the Bat. Other books I have read this month include some science fiction and some crime (and one both, the Night Sesdions, which will go on my read-again list, I enjoyed it so much).

I have kept up my resolution of going out and doing something at least once every week- see my Musings blog for weekly progress- with four live theatrical performances, (Gorky and Chekhov at the Arcola; a strange psychological experiment at Goldsmiths; a brilliant performance of Frankenstein at Greenwich). I went to the cinema twice for live screenings: The Tempest (from Stratford on Avon), and Rusalka (from the Met Opera in New York), both wonderful productions. There was a broadcast of Ooera North's Ring Cycle that I watched over four days, and I bought a video of Written on Skin because I couldn't get to see it any other way. Both of these were brilliant, even on the small screen. 

I went out on a shopping trip (something I almost never do nowadays, but it was B's birthday, and we went on a hunt for diamond earrings, finding some finally on the oldest, mankiest pawn shop in Woolwich. We had dinner in the Wimpy Bar (classy), and I started a new thread of appalling street art on my Musings blog. 

Medically, I'm ticking over. My COPD is classed as "moderate", but I  discovered why people with it are advised not to go out in the cold when I went out on the coldest night of the year. I got really frightened when I couldn't catch my breath on what should have been a gentle, downhill stroll to the bus stop from Goldsmiths. Wont do that again. 

My cardiac specialist told me to lose weight (of course), and advised a low carb diet, so no more bread or potatoes for me. Sigh. 

I continue to lose teeth (down to twelve and a half now), and now have to do odd things like peel cucumber to make it edible. 

The month ended with storm Doris, and we lost the last part of the ceanothus. Maybe this year I'll get someone in to sort out the garden properly. 

Resolutions

I only made two resolutions for this year. The first is to do something "cultural" every week. (Outside the house if possible). I managed to get out to three major things: The Picasso Portraits exhibition,  a visit to the Horniman Museum, and a trip to see "No Man's Land".

I read a few books, bought some lipstick and a pair of cherry-red boots.

I also lost a fair few of my teeth to catastrophic enamel failure.  After giving up booze last year, this year I have to give up crisps and crackling or risk losing the few gnashers  I have left.

America has a new, awful President, which has given me more than a few dystopian dreams, and we had a little bit of snow and a lot of air pollution.

I've started keeping a weekly record of my "cultural"  things and the books I have read ( my second resolution; to read 100 books by the end of the year), over on my "musings" blog. Do take a look.

Goodbye 2016

Well, 2016 turned out not to be a good year for many reasons. I'm going to let it go quietly. 

Good things that happened in December?

Panto!  A whole-family outing to see Peter Pan. With a meal out. On my birthday. How could it be improved on?

Shiny DM boots!

The advent calendar! Lots of really lovely gifts. 

Pekkala! I bought and read all the Pekkala novels. I do love a moody Russian policeman. 

A real Christmas tree! The cats didn't try to climb it!

A nice quiet Christmas Day and a nice family Boxing Day, followed by a low-key New Years Eve.

A few things for next year. 

I want to try to stop chewing gum all the time. I'm sure it isn't helping my teeth. 

I want to read my book pile (currently 40+) and download free classics to make up my target of 100 books for 2017, although I accept that if favoured authors bring out new work I will buy them. 

I want to do something cultural every week. 

Happy new year!