I had an exceptionally fun night last night, which I should probably talk about over on the secret blog tomorrow. I made another observation about the universe and it’s weird wibbles.

Anyway, it was very late fun night so today was all about the fireplace and some recipe books. I can’t really remember much more than that. I’m happy though, which is always worth noting. And I have a few days off this next few days, so that’s reason to be happy too.

I think I’ll make some Christmas presents tomorrow, or not. I like the promise of not having a notion what I’m doing tomorrow. I think I’ll go for a walk on the beach tomorrow morning in my ski jacket and St Petersburg snow boots. I quite like the idea of experiencing the beach in frosty conditions. I may not be able to use the camera, depending on the spray etc.

Night all, x

I just received a book as a donation, I don’t know where it came from, as it came to me direct from the central lib with just ‘donation’ written on it. The book is called Through the Year with Brian D’Arcy and is written by a priest who I believe is quite well known and writes for The Sunday World. The book contains a thought a day on various subjects, “cultural, political, social and religious”, as it says on the back cover. Intrigued, I had to have a peek at today’s date and I very much hope that the writer wont mind me sharing these beautiful words:

“Think of the different energy you could have if you promised you would never criticise yourself again. When you accept yourself as you are, you become more forgiving of other people’s weaknesses or seeming limitations. You might find people hugging your for no reason!

When we enjoy being ourselves, we find it easier to forgive others for not being perfect. The willingness to forgive comes form our own decision to move beyond self-criticism. Love changes everything.”

You are perfect!

email me if you’ve forgotten the url etc.

I went to Dublin on Saturday night to meet up with an old friend. I am still suffering today. Nuff said.

In the morning the car and me are heading out for it to get serviced. I’m going to wait while it’s done, book in hand and keep my fingers crossed it’ll be done soon enough that I can come back home for a while before work.

I made few observations today. Of the little I noted one thing irked me. What is it with people when you give them an evaluation sheet to fill out that they feel compelled not to give full marks, no matter how good the service provided was. I had to go in for training today, (on my day off, sniff), and the guy doing the training did a great job considering the boringness of the subject (manual handling). He was friendly, thoughtful and well informed, he kept the pace moving, didn’t repeat things like we were small children and was just generally laid back and a good communicator. Ten out of ten across the board from me, and, for good measure, a comment to the effect of what I just wrote.

Looking at the other sheets going up with less than ten out of ten I couldn’t help thinking, really, what did they want from him, a strip show, lasers? I hope mine cancels theirs out, or at least made the guy feel better about it. Not that he seemed the type to be phased.

***

The cats have a new routine in the morning where they all pile into the bedroom to enjoy the leftover heat from me getting up. I have that little electric radiator in the room and like small, furry, heat-seeking missiles they all make a bee line for the bedroom when they hear me stirring to go to the bathroom. It’s a sight to behold. My cats know comfort. It’s a pleasure to watch.

***

Pain in belly and tiredness cut me short. My apologies again for the scrappy posting, normal service will resume soon.

Well, between the Manuka and the olive oil I’m feeling very much on the mend today, not pain free entirely, but definitely better than the last few days.

We did our Enniskillen run today and I got some fabulous veggie things, I even found Savory Egg’s and Pork Pies make by Quorn – I actually whooped with joy in the ailse when I saw them. The universe is being kind to me, and I am thankful for it.

Benny is still suffering, poor mite. It’s gone into the throat stage, though he insisted we still do the Enniskillen run. I think he felt the better for getting out and doing something though, which is better than sitting around stewing.

Tomorrow morning I’m up early to take the car to get serviced. I can’t wait to have that over and done with, it’s been irking me for a while now.

And then back to work, after my deliciously long four days off. I’ll actually be glad to be back. I want to reestablish my routine, it’s been rather trimock tromock this past while. Yes, one of my mothers phrases, I have no idea if anyone else uses it or if it comes from Irish or whatever. You would usually use it to describe someone who was sort of grumpy and out of sorts, perhaps from being tired, but it works for a haphazard routine too.

And with that, to bed. I might bring one of my Good Food magazines with me, I’ve been stuck into the Vegetarian Christmas Special half the evening. Food Porn. Mmm.

A day of nothing. Not the good Buddhist kind of nothing, the horrible, bored kind of nothing. Though I wasn’t particularly bored. Just slow. Took me two frickin’ hours (on and off) to make a gigantic lentil coconut tomato curry thingy. Mind you, it’s about a weeks worth of food, and it’s destined for the freezer to make handy ready meals so I shouldn’t focus on the time expended today instead of the time saved over the next few weeks.

I slept in waaay too late this morning, which I don’t think helped. Ear thing is still giving me jip, actually, I must go do the olive oil thing, thank you Sil. I’m very forgetful at the moment. Must buy some ginger tomorrow as well actually.

Anyway, relatively early to bed tonight and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. Some energy and get up and go hopefully.

Night, x

I didn’t mean not to write for the last two days, last night I was out until late, and tired after it, the night before, I actually don’t know what happened.

Probably partly to do with the time of year, it hits around now doesn’t it? The lack of light can’t help but alter your routine, regardless of any other effects. Changes to routine usually make me withdraw into myself a little bit, as I’m sure a lot of you can identify with.

I’m thinking, not writing. That’s probably the straightest and most honest way I can put it. I always get annoyed with myself for not writing, because I don’t want to let any of you down by being selfish and lazy, and I do like to write every day, to keep the momentum I suppose. So, although you will probably poohpooh me for saying it, I’m sorry for keeping to myself, it’s not that I don’t want to talk to yee.

***

It’s Benny’s Birthday today and he’s dying with the same cold I’ve had for a week and a half or so now. I got to play nursey and tucked him up in bed with coffee and toast and painkillers and Manuka honey until midday. The two most energetic things he did all day were sawing a lump of wood for the fire for me and accompanying me in the car to go collect a celebratory second Indian take-away of the week, it really was that good. We were supposed to have gone to Cavan today but with his cold and my, I think, ear infection, a day by the fire seemed much more inviting.

Benny has Equilibrium on here in the background. Christian Bale is a hard man to ignore. I surrender.

Nighty night, sweet dreams, x

Benny is watching something about eyeballs on the history channel. It’s difficult, to say the least, to concentrate while cute critters like Tarsiers are paraded on the screen along with eyeballs. Like, eyeballs on their own, not attached to anything. Should make for interesting dreams tonight.

My cold continues to improve, today being the best day by a mile. Mind you, I’ve been in very good humour, which always helps. I found out yesterday that I had been successful in my request for Friday and Saturday off (it’s Benny’s Bday on Saturday), and had some more profound epiphany moments in my reading on matters spiritual/esoteric etc. and topped it all of with an amazing Indian take-away meal where I had my first taste of Paneer. It was genuinely one of the most delicious meals I’ve had cooked for me, from either restaurant or even foreign restaurant, which are always superior to my mind (local ingredients away-foreign are nearly always superior to the horrible delivered/not-seasonal produce which has dominated Irish restaurants in the past, not the really dear ones I’m sure, but they ain’t my business). The restaurant that provided the take-away has a website here

That big long post is coming, sorry to be a pain, I just need time and silence to sit down and work it out properly. I don’t want to make a hash of it, the topic needs a proper introduction, for many reasons.

Anyway, that tv program is winning, I have to go watch it…

I heard this tonight in the car listening to Lyric FM. Benny kindly routed it out on YouTube for me because I was so taken with it. It’s a quiet moment, go flying in your mind sort of thing, it made me cry, nice crying though.