Quite a busy week, feels as if plenty of things have been achieved and there is a sense of emerging from a cold and difficult winter.
I took the above photo about a week ago, on Dunstable Downs. Rather spontaneously I said to Rachel “let’s go for a drive” and so we did. No faffing around, just the two. I had my stern tone in use; by this I mean “we are going for a drive, now”. It wasn’t a sternly cross tone, more of a husbandly “I love you, I think it would be good for us both if we had a little outing”.
Over the years, we have spent many hours sitting in the car on Dunstable Downs, chewing the cud, mulling things over and drinking gallons of tea. It is always a treat watching the clouds drift across the sky, sometimes watching a distant deluge or simply watching a fabulous sunset. Nothing major to report, just a worthwhile thing to do.
Running
Monday was dominated by going for an hour’s run with my friend Jon, yep you read that right – a whole day warming up and then cooling down, not to mention enlightening Rachel about every little teeny weenie detail.
I don’t think either Jon or I are gifted as far as mastering our running technology is concerned. Before we set off for our run, Jon put his Garmin on and couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t reading his heart rate – he asked if was he dead! I suggested he strapped it onto his wrist, instead of his sleeve, so that did the trick.
We did 5.99 miles and when back at his house we were 0.01 mile short of the nice round number, so we ran up and down his road. Strava still said 5.99 miles. “Oh sod it” was on my lips, though I don’t think Jon heard or was even bothered.
This was the longest I had run this year and actually it was quicker and further than I thought. You see, I had told Jon, using my obviously ineffective stern voice, that we would have a gentle run of a maximum of 5 miles. Somehow or other he dragged me along faster but I guess we were talking so much (or spluttering in my case) and were oblivious to the pace. What’s more, we both wore shorts! It was a rare warm, sunny day in February and it seemed a symbolically positive thing to do. Needless to say, I drove home grinning from ear to ear with all those endorphins buzzing around in my brain.
eBay success!
We have had some luck with shifting a few things and continuing the decluttering process. We sold a wooden vintage desk chair to a very nice man who drove up from Slough. The chair needed a repair and I think this was done as soon as he’d got back to his home as he even sent a photograph to show us the splendid result.
Turns out there is a market for obsolete computer stuff. Rachel came across a box of old floppy discs (remember them?) and has found there is a market for these easily posted items. The biggest coup was selling an old Apple computer box for £10 – yep £10 for an empty box!
I think this gives us both a lift when we turn unwanted clutter into cash, though Rachel is far more determined than me. Flippantly I mentioned to a friend “if it were up to me, I’d hire a skip” but I regretted that as soon as I said it, I knew there was money in those piles of rubbish and it takes someone like Rachel, with her dogged determination, to get a good result.
A new computer
Just as soon as we get rid of stuff, I go buying a new computer, yes I know, I know. Thing is, my 2012 Apple MacBook Air is getting a bit long in the tooth now, and I was not appreciating the awkward ergonomics in being hunched over it. Needless to say it’ll be going on eBay before you know it.
I have decided to buy a little mini Mac, with a groovy wireless keyboard and a 23″ monitor. I can’t tell you how good this makes me feel, to have a decent, comfortable set-up and how I’m looking forward to getting my desk “just so”. Getting the environment right is important to me, it makes me feel more “at home” and then I’m able to enjoy writing more.
A visit from my mother
This has been rather over due, almost 3 months now. I guess we all feel the Lockdown effect more these days as it drags on, plus different people handle it in different ways.
My mum has aged quite a lot. At 86 she still drives, although for safety’s sake I question the wisdom of continuing for much longer. One afternoon we decided to go for a walk, at the Forest Centre a little further up in Bedfordshire. We drove there, about 20 minutes and by the time we arrived she said she would prefer to rest and have a little nap in the car. So Rachel and I had a walk without her, though I think we both thought it was a potentially poignant moment, if you know what I mean.
During her visit the conversation got onto her future, the care she might need and how we would all pull together. It seemed a sad – but inevitable – thing to discuss and clearly this is on her mind more these days. We tried to reassure her and I suggested we think about enacting the enduring power of attorney that’s been in place for many years. Perhaps a blog post for another time as it’s quite an important issue.
Balmy weather
It’s not that I don’t mind the odd cold snap with beautiful frosts, or even a blanket of snow but the two weeks of sub zero temperatures was starting to get to me. The house had become quite cold, the walls (although quite thick) aren’t insulated and some rooms have inadequate heating so I was starting to suffer a bit.
And then within just a few days the temperatures have gone into the mid teens and I love it! I keep telling myself how the daylight is getting longer and longer, plus spring is just around the corner. Seeing daffodils starting to flower and other signs of the garden waking up is so encouraging.