First of all sadness to read of the passing of Jill - whose posts on Land of the big Sky always gave pleasure with her pictures of the sea and the sea birds she loved and painted so . To hear of the passing of 'one of our own' always brings sadness - we are such a happy family. As her family say, let's all raise a glass of red to her memory.
Now apologies for no post yesterday. Time ran out I'm afraid. The weather here has been lovely over the last few days - not all that warm; it is only February after all, but pure sunlight and clear fresh air.. so I walked the longest I have walked since October and by the time I got home again and ate my lunch I was really tired. I sat in the chair and looked what was on television (I am not a rugby fan) and great joy to see that one of my favourite films was on BBC 2 in the afternoon. I drew the blinds to shut out the lovely sun and for two hours indulged myself in Brideshead Revisited. Thinking back I really think that the old BBC serial of many years ago did it better but it passed a lovely afternoon.
Then Priscilla and I had a short walk round the back garden and I was disappointed to see that hardly anything (apart from the hellebores) showed much sign of Spring. But as my garden is mainly North facing the sun is only just beginning to reach it.
My carer, J, has brought me a delicious salad for my lunch - it looks so inviting. It is now 11am so Priscilla and I will go for our walk - hopefully as far as yesterday - and if anything exciting happens later in the day, I'll be back.
Yes - I am back. Shortly after shutting down my computer and putting on my coat I went to lock the front door and it would neither lock nor unlock but was stuck halfway. Luckily we have a little monthly magazine put through the door called On your Doorstep and looking through that I quickly found a Locksmith and rang him. Yes, he was quite happy to come on Sundays 'Locks didn't always choose weekdays to stop working'. I just had time to walk my circuit and then eat my salad. I had hardly eaten the last mouthful when he arrived.
He took the front door lock to pieces, cleaned and oiled it and put it back together again and now it works perfectly. While he was here I suggested he might look at the back door into the garage - a door I use daily now - and lock - because that is where Priscilla lives and also that is the only step I am allowed to go down because there are handrails fitted. It has never worked very well since I moved into the bungalow over three years ago.
After tinkering with it for a while - and getting nowhere fast - I asked whether it really needed a new mortice lock. He said if I was his sister or his auntie he would definitely say yes (!!) but most people would insist he tried to mend it. I said get rid of it and put in a new lock - it has never really been a great success since I moved in.
Now he has gone, it is getting on for tea time, I am pretty shattered as it has turned out to be one of those days where I have been on my feet most of the time. But some good jobs done and an absolutely delicious salad lunch eaten. Country File and Antiques Road Show on television this evening - and I have just thought - maybe The Great Pottery Throwdown as well - so now to go and find something for my tea and say goodnight until tomorrow.