Journal Entries
The move
Posted Dec 16, 2008
I am exhausted 
All my stuff arrived yesterday morning, in a terrible higgledypiggle because MAF had opened every single box to check for bugs 
To my astonishment, nothing is broken. Well not that I've found yet... five boxes still to be emptied.
Last night's sleep was the best I've had in months 
My own bed and silence outside (except for the dawn chorus of blackbirds 
). Today I've been full-on unpacking and organising things.
About half an hour ago I straightened up from doing some filing and realised I've tweaked a muscle slightly in my back, so I took some painkillers, made a cup of tea and decided to catch up with emails and hootoo. I shall have a bath before too long (long iron bath .. heaven).
First, I'm expecting a man to come round and fix my telly, which refuses to tune itself and the DVD/VCR won't hook up either 
I hate not being able to do things, but sometimes it's ok to succumb to assistance.
More anon...
Fb
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Latest reply: Dec 16, 2008
Another sad day
Posted Dec 10, 2008
I just heard that my dear friend who tried to end his life a few months ago (the person for whom many of you collected jokes last year) tried and failed once more to commit suicide 
At least his wife is now supportive of his wishes, thank goodness. I hope they'll find a way together for him to fulfil his wish.
Fb
Discuss this Journal entry [11]
Latest reply: Dec 10, 2008
A sad day
Posted Dec 7, 2008
My Dad's younger brother died yesterday
He was a lovely man, with a great generosity of spirit and kindness of heart that he shared with Dad and Grandpa. I have nothing but good memories of him.
In a way his death is a release. He had Alzheimers for the last five or six years and was gradually leaving his family as time passed. In the event it was a cerebral aneurysm that ended his life: not a bad way to die in the scheme of things. Swift and no coming back.
But I shall miss him. He's one of those people who have always been there. One of the few who knew me by my first (initial) name. Somebody who would take the time to give me support and advice when I needed it; who took me out for uncle/neice dinners with oodles of fine wine 
and who lived life with a capital L.
Damn...
Fb
Discuss this Journal entry [18]
Latest reply: Dec 7, 2008
An interesting sign of the times
Posted Nov 25, 2008
I'm a devotee of The Independent 
Online these days of course http://www.independent.co.uk/
I've just noticed that along the secondary menu bar; in amongst "World", "UK" and "Environment" is a drop-down named "White House".
How 
is that?
Discuss this Journal entry [2]
Latest reply: Nov 25, 2008
Hurrah! A House!
Posted Nov 23, 2008
The last few weeks have been spent scouring websites and newspapers for a suitable house to rent. It's over. I've done it
Actually, the house I found wasn't on a website, or in the paper. It belongs to somebody at work. Having put an ad onto the Council's Buy and Sell Exchange on the intranet, I received a response almost instantly.
Yesterday I went to look at the house and as soon as I walked in the front door, I felt comfortable It's not my rural idyll, but it is perfect for the time being and I'm hugely relieved and happy 
It's out of Chchch city, which was the main objective. City centre living is really not my style 
and to be honest, it'll be much more relaxing to be beyond the city limits altogether. The house is in a wee town about 1/2 hour's drive north of Chchch and lies just 10 minutes' walk from the countryside
I found an organic farmshop a few minutes' drive away and the hills are only about 15km distance. The town itself has everything that I need, and more.
The house? Yes... of course it has a garden 
It's not huge, but part of it is a 12x6 veg garden 
which needs some hard labour to bring it back under control. I can't wait to get started. The rest of the gardens are mostly well-established trees and shrubs, which shelter the place nicely from winds and neighbours It needs a darned good tidy up and clip-back and I'm going to negotiate with the owners to do most of that myself. I am longing to get out there with my secatuers and loppers 
The only thing I need to organise is installation of Sky. Telly here is shockingly bad and I'm desperate for some decent documentaries, sport and news channels.
Hopefully I'll be in on 12th or 13th December... with all my own belongings around me again. At last 
Fb
Discuss this Journal entry [25]
Latest reply: Nov 23, 2008
frenchbean
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