Saturday 19 June 2021

Saturday

Saturday, as I am sure you know, is my least favourite day of the week.   Nothing spectacular happens, nobody comes, it is a non-day.   Today has been a little different and it has made a lot of difference.

I had my walk with Priscilla early, soon after my carer had gone.   I was a little way down the slope when I was overtaken by a man with Priscilla's double - the only difference being that she is red and his was blue. As he sailed past he called out 'mine's faster than yours in a jolly voice'.   On the spur of the moment I couldn't think of a reply other than a rather feeble laugh - later I thought of various things I could have said but of course it was too late.  'Mine's only a Ford - yours is more of a Mercedes' for example - or 'you obviously keep yours better oiled'.   Any ideas?

Since home before ten o'clock I have had several nice surprises.   The first is that my son and his wife are  coming round for a pizza which my son will order to be delivered here.   It must be early as my daughter in law has to be back home for eight for her medication.   But it will break the evening up nicely.   Then friends S and T called - they had bought me a Gazania from the Garden Centre to fill a blank spot in my side border where I lost a plant to frost earlier in the year.   It is now almost four in the afternoon and I have been busy most of the time.  My lunch (scampi, sweet potato chips - cooked in the Remoska and then eaten with a lovely salad) was, as usual left for me by my carer.

And so the days go on - they rarely drag because people are so good - they keep me going.

I spotted an advert in today's Times - Thompson and Morgan the seed/plant people were offering Geraniums very cheaply - presumably surplus stock - so I have ordered one batch of twenty - goodness knows where I shall put them all as I really only need about half a dozen but my son and daughter in law garden as well as both side neighbours so we should all be glowing red as the summer wears on.   It is the Solstice on Monday and it is all downhill after that.   It reminds me that one year the farmer and I spent midnight on the Solstice listening to a concert in Tromso cathedral.   The sky was clear, there were children playing in the street and the outdoor cafes were full of people drinking coffee - there was no suggestion that it was likely to get dark anytime soon.   Happy days.   It would have been his birthday early next week.

26 comments:

Tom Stephenson said...

If it weren't for your recent post on swearing, I might have suggested that you rebuff the insult to Priscilla with something like, '**** off!'. That's usually the only repartee I can come up with at the time.

Rachel Phillips said...

You seem to be very often "seeing" men on your walks out around the block. I am getting jealous.

CharlotteP said...

Clever replies come to me too late, too...you have plenty of time to think of one for next time, and probably witty commentors to help you out!
Can it really be the solstice already? Half way round to Christmas. Don't think of it...enjoy your geraniums!
Birthdays are still birthdays, even when your loved one is no longer here. I hope never to forget.

Terra said...

That concert you and the Farmer attended sounds divine, and wow, all those geraniums will add bright cheer to your views, and you plan to share them too. I never think of a perfect rejoinder at the moment. Maybe "slow but smart" or "slow but pretty" for your next encounter.

Bovey Belle said...

I hope your Geraniums are better than the ones a friend ordered, which turned up (all bar two of them) dead and somewhat burned to a crisp!

I always think of really good retorts later too. I'd say something pathetic like I save warp-drive for steep hills . . .

Derek Faulkner said...

I ordered super plug plants from Sarah Raven, Dobies and Thompson & Morgan this year and all of them came far too late and were rubbish quality when they did finally arrive. Never again!

Ellen D. said...

"Age before beauty" came to mind for your retort.
The flowers will look great and it is nice of you to think of sharing them.
Your day sounds perfect and I hope you enjoyed your pizza!

JacquieB said...

'you obviously keep yours better oiled' might just possibly have been misconstrued. Made me laugh though.

Tasker Dunham said...

Repartee is what you wish you’d said at the time (Heywood Broun).

Heather said...

I can't believe we are halfway to Christmas! Some days really drag yet the weeks seem to fly by. I used to love going through the Thompson and Morgan catalogue. Hope the geraniums do well for you.

Bonnie said...

The gentleman with the blue Priscilla (or maybe blue Paul?) sounds like he has a good sense of humor. I can never think quickly enough for a good comeback either. You may just end up with several walking partners!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Jacquie - that is exactly whar I thought.

Derej - I will report back on the Thompson and Morgan plants.



Thanks everyone.

JennyP said...

Lovely memories! We in southern climes are looking forward for 'hump' day, as for us it means the days will get longer and spring is on the horizon! Best wishes.

Joanne Noragon said...

Or you could have said "Slow down and I'll walk with you."

Debby said...

Boy, that Priscilla is quite a man magnet, isn't she?

I bought two geraniums for the porch, and they are the deepest red, a burgundy almost. I've never seen such a wonderful color. I have to figure out how to winter these ones!

Cro Magnon said...

"Oy Fangio; you'll be done for speeding".

thelma said...

Choices, choices on what to say, all remembered when you are far away. I would not order any plugs from nurseries now as the last lot came in loads of plastic and packaging, though they did arrive alive.

Librarian said...

I always thought Sunday is your least favourite day of the week.
Anyway, you obviously had a great Saturday, started off by the humorous gentleman whom I hope you will encounter again! Age before beauty seems like a fitting retort, as one of the others here has suggested.

It's been well over 30 C here every day since my operation, and I am just doing NOTHING all day. Yesterday (Saturday morning) I ventured out to the bakery to get some bread in for the weekend, and my sister came visiting later. I don't dare to go out for more than that, just down the road and back, while it is so hot and sunny; my eye still feels somewhat tender.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for your 'speeding' suggestions - all too late now of course.
I will report back on the state of my plugs when they arrive - I must say it doesn't sound too promising.

Thanks as usual for joining in.

The bike shed said...

Midsummer already - where has the year gone. But I never think of it as downhill until we hit September.

Mary said...

I loved your little memoir of the Tromso evening - how lucky we are to have such beautiful memories of special times with loved ones.

Norway is a lovely country I've only visited the south though and would like to see Tromso.

Here's the post of when I was in Kristiansand -
https://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/search/max-results=8?q=Norway

Stay safe as you 'travel' with all those "fast gentlemen" in your neighborhood Pat!

jinxxxygirl said...

I have missed out on your blog for several days Pat and have just spent an enjoyable time 'catching up' so to speak... Will write you a snail mail soon! Hugs! debs

Anonymous said...

I hope you have better success with your plants than I did.
Thompson & Morgan geraniums - half didn't turn up and the ones that were did were tiny or dead. Not wilting but completely dead. On the tiny ones not a bud yet to be seen and they're not doing well. Trying to contact them is useless, impossible to get anybody on the phone and no answer to emails.

Sarah Raven - on the promised delivery date they didn't arrive and no email to update me. After contacting them I was given another date, once again they didn't arrive. I contacted them yet again to be told they were no longer available.

Last year I ordered from Dobies - they didn't arrive!

However this year I've had lovely plants from growers on Ebay.


Granny Sue said...

My daughter-in-law sent me a BritBox for my birthday, and in it is a box of Lincolnshire tea. I shall think of you when I brew a cup to have with the other lovely treats in the box.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes Mary Norway is indeed beautiful. We went on the Hurtigruten from Bergen up to coast, over to the Lofoten Islands and then back round the top to the Russian border at Kirkenes. Unforgettable.

So many ominous reports re the geraniums I shall watch out for their arrival and report back.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks folks. See you omorrow