Thursday 14 January 2021

Cheerfulness is Breaking Out ?

There are one or two reasons to be cheerful after all,  this winter flowering viburnum is one of them, even if the picture is, once again, of very poor quality. I have no idea how I can make photos clearer, as clear and focused as they were with the old Blogger. I am using the same camera and doing nothing different, that could account for it.

Life is more and more circumscribed in the UK, we are in the third lockdown and there’s little hope that we will climb out of the pit any time soon, vaccinations notwithstanding. I am still waiting for mine, but the advice is, that even after having received the vaccine, we are to remain vigilant and as close to home as possible. Staying out of circulation makes for a dull life and there’s little of any interest to blog about. Zoom meetings are a poor substitute for meeting in the flesh.

W.W. (wiry and willing) called today. He promised that we will soon be out in the garden again. There are jobs he can do now, like laying a crazy paving kind of path; all stones have come from the walls of the old castle which have got buried in the garden over the centuries since the castle was razed, and have since been dug up by me and Beloved and old gardener and kept aside for just such a purpose as the one I have in mind. I also want to lower all the hedges which have grown taller than necessary and take far too much light from beds. A job for W.W.’s chainsaw. Snowdrops are out in several places and aconites are just beginning to show their golden heads above last autumn’s leaf fall. More reasons to be cheerful! 

I really must go out more, while we had snow and ice I was worried about slipping and breaking something. Hospitals bursting at the seams with Covid patients are not an attractive destination at present. Amazing, how fear concentrates the mind. 

I am very fortunate that my son has stepped up to the mark, he rings me once a week, usually on Sundays, for a long chat. I had no idea that he has a well developed interest in politics, we only ever used to ‘just chat’, but now he is my weekly ticket to staying sane and letting off steam about the dire state of the world, in general as well as specifically. While casual meetings with like-minded friends are verboten, I miss a good old session of getting hot under collar. To the rescue comes son; we have an hour or more of serious raving and ranting and, boy, do we have something to rave and rant about! There is no need to go into details, there cannot be a single person anywhere who is not aware of the near tragedy, all of us, in our respective countries, might be facing. Still, as George Orwell said: “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices”.

And finally (there has to be an ‘And finally’, as they have on the news, something silly and light, to make you go off with a smile on your face) : very occasionally I have contact with my ex-son-in-law, we might send Christmas emails or birthday wishes, we have remained on good terms through the years. Well, we had a light hearted correspondence during the festivities, nothing much about nothing much. But he ended his message with:

Onwards and upwards, and don’t give up on the blog… much of Shakespeare’s best output was penned during plague!

giving me an unexpected chuckle. Friko and Shakespeare, eh? I didn’t even know that he followed my blog.



27 comments:

  1. A bit late, but 'Prost Neujahr' to you!

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  2. As I wrote on my blog today, I feel like we are all in a waiting room and there is not much we can do about it. So glad your son calls to chat -it is good to let off steam about various world situations. There are enough of them to provide rant fodder for a good long while. We are restricted to not seeing anyone outside our homes, however, school is still in session, so I go to work each day.
    Belated Happy New Year!

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  3. Yeah, it's so easy to just stay inside and be safe and warm and do nothing. But it's good to get out, breathe some fresh air, stretch out the old joints ... when there's no snow or ice around, to be sure.

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  4. So glad to see you posting and peppery! Husband got his 1st pfizer dose today. I'm younger and must wait a bit longer. But this is a huge relief. Also the bully will be good and truly gone very soon and human beings shall be in charge of my country once again. So yes there is hope afoot. You have exactly the right idea. Stay well and we shall enjoy the after.

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  5. Frohes Neues Jahr! We still have the biggest part ahead, so those New Year's wishes are still appropriate, I think.
    Flowers are always a reason to be cheerful, aren't they. I have yet to spot snowdrops and aconites here, but there are shrubs of Winterjasmin (don't know their English name) about, adding a bit of colour to a largely grey-brown-greenish world.
    We're in for some snow this weekend, but today looks sunny, and I hope to finish work early enough for a daylight walk.

    I like the idea of stones from the castle walls for a path in your garden, seeing as they were in your garden already.

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  6. If there's anything more delightful than the thought of all those stones from a castle wall lying about in your garden, its knowing that they've been saved and now have a chance to be repurposed. Wouldn't it be fun to be able to bring back the people who laid the stones originally, allowing them to see what's happened to their work?

    Very early in my blogging career, I paired up Sisyphus and Shakespeare in a post. Thinking about it now, they do seem a perfect pair for our time. Excelsior!

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  7. A little parrying back and forth about politics is always good to enliven the spirit - or raise the blood pressure anyway! Glad to see that things are seeming at least a little brighter, Friko.

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  8. How good have a project ahead, and an historic one at that!

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  9. Glad to hear from you, Friko, and I am so glad to know you have some chance to rant and rave a bit. I am grateful for my friends, for masks, and being able to see at least some of them, even if we don't hug or anything. :-)

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  10. I was good to see your post pop up on my blog role. I lost that you are reconnecting with your son with your Sunday talks. And your x-son-in-law is right encourage you to keep writing. That's a credit to the kind of mother-in-law you were that he keeps in touch.

    Can't wait to follow the progress of your stone path. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that you can use the word "old castle" in your project around your yard. How cool is that.

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  11. Good morning, Friko! It's so good to see your post -- and a fun one at that. (I don't think the photo is as fuzzed as you do!) How exciting to see snowdrops. Our winter has been light so far (the operative term being so far -- it is snowing now) but it will be awhile before we see any signs of plant life outside, I think (though I'd like to think different!) I'm delighted to hear that you and your son are in close and satisfying contact. And the thought of those ancient stones in your own garden is really a wonderful one. Oh, the stories you could weave about their history! Real and imagined!

    Isn't it interesting when you find someone reads your blog -- and you had no idea? I always feel good about it -- but sometimes it kind of freaks me out! Stay well and safe. Our vaccine rollout is horribly flawed and you know all too well the challenges our country is facing. Hang in there -- and your ex-son in law was right about Shakespeare and the plague! I look forward to more from you here!

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  12. It is so good to hear from you, Friko and to know you are doing OK.

    I am getting used to my hermit life, but have occasional bouts of rage and frustration. The virus, which rages in the US with numbers never imagined, has taken second place to our politics. Thinking and planning my summer garden keeps me sane, or at least partially. I love what you are planning on doing with your garden. A path made of history is a wonderful idea and I am sure will be beautiful.

    Take care, dear Friko. I don’t think that “normal times” will return in my lifetime, but I never give up on the hope that goodness can eventually defeat evil. Look how fast that our scientists came up with a vaccine. That is truly amazing.

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  13. Your son is great medicine if you can rant with him. I have a friend like that and it is such a relief not to have to tippy toe about the conversation but just let it all out.
    Those castle stones sound like the perfect pavers for a walkway. Be sure to take a picture of it when done.

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  14. Good to hear from you again, friend Friko. Wishing you health and happiness for 2021. I retired from nursing in early December. Am in the process of developing a new day to day routine ... which I will start tomorrow or maybe the day after that:) ... In other words: I like doing what I want to do, and not doing what I don't want to do:) and intend to live like that for the next 10, maybe 20 years. Sending love, cat.

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  15. Gesundes Neues Jahr wünsche ich Ihnen, dear Friko!

    I'm glad to read that you and your son are connecting weekly to talk about all things that may potentially get one hot under the collar.

    Liebes Grüssle aus SF, Bea

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  16. castles and pyramids and temples fallen into ruin have always been recycled. what fun to have a walkway of old castle wall stones.

    I got my first vaccine shot yesterday but yes still must wear a mask and social distance even after the second shot until enough have been vaccinated. I don't mind. I felt silly the first few times wearing my mask because then I'd say 90% of people weren't. now it feels weird to be out in public without it. not that I am but I have found myself a dozen steps away from the car on several occasions without it.

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  17. I am glad to see you posting and things are OK :-)

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  18. I hope my comment will go through this time. I am glad you are a seeing a lot geht at the end of the tunnel.

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  19. Oops, I mean light at the end of the tunnel.

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  20. Hi Friko - so good to read your post ... true to type - I'm pleased to say. Also the good news re both members of the family ... that gladdens the heart - definitely yours, and mine as I know you're feeling easier with life around you - at least Spring is approaching ... stay safe and all the best and enjoy tomorrow's lively discussion! With thoughts - Hilary

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  21. Onward and upward, indeed! As we see the departure of the awful Trump and the rollout o a vaccine, I do feel hopeful. Not making any plans though--wait and see is the watchword.

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  22. When the ice is outside, it's better to be at home, you're right Friko. It is good that you are planning your garden work, and the gardener will help you. Your son is great, he understands that you need companionship, keep talking to him. I think the virus will recede by summer.

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  23. Stones from a castle made me giddy! That is the most exciting news I've found on any blogs. So happy you and your son can communicate on adeeper level. My son and I share different political views so our conversation is limited to loved ones. I miss imteracting with friends and family. I am on a countdown to spring. So far St. Louis had had a mild winter. And the reference to snow drops made me think of my late mom. They were her favorite.

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  24. São Sebastião, livrai_me desta peste que se abateu sobre a humanidade. Livrai_me e livrai minha filha, minha família e toda a terra. Amém!

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  25. So pleased to hear you have your weekly chat/rant with your son. I do miss visiting you and chatting!

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  26. So pleased you are able to have these weekly chats/discussions with your son. I miss my visits and our chats.

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  27. My own girls have been in touch daily for years. What I miss is a flight to UK so hug the. Grandkids are going to be three and five this late spring -early summer and Zoom let’s me have a glimpse into their little lives but I miss longer times especially since my age and weak vision are going to hinder some of their growing.

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