Tuesday 30 March 2021

Company

 What a difference company makes to the day.   In these Covid days. when one lives alone, the days can seem long.   I like my own company and can usually find something to do - read my book (at present Monty Don's Japanese Gardens), read The Times, do the Mind Games in The Times, call up a friend, watch a programme on TV.   But there is no substitute for a bit of human contact.   Walking out with Priscilla I usually meet two or three people for  quick chat - socially distanced of course - and my neighbour M is fantastic at nipping out if she sees me coming.   All that plus J my carer, for an hour each morning, means that although I live alone I do get company.   My son, who lives nearby, rings me every night for a chat (last night he tried explaining the Zen idea of one hand clapping.   I am still having to think about it but hope that by the time I have finished the Monty Don book I might have  understood the concept.)

But today - a lovely warm, sunny, Spring day - my two gardeners - D and J - have arrived to mow the lawn and make a start on clearing up after winter.   It is good to see them wandering around outside the bungalow.   I have just made them a drink and we had a five minute chat while they drank it.   It is all company and it makes my heart a lot lighter.   And what a difference the weather makes too.   Yesterday, as the day went on, the weather improved.  So after tea Priscilla and I did walk round the block and I did meet G out for her walk and we had a chat - rather hampered by the fact that I had taken my hearing aid out to make a phone call and forgotten to put it back in.   And incidentally I had missed a couple of days walking because the wind had been too strong and by golly I did notice it.    It did reinforce the fact that as far as muscles in the legs are concerned - if you don't use them you lose them'.

It's good to see that at long last the ship blocking the Suez canal has been freed.   Can someone please explain to me why although everyone is calling it the Evergiven as far as I can see it appears to clearly say Evergreen on the side.   Or are my eyes so bad they are reading it wrongly.  Also I think I heard on theN ews that there were cattle on board and they were running out of food.   Did I mishear?  I know I am old but hopefully I am not losing eyes and ears!!  (and senses)


24 comments:

Debbie said...

Evergreen is the shipping line. I think Evergiven is the name of that particular vessel.

Derek Faulkner said...

Having cattle on board was denied the other day but some ships in the backlog did have livestock on board and were expected to be allowed to jump the queue.
Another very warm and sunny day here on Sheppey after a light ground frost. Had a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in the garden this morning, feeding on my heathers. On the reserve early on this morning, I had another summer visitor appear, a Sedge Warbler in the reed beds, about a fortnight earlier than usual. Two pairs of Marsh Harriers have also begun nesting in the reed beds.

Sue said...

Yes, as Debbie says Evergiven is the ships name Evergreen is the name of the shipping company that owns it.

It's surprising these days how even the smallest interaction with other people can make us feel so much better. So much has changed in the past year.

Rachel Phillips said...

You seem to get a lot of company. "Call up a friend" counts as human contact. Carer everyday, gardeners today, neighbour who jumps out when she sees you, G to name but a few, can't be bad.

Librarian said...

You have more real life contact than I do most days! Much of my interactions with others happens in phone and video conferences - so NOT the same as proper face-to-face meetings. I must say that at the end of most days I am rather glad to have nobody around; much as I would love to live with O.K., there is also an advantage to living on my own when after a long day at work I don't want to talk anymore.
The weather can make a big difference to how we feel, I agree. Also the longer hours of daylight mean I can get out for longer after-work walks, such a pleasure this time of year.

Ellen D. said...

Your days sound full to me. I am glad you are keeping a positive attitude.

thelma said...

Snap, Rod and his wife are mowing my lawn. The village has sprung to life, with a service at the church sometime. Someone was already cleaning the church out this morning.

JayCee said...

My only daily interactions are with P, although I do message my sister each week to catch up with her news, such as it is these days. P is out running over the fells today so I am currently enjoying a blissfully peaceful couple of hours in the sun.

Debby said...

Debbie's explanation is correct, so I won't give you a link to read further about it. You are correct about the walking, and I admire your ability to see it as necessary...and to simply do it. I can well imagine that there are people who 'nip out' to talk when they see you coming. Rest assured, if I lived in your neighborhood, I would be doing likewise.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Derek - that sedge warbler will get a shock at the week end if we have snow.

Derek Faulkner said...

Sadly, it won't be alone, there's a lot of summer birds arriving early on these warm southerly winds.

Bonnie said...

I'm so happy to hear that you have a sunny Spring day and your gardeners have come to work on your yard! It is also good that you were able to get your walk in today. You are so right about using our muscles or losing them! Enjoy your evening!

Susan said...

You are so right about the importance of exercise and you do marvelously well to walk outside as the weather permits. Looking outside at your manicured/cleaned garden must be very satisfying. With warmer weather, our gardens will thrive and we will all see our neighbors more as the sunshine and warmth brings everyone outside. Thank goodness the shipping container is no longer blocking the canal. We await to hear about preventative measures going forward.

Heather said...

I have noticed during lockdown that my legs have become increasingly less willing to want to walk, so I have ordered myself a 'Priscilla' and hope she makes a difference. You are so right when you say we must keep our mobility going by daily use.
It has been a lovely day here and my windows have been open for most of it.
How lovely to have your gardeners busy getting things ready for Spring. It will give you so much pleasure.

The bike shed said...

The weather has a huge and underestimated impact on our mood and wellbeing. Today in west wales there were families on the beach, the surf was rolling and the sunshine made for a sense of joy and new beginning - it was a lovely day.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Heather - hope you get on splendidly with Priscilla.

Thanks for calling by everyone.

Joanne Noragon said...

You sound so "up" today, it seems to make everyone happy.

elf said...

This entry made me smile. Be well, enjoy your walks, may sun shine on you!

Cro Magnon said...

We have a Dutch friend who visits almost daily with her big Alsatian dog. She sits for 10 mins, the dogs play together, we chat, then she goes off back to her Gypsy caravan in which she lives. It's now become routine, and we love it.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Face to face contact is so important, it's great to have those walks with friends and even short conversations are valuable!

Anonymous said...

I found the news coverage of the stuck ship a bit hard to follow - perhaps because there wasn't much new to say after a while, or perhaps because it was hard to get reporters to the spot to have anything to say? I was interested chatting with an older relative who said that back years and years ago when he was a very new Coast Guard recruit taking a class in perils to navigation they were all amused to see "sandstorms" listed as something that could throw you off course. Fast forward 60 or so years and into a very different environment than any of those boys had ever seen or heard tell of and it sounded less hilarious.

Sometimes when I am thinking of reasons not to go on my walks I think of you and go anyway, so you make a therapeutic contribution!

ceci

CharlotteP said...

I'm going to share an Indian takeaway with a couple of friends on their covered patio tomorrow...an unheard of treat!

Anonymous said...

There's a considerable number of livestock on the ships that are backed up. Over ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND stuck on ships. Goats, sheep, cattle.

Not long ago two ships the Karim Allah and the Elbeik were at sea longer than planned and the animals suffered greatly. Vets checked the Elbeik animals when it docked and they were shocked, 1600 calves emaciated, dehydrated, with wounds and the dead still standing because they were crammed in so tightly. All stood in faeces and urine. All that were still living were slaughtered. The EU is supposed to be responsible for animals welfare until they reach their destination but they fail to protect them once they've left European ports.
Even if food and water is provided the majority of animals are unable to reach it because they're crammed in so tightly they're unable to move.


The Weaver of Grass said...

Anonn - this is appalling.
Good luck with Priscilla Heather..


Yes folks - the sun did us all good yesterday = thanks for finding time to reply.