Soo, I could begin to post again, since this is as close as there is to a Dear Diary!

Bullet points for life since the last post:
Glasgow in summer of 2010
Glasgow in Nov-Dec 2010
Afib/mini-stroke Jan 2011
Recovery and on mega meds - ongoing.
Test trip back May-June 2011
Back for 2 months, after 2 postponements, Sept 14th 2011. Knee injury, then Hurricane Irene!
Greeted by friends, Colin, Morag, Brian, Sharon, Patsy, Tommy & Christine!
The city is the same. Smells the same. I still love it.
The day is beautiful.
Was asked the first thing I'd do when I got here. After sleeping 12 hours, catching up with Christine, I went for a haircut!
My disastrous trim had to be straightened out. Now I am presentable.
Then grocery shopping.
Then back to the flat for a sandwich, dessert and reading the paper.

Going to stop in at the Piper to watch the Celtics play. Pick up the bag of clothes, etc. I left last time.

Now where was I?

January 2008

Here is a picture of 2 of the people I love the most:



Why am I posting today? I'm very sad at the moment. Why? A combination of circumstances, death of the father of a friend, decision to not have a visitor, meeting with someone at church, end of a tv show.

Odd - like a drip drip drip that builds up. I have a combo of feeling like I am disappointing the world and not able to do what I should do.

I think I'm mad, not crazy, angry - but at what, who? By the end of the week I'll probably be better.

It is cold, not my favorite temperature.

Actor Heath Ledger died today. 28. Such a waste.

I need to be in Scotland again.

I am suffocating in all my possesions.

I bought a wonderful painting from Arthur Hammer. He came to install it Sunday. Over the mantle. Ideal place. I have to spend more time in the living room!

Okay, off for now. I can sleep late tomorrow, but not too late. Need to clean up before Bryan comes over to interview me for the JHCJ.

Not just Sloth

Sometimes I just have to withdraw for a while.

My last posting was while I was in Glasgow. I stayed there until the 18th of November and had a really lovely time. I felt safe. What are the ramifications of that? Dunno.

After I posted, I saw the fireworks on Nov 5th, was there when the city received the approval for the Commonwealth Games in 2014, went to a textile design class, read, wandered, went to the People's Palace (museum) and lots of other stuff. Watched tv, slept, or didn't sleep, but it all was okay.

I left a bag of clothes there for when I return in March for the Chris Rea gig. The planning for this is taking lots more time than I thought it would because I've been trying to figure out a more economical way to get there. Used MANY minutes on my phonecard calling Continental in TX to see if I could use my miles to upgrade. A few days ago MaxJet declared Chapter 11 and ceased flying, so that is one option cancelled.

Back here after dithering and being unhappy, I went to FRB and told him I was tendering my resignation. I had told others I was going to do it before I did - steeling myself?? It was sucky.
A few days after that I spoke with WRM and got some perspective, then went back to FRB and told him that I still didn't feel right for the job, but would stick it out and also apologize to the Vestry for my outburst and ask for their help. That I am still supporting him in his efforts to help the church.

Heaven knows what will happen to STM.

Thanksgiving was one of the best in a long time. Chet certainly adds to the event.

Christmas was also good. I had lunch at the M. Moran's, packed up the shopping cart and went to the M &L DeLange's, left there and headed to the C. Moran's for another dinner. Grazing and not drinking a lot helped. All in all, a good day. Happy birthday Jesus and Good Job to Mary, Joseph, the Holy Ghost and all. Really! I hope someday Chet will understand what Christmas is really about other than being surrounded by people who love him.

Today lunch with Willa and Chet Time. Both fine.

The 30th Bev Hall and Sascha will be in town. I look forward to seeing them.

New Years Eve - no plans. Video marathon?

MsBelle has sent a blog idea - 101 things to do in 1001 days. I like it and may try to do some.

I think no one reads this, so if anyone does, would they tell me?

It is 11:20 PM and I should think about bed. Okay, I am thinking about it. Hmmm.

Words & more

Weegie - A Glaswegian

Hoot mon - Scotsman

Numpty - n. Fool, jerk, useless person

Dreich - adj. Damp, dreary, wet (not too much so far, thank goodness)

Arrived on the 16th and feel like I never left. Doing this and that, but not THIS & THAT.
Catching up on sleep, have read 4 books (3 brought from home + one bought at Charity Shop when I took the others in.

Yesterday I went to a jewelry making class at the Gallery of Modern Art. Free, fun, everybody feeding off others creativity. Me and my inner child got together and made some flowers. Perhaps picture inserted at later date. That would be when I read the instructions on how to do same.

Found the library: This is sort of complicated. When I first started to come here, there was the Stirling Library in a really nice building on Queen Street. Then it became the Gallery of Modern Art and the library moved to Miller Street. Then the library disappeared from Miller St and I found I had to go all the way to the West End, by the University, to find a library. Then yesterday, in a break from the Jewelry Making, i went down to the Cafe for a cup of coffee (in the basement/lower level) and there was the Library. Back! Cool!!

Trying to make a backpack with minimal sewing. Bought a remnant of fleece and some cording. I measured out the fabric using a notebook, added a generous side allowance, amount at top to make a turn over and then sliced up the sides in about 1" fringe pieces and knotted them together. Now I have a bag, tomorrow I will deal with sewing the turn over and putting the cording in. Then I have to secure the cording at the bottom. Normally these packs have grommets so more creativity needed. A lot of fun for GBP 4.75 for fabric, cord, needles and 2 kinds of thread. And a big piece left over to figure out something.

Brought US dvds to play here. They work perfectly. Am watching the Millenium series, but if it gets too icky I will switch to the movie Sideways.

Made vegetable soup tonight and have to air out the place despite the exhaust fan over the stove. Leeks, peas, potatoes, assorted vegetables from a bag of 'soup vegetables'. Chicken broth and some cut up chicken. Mmm. healthy.

That's all for now. Need to sleep so I can get up at a decent time tomorrow.

Fall trip - Glasgow Days 1 & 2

A lot of the enjoyment for me is in the whole process of research, planning, booking and finally in the shoot. (shute?)

I knew I wanted to go back to Scotland but was not sure when I could. Danielle's wedding on October 13th gave me the date to leave after. Leaving the next day, a Sunday? Yuck. As it was I slept until 10:30 that morning! So, because I wanted the cheaper morning flight, I picked the 9AM flight on Monday. Intensive Internet research, booking on line, phone calls, and I had it set up.

I still had my packing list from the previous trip, so wasn't worried about what to bring. Staying in a flat with washer-dryer makes things so easy. Also, I decided that khaki trousers and a cashmere sweater would suffice for any dressy occasion.

The wedding was great fun! I wore my silk dress (sleeveless white with black flowers, long) and my feathered hat. I looked marvelous - and I brought the rhinestone shoes. So Fab!

Next day the DeLs came over and we all were pretty tired, except Chet, who was his charming self. Cute as a button! After they left, I took a nap - evidentally not too stressed about packing. In order to motivate myself, I threw everything on the bed, so I had to finish before getting any sleep. Bing bang, done with room to spare.

I packed 4 books to read in the leftover area of my carry-on bag. I hate to haul heavy stuff and over the years have spent many GBP sending accumulated things home so I wouldn't have to lug them. Now I travel with 1 carry-on bag with wheels and a knapsack - the laptop is in a neoprene pouch in the bag.

Bed late, but after all, I was going on a plane trip - not much to do there but sit/lie down/sleep all day.

6:45AM the taxi arrived. No traffic and I was there by 7:20. Whisked to the lounge and ate a nice breakfast, made some phone calls to people's voicemails to say goodbye, then on the plane.

I started sneezing when I got on and used about 10 tissues before the flight was over. Turned down the offer of 'entertainment module', slept, woke for a truly awful Kosher breakfast (my fault, should have stuck to the regular menu) and slept. And drank lots of water, used the lav. and slept. Arrived in Stansted about 9:15pm and was in the hotel by 9:40. Ordered room service - smoked salmon salad and a beer, then a bath and sleep. My alarm went off before the wake up call, so I was awake. Shower, fresh clothes, tissues stored in pocket and down to breakfast. I only remember the coffee, oh, and yogurt and a banana and a roll and butter. Then back to room, storing more tissues strategically in knapsack, check out and a 2 minute walk to the airport. I'd done the boarding pass at home, so had time to wander after going through SECURITY. Last year it was a nightmare as every electronic device I had set off the sniffer and I had to wait 25 minutes for the supervisor to 'pass' on my stuff, and I was patted down, too. (and not by some cute guy, either).

Looking for something to dry my nose! The mini-drugstore advised some multi-flu cold product which did zilch. Glad I had the tissues. EasyJet was about 40 minutes late, but it didn't bother me. Flight was fine, landed in a blue and sunny Glasgow and hopped on the local bus which let me off about a block from the flat.

I was looking forward to Flat 12, but am in Flat 5. No big deal except that in the middle flat the bedroom is on the front and there is no cross ventilation. I may move when Christine (the Apartment Manager returns from her holiday). The flat wasn't ready so I went grocery shopping, stocking up on the necessities of life - coffee, yogurt, cheese, crackers, breakfast rolls and real butter.

I have been here since Tuesday afternoon, but feel like I never left in May. Odd, or not.

No more for now. Stay tuned!

Oh yes, my nose stopped running when I got here. Hmmmm. Very strange.

Blink and you miss it.

On the Good side. Family is fine. Grandson is fine. His parents also.

Deleted the other stuff I wrote.

Life goes on. Oobla de.

Relatives. Relatively speaking.

Relatives. Relatively speaking.

I am an orphan. No mom & pop, sibs. Yes, I do have cousins by the dozens, BUT: if you never see them. Have only seen most of them less than 30 times in my life, does that count as family?

Set 1: Used to live in Huntington, LI, NY. Saw them every couple of years until they moved to the West. Then, never. 3 girls, 1 boy. Wouldn't know them if I fell over them.

Set 2: 4 girls, two I have seen as adults and would recognize and am fond of. The others, totally unknown.

Set 3: Their father, my mom's half-brother, I saw during WW2 when he could get home, then post-War, after he was married and before my grandparents died, maybe 2-3 times. After they (2 girls, 2 boys) moved to NH, and my folks moved to NH, I saw them a couple of times a year. Jeannie (the eldest) lived with us one summer while she took advanced courses in PT in NYC). After my parents died, nada. In fact, the only thing I can remember about my uncle during that time was that he asked if I would return the sap yolk that Mom had. It belonged to his dad. And the mahoghany tray, inlaid with mother of pearl with a picture of the Taj Mahal that he had brought back from India from the War. After that, I don't think he was in touch. I got a Christmas card from my cousin Sue (in Feb or March) telling me that he had died in August 2006. Uh huh.
Her other sibs? Heaven knows.

Set 4: Various - Tommy? If alive, in FL. Hooper? Still in Marblehead MA, I think. Skip (Warren) in Chevy Chase, but I haven't heard from him in a few years. He and his wife had 2 sons, but one committed suicide in 1997 - a golden boy who was most likely bi-polar.

So that's it. Family but no family.

I called Roger today to wish him happy Fathers Day. Had a very nice talk with him and Carolyn. We are Matt's family, along with Nancy, his sister, Matt's aunt. Matt may remember the Clarks but he has only seen Jenny Hartley once or twice and I don't think he has met the others at all.

On a completely different note: I am now the Senior Warden of St. Mark's Church. Elected last Wednesday when I was feeling really sick with diverticulitis - but Dr. Kaplan thinks it wasn't, but on Cipro none the less.
This is a learning process. I was thinking of designing a shirt with the graphic of a pair of cut off blue jeans with wings - Flying by the Seat of Your Pants. But wearing my adult persona I think that asking questions and taking guidance, I may be able to help St. Marks.

Last Sunday I took lots of pictures of the arborist in the tree (about 5 stories up) and the parishioners reaction to that and also snaps of the church people. Today I posted them on the church bulletin board. I will be interested to hear the reaction.

After church I had breakfast and COFFEE, lounged, then went to the craft store to buy artificial flowers for the fire place. Otherwise it just stares at me - a black hole.

Yesterday I went into Manhattan to buy more nylon storage cubes for my laundry. Instead of a hamper, I have a cube in the closet, but realize I could pre-sort my laundry if I had one for dark and mixed as well as white. Now I do. Wash time will be easier, as long as I have quarters.

Tomorrow a 6:30 meeting. Tuesday 8:00 AM:11:30AM. Wednesday, Doctor at 2:15, church at 5:00 and hopefully music at Novo at 7.

Things to do: Laundry, Space Bagged storage to basement, Bose set up, Mauricio call, notes to Judy and Susie, Rummage/Flea Market sorting down in basement.

Hmm, almost midnight - pumpkin or bed. Tough decision.

Family Outing

Today was Dani's wedding shower up in Tarrytown NY. I wore a really nice dress that I had purchased last summer - can't remember where. The DeL's drove me up along with Dinora. I knew almost everyone but didn't mingle much. Food great and too rich, but I could have chosen something else, so my fault.

Came home, found none of my emails from yesterday answered.

Could have cleaned up, done laundry, put things away. Didn't.

Lots of churchish things tomorrow.

Friday and backwards

The allergies turned me into Bomzie! Wednesday is a blur, I think. I do remember being very grouchy - in fact Father B. asked if I had forgotten to take my anti-grouch pills. This changed to I did take a grouchy pill. After the service I decided not to go to Novo but to play in the garden. David M. was there so we sat on a bench and talked for a long time. Probably much better than going to Novo. Then home, reading, sleep. Oh yes, now I remember - I sat in bed and read 5 days worth of NYT. Oh, and went to Bed Bath Beyond and returned something before church.

Yesterday I wanted to get up early, do laundry, go to drugstore, etc. etc. but sat in bed and finished the book I was reading night before. Then I got up, washed in cold water (brrr!), dressed and went in to have lunch with Velma. I checked my email before leaving and found Dorothy wanted to garden in the pm. I went to 'Shop the Block' - the museums on 53rd have 20% sales one day a year if you are a member of one. I go each time and hardly ever buy anything. This time I found some nice layered glass picture frames, so bought 3 small and 3 medium before meeting Velma. Great lunch and visit (as usual). Then headed home, quick like a bunny, to meet up with Dorothy. I waited and waited. (probably not THAT long) then she called. I had actually dashed past her while she was having a haircut and she ran out to call my name, but I was chugging along too fast.

We went over about 4 and left about 7+. I dug and weeded and heaved and hoed (not hoed, but raking, it's an expression). And watered. Dorothy planted about 100 basil plants and 50 marigolds. We stopped to chat with Angela, Maria, Melissa, Lenny, Lisa, Nikki, Rebecca & Endeshaw - and Jean, the nice lady who sits in the garden. Next time no gardening on the FarmSpot night.

Hobbled home, showered at length (hot water back), found nothing on TV to watch. Cursed the piles of clothes, went to bed and read and slept.

Here we are at Friday. Up early enough to close the windows because the trees and bushes were being sprayed for insects. Puttered around, made coffee, cursed the piles of clothes, checked email, showered, dressed, took more dry-cleaning to a different dry cleaner, went to Home Depot, bought good hose nozzles, new fencing (we ran out on Thursday), checked out the garden path materials and headed back to St. Marks. Despite no water, I decided it was a good thing to put in the 90' of fence and test the nozzles. Hot? Oh yeah! Dehydrated? You bet. Job accomplished I headed home, stripped and showered at length, after drinking a few glasses of water. Splitting headache from the sun, etc. No Gatorade so I thought OH, I CAN have a V-8! And did. And electrolytes back in place, I felt better. Good enough to realize I hadn't had lunch and needed to go to the drugstore.

Down the street, met one neighbor. Went to drugstore $98 for meds. Off to Jahn's the neighborhood traditional eatery, had yummy food and coffee. On the way home met 2 more neighbors. Got home and actually put some clothes away. Some.

Thank goodness Martha couldn't come today. I am so embarassed at the state of the house! I feel like the before in a Makeover show. And you will note I am writing this and not working on the clothes........

Sent a ton of emails, spoke to a number of people, cancelled out an order for a new cell phone - too confusing. Watched Washington Week in Review and here I am.

Tomorrow is Dani's shower. Sunday is Church - Coffee hour (me in charge) - Money Counting (didn't the Lord have something to say about that....?) and then the DeL's. They'll probably have to scrape me up off the floor.

Later.

allergies

Itchy eyes, skin, even my hair itches! Yikes.

Monday

Rain. It has such a wonderful effect on me. I think I used to hate it as a child but now I really appreciate it and the sound.

Not much in the clothes swapping done today but got rid of all the niggling tasks I had to do and cooked chicken w/artichokes, olives and bay leaves (thank you L!). Got a 20 minute nap in and went to Jazz.

Val and Jacob were there. Jacob, 2+ still refers/responds to me with No or Nyet. I may bring him around by the time he's in his 20s, maybe. FRB and Frau Doktor came in for the music so I sat with them. They are fun to be with so worth giving up my front row seat for the music.

I still got home to see Murphy's Law which is good. I like James Nesbitt.

Herding cats was not successful and the VERY IMPORTANT meeting with FRB, WRM and Lenny is stalled for now. One can't make AM, Two can't make lunch and Sunday morning is a tenuous fallback. Herding cats IS the term. Men, such posturing!! Oy.

Bernie tomorrow.

Am I the last to discover? Probably TMI!

Am I the last to discover that hair conditioner is wonderful to use to shave your legs? Mmm!
Bath & Body Works Ginger Mandarin (or something close to that name) smelled great, moisturized the leg and was Smmooooth!

Okay, so I am on the slow track there. The first time I shaved my legs was at camp. I was about 10 and had been warned by my mother Never to shave them. (and why did I have my own razor? Some mixed message somewhere. Hairy pits?) Wow, the smooth sensation. I was hooked on the feeling. In fact razors and I are close. When I am getting ready for an event, I shave my legs. When I took a shower just before my wedding, out came the Gillette. Labor pains? Shower and shave. Chemo and no hair? Gillette and I were buddies along with Foamy for any important outing.

The past few days have been hot and muggy but it's raining now and about 67. Yay! Double triple yay because I don't have to water the garden AND the sprinkler man came over to church and turned on the sprinkler heads!

Garden Club tea yesterday (my building group, not church). We were steeled for the Young Ones to come and demand slides, swings, etc. Not one of them showed. Average age at the tea was easily 70. It turned out that the hostess and I know so many people in common it was like 1.5 degrees of separation! And she reads mysteries so we can trade books. Her bookcases have more than mine, but maybe she has more bookcases.... All in all it was fun. I think I heard the Garden Club president say I was hosting the tea next year. Say, What? I haven't done it in 40 years. I did it the first year my Mom was president. She is famous in our limited circles for putting in railroad ties to stop the erosion.

She is also famous because she was my mom and a wonderful person. I am still trying to achieve or try to be as accomplished as she was. Hard task. When I was a child I looked just like her in pictures of the comparable age. Once when I was washing the car (late teens) a woman walked past me, came back, and said, "Excuse me, are you Bessie Cutler?" I laughed and said no, I was her daughter. The lady had worked at The New York Times* with my mother.
As I get older, I think I look more like my father and his mother. This aging process is so interesting because I think I am more like my dad emotionally, or whatever is not physically.

I was thinking about taking an intensive course in Spanish in order to be able to communicate with the Latino congregation but Walter and Father Brown said I would be more useful being around the neighborhood during late July and early August, so nix to that and it is okay not to spend $1600. Dorothy will be away then and I wanted to be away, too. Guess I will have to buy a calling card for Portugal.

L&M gave me about 75 CDs to either list on www.lala.com or sell at a Flea Market. I input them tonight and had hits for 10 already. Since I only have 2 envelopes left I have prepared those and requested more from lala.

I received my second Fresh Direct delivery, eaten some prepared foods and thought about the others. I've decided that it might be good for people who work and have limited time, but without their coupon of $25.00 off on each of the first 2 deliveries it isn't such a good deal for a retired person who likes to read supermarket circulars. They are expensive and there is so much packaging material!!! Boxes, wraps, plastic! Yikes. Definitely back to shopping with my neighbor Jim on Tuesdays - easily save $10 a trip.

Pan called me this weekend as I was going to the tea. Good talk but too short. My turn to call next.

Out of here now!
Stay tuned.

*Both my parents worked at The Times in the 1930's. They met there and were married in 1934 I think. I am a true Child of The Times.

Later that same day

Who knew weeds in the garden would lead to a spiritual awakening and a seat on the Vestry. In fact, the weeds are in my mind more than the mysteries of Christianity. I mean, weeds you can understand. They need to be taken out, eradicated, made to become like the parrot*.

What am I babbling about? I had an X-COM meeting (not as thrilling as the X-Men at all) which is the Exec. Comm. of the Vestry. It was okay and over by 10ish. Then an extra meeting to find out about a check that was or was not sent to the Garden Club. End result: Home at 11:45.

And I skipped Novo music also. This could drive one to drink! In fact, I had a beer when I got home. Blood sugar or not. I earned it.

Interlude. . . . .

I just thought I saw an ant on the shelf, and in my frenzy to identify and eradicate it, I fell off the bed and rammed my right thumb. It is red and hurts. I am sure this is what Albert Schweitzer thought would happen if you tried to kill a living thing. Al - you are right! Or, maybe: Al - Right!!

I need sleep despite the fact that the bedroom is hot and I am not sleepy.

Nighty night.

*Parrot refers to the Monty Python skit about the Dead Parrot. Google it if you don't know.

The daily again, maybe.

The daily again, maybe.

5/30/07 04:39p.m.

Impossible to play catch up here.

I stopped posting because I post at bgbeta.blogspot.com, too. But that is free and I feel a loyalty to this. Not sure why. But why not?

Anyway, the remainder of my trip was fine. Brighton was fun. Weather good, hotel good, but not as good as having your own flat.

Life home on the domestic front with L&M is fine. Life at church is dysfunctional, lots of huffing and puffing. In fact, today I am skipping Wednesday tea and church service, but will go to the 8:00 meeting.

Good news, bad news. When I got home to plow through about 2 feet of mail, I found my blood work report. Good news, chloresterol down by almost 20 points. But blood sugar up over 110. Shit. So, since I read that I have been a sugar free zone. No sugar related products, cereal, cookies, etc. But it finally occured to me that alcohol is pure sugar. Arghh.

Between yesterday and the 12th when I have my next tapping, no alcohol. Along with no bad fat stuff. Eggs? What are they?

Weather now warm. We seem to have gone from 50s-80s with out an interlude of 60s & 70s. I am just starting to switch over the clothes. Today I looked for the Uber Space Bag. It is an under the bed rigid bottom container. Couldn't find one. Bought a good fan instead.

I went to DeL's to record a story for B1-K, then walked to new HD and BBB, about a mile or so away. Got foam airconditioner blocks, carpet stain remover (another story for another time) and a fan. Strangely HD had no garden fence. Maybe the one down Northern will.

Dorothy and I worked this weekend on the garden. Vika helped on Monday. She is a great worker and fun to have on the team. Then Monday night I went to Novo for jazz, saw almost all the Film Festival folks and Vika! Fun to have a neighborhood hangout.

I have to go get meds at 2 drug stores. I swear I will switch to B+B completely when I get my next prescriptions. Too much hassle back and forth.

Later.

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Sun - Mon - Tues - Wed

Sunday: Dazzle - purchased a Nick Hubbard ring and a brooch. Went back to Art Fair and talked with founder of Art in Hospital.

Monday: Went to Willow Tea Room and looked up Joann Murray. Had great chat and will meet up Thursday for tea. Finished Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Very disappointing. I think this is a book where you can't be an adult when reading it. Didn't work for me.

Tuesday: Rain, but okay rain. Went to the Tramway Airworld show. Fun, and a Hidden Garden that was a treat. the Chic pea and vegetable dhal with naan was daunting. And very orange. Had all day bus ticket so changed buses and went to Kelvingrove. Don't like the way they made it all touchy-feelie interactive. Laundry. Finished my Doctor Who video.

Wednesday: Slept late, had breakfast and went to PO to mail a book to Tom and some papers I didn't want to carry around, then to the train station to confirm my sleeper reservation. ARGHHH! Nightmare! I didn't have one! The Railpass.com people totally f*(^ked up. Woman at the station snooty, too. Dashed back to flat and called Massachusetts to complain and they grovelled. No, I didn't have one, Oops!! Bad us. They are refunding my money, postage and handling charge. Jessica, the MA woman was very nice, though.

Called FirstScot to see if I could buy a sleeper reservation and they were sold out GRRRR, ARGHHH!!! There went that idea. No I am not sharing with 'another female'. Calm down. Rethink: Okay. Leaving Glasgow on Friday morning, the 27th, not Thursday night the 26th. Taking train to Euston, and yes, I do have a ticket. Somehow getting from Euston to Victoria to take train to Brighton.

Well, I will have a better night's sleep, and about $100 more money.

Doing laundry. Not feeling sorry for myself or mad at the train people. Must go watch football game now. I am addicted to English football.

Art Fair, Books, Art again

The week of culture continued. Thursday morning I was up early for the Art Fair. It was great, so much better than last year.

Several interesting galleries presented exhibits. Artists in Exile - refugees, asylum seekers and new immigrants. The work was powerful and I saw a connection between this and NICE in JH. NICE works with the same type of populations except here the people are from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Art in Hospital, a project whereby artists go to hospitals and hospices to work with patients has produced some wonderful work. Last year I spoke at length with the founder and wonder why we don't have something like it. This year I looked at the works and found a piece, mixed media, that I really liked. The exhibit guide said only buy something if you like it. I went back three times and finally decided I wanted it. But when I went to pay with credit card, they only took cash! Hmm, since the flat is about half a block away, I asked them to put a sticker on it and dashed back for some cash. I also got the book which describes the project and profiles some of the artists.

I did see one work, a print, that had a date and was tempted to buy it, but (1) I didn't like it much and (2) it cost GBP 100. Not at the current exchange rate, thanks.

After leaving the art fair I headed to the art store and bought a piece of foam core. Back at the flat I made a rigid but light package to mail the picture home and took it to the PO.

Good fun for Thursday.

Friday I spent most of the day reading Louise Perry's first book Still Cold. I forgot how stunned I get after this - reading for a long time.

I got an email from a friend saying her sister died after a battle with cancer. My first inclination was to call, but AZ is even earlier than NY, so I sent an email. I probably would have been crying on the phone, so I will call her when I get back. Marnie, the sister, was very kind to me when I was little, and I've never forgotten it.

Saturday, today, I woke up early, then nodded off again. Finally made some coffee and breakfast, checked mail, etc. and did some research.

Artists in Exile had a reception this afternoon at their space so I went there for a while and chatted with Fiona, the woman in charge. More powerful art.

Then a hunt around bookstores for some books my DIL is looking for. Forbidden Planet, A1 Comics, Borders, Waterstones, W.H. Smith - EHHH! No dice. Will consult tomorrow on a revised plan.

Came back after ambling around in time to see Doctor Who in 1930's NYC. The Daleks are back, and it was part 1 - continued next week.

Ten o' clock and I am thinking of turning in. Tomorrow is the first day of Dazzle! the traveling jewellery show. I've been twice before and really like Nick Hubbard's silver work. I think I have 2 pieces of his.

Okay, battery low, brain power low.

Outta here.

Music night - Fab

Joshua Bell & Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields! Wow! Beethoven program. Terrific and it seemed like the orchestra was having fun too! Such energy he has. I had 2nd row seat.

Sorry to be writing in shorthand, but I am exhausted! I dined at the Concert Hall on something with a forgetable name, but was excellent beef stew, savoy cabbage and 'mustard mash' (mashed potatoes with mustard) and a salad that sounds like it wouldn't go together but did - watercress, fennel, rocket (arugula) and pear.

Today I mailed off a present to Msbelle's son. I don't know when his b'day is, or was, but I got him a ball that starts out like a Frisbee when you toss it, then pops into a ball. I don't know what 6 year olds like, but the card had SpiderMan on it and I know he likes that.

Today the flat got 2 new dining chairs. Olive, ochre sort of. I should take a picture. I think they are changing from the blue, and beige theme.

Tired tired zzzzzz. Art show tomorrow and definitely LAUNDRY!

Watch what you eat! Lost in translation??

I constantly discover the subtle differences in our languages. Today I went to a restaurant, perused the menu, and decided on a BLT. I should have remembered - British/UK/Scottish? bacon includes the part we call Canadian Bacon, and the regular US bacon that they call Streaky Bacon. What a handful, let alone stomach full. And it came with chips, not US chips, proper British 'French (what was it Bushie called them? Liberty Fries)'. Not hungry for dinner, at all.

Today was more Scottish - sun, drizzle, sun, clouds, drizzle, more sun and temps in the 50s. Wind was 'fresh' which means zip up your coat but leave the hat at home.

Mailed postcards and some magazines home today. So amazing how heavy paper is.

I hear the British inflation rate has jumped to 3.5% and that food is more expensive. No shit, Sherlock. It also means the GBP is over $2.00. Que sera sera.

One of my favorite TV shows started this week, season 3 or 4 of 'Sea of Souls' with Bill Paterson. I could watch him read the phone book! Speaking of TV: if you followed 'Life on Mars' on BBC America, the series concluded last week. Also, strange things are happening on 'Foyle's War'. 'Doctor Who' has that perennial favorite, The Daleks (EXTERMINATE!!) coming back this Saturday. And tomorrow they will be filming scenes for 'Rebus' outside my window. I will either have a great view, or go out and gawk. Depends when they begin and when I wake up.

Tomorrow night is Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields at the Concert Hall. Looking forward to culture and wearing a skirt. Also eating at the concert hall restaurant which is quite nice and posh.

Sent more personalized post cards today. I think I have to go back to Boots to make more pictures. Now if I could only figure out how to get the pictures from my cell phone to print. . .

Ta Ta

On a roll!

Arran?

Rotten sleep last night. I kept dreaming I was still doing my job, but had retired. I kept telling people I didn't need to be here, I wasn't being paid, just loved to do researh. Odd dreaming of ways to get home, too.

I guess I was waiting for the alarmS to ring. Won't go, I said, No. Not today. 7:04 the second alarm. I get up, make coffee. Check email after kicking my laptop. Ok, not kicking, just popping the battery pack out again - cussing until the count of 10 then putting it back. Nothing important except a sunscreen warning from Matt. Heeded.

Shower, dress, What the heck, I might as well go. So on to the train to Ardrossan Harbor. Had a really unPC breakfast on the CalMac ferry to Arran - 2 fried eggs, toast and bacon (English style), coffee. Lots of blue sky, some clouds but the temps were in the high 50-low 60 range. I was wearing the Bubble Gum Barbie jacket and blue fleece socks, so okay there.

The train went past gentle rolling hills, sheep in fields and my first glimpse of a wind power farm. They look like Tripods*.

Arran: beautiful island in the Firth of Clyde. More prosperous than 2 years ago, and light years from my first visit in 1987. More building projects, more industries - Arran Aromatics, Arran Breweries, many hotels refurbished. The mussels that had covered the rocks in 2005 seem to have gone - leaving the rocks exposed. I saw a beautiful piece of pink quartz embedded in the sandstone. It wasn't ready to 'pop' out leaving a moon crater yet.

Walked along the shore, went to the Burnside Gallery and admired the art - no dates. Continued to the Auchrannie Hotel, asked for a brochure, wandered the gift shop, and headed for the toilets. Nothing like knowing the territory (I was there for a week in 2005). I then walked back to the ferry terminal, stopping in all the gift shops and the COOP where I bought some 'Rocket' (arugula). In the past 20 years the COOP has 'continentalized', where you can buy whole selections of Polish products even!

I got some funky socks, cotton, in case it gets warmer (besides, they go with my jacket), and some cortisone cream for a strange rash I've gotten on my face.

Ferry ride and train uneventful. As soon as I got back I went to Somerfield Supermarket and bought more for dinner.

I was cold, no lunch, so when I got back, I donned the sweatshirt, cranked up the heat and ate. After all that, I fixed the DVD player, watched a Doctor Who episode, called Velma, and am now about to sign off and go to bed,

Happy Trails to you, Until we meet again!


*Tripods are aliens which play a big part in a trilogy for Young Adults. Author is John Christopher. Books are great!