On Being Blessed

I haven't written much lately because I've been a bit down - I don't like being ill; I don't like being old; I don't like not being able to see clearly; I don't like being four and a half hours drive away from my boys. These things, however, are sent to try us - or so I was brought up to believe: What can't be cured must be endured; stiff upper lip; put on a brave face; worse things happen at sea, and all that.

Here's a pic of an 'angel' that flew over Devon earlier this week (click to enlarge): Beautiful isn't it?



I'd like to think that someone is watching over me too but I have the feeling that, if they are, they're shaking their heads in disbelief at the moment as they watch me struggling with boxes, moving 'things' from one place to another and seemingly getting nowhere. I'd rather be in the garden where I know I can do something creative - the potatoes and onions are coming on a treat

and I've just re-potted some perennials suitable

for the shady backyard so next year could be, fingers crossed, a riot of colour. I've also made a small enclosure at the front to plant a climbing rose - Joseph's Coat, a prolific yellow/pink beauty in memory of my Mum and Dad - and some Spring bulbs (daffs, snowdrops, crocus, tulips - there are already bluebells self-seeding in the cracks) to remind me that Winter is over and a new year beckons.



I've also bought vegetable seeds, some of which need planting this month and next, latest, for harvesting in Spring along with some glorious Hollyhocks. This garden will have life returned to it if it's the last thing I do :) I tried to tempt birds into the back with a state-of-the-art BirdsRUs feeding centre but, sadly, they've resolutely refused to dine there - I must think about moving it to the front (with my veg seeds? *gulps*)

For sowing this month: Broad Bean 'Aquadulce Claudia'; Pea 'Meteor'; Spring Onion 'Performer', and Cauliflower 'Gypsy'.

I was at the docs today - just tests and checks, the results of which will be known in a couple of weeks. Next week I'm back to the hospital for further tests on my eyes. I'm already short-listed for a cataract operation (one eye only - it seems the NHS can't run to doing both) but something else is going on so fingers crossed all round. I don't like pills but if something could sort out my eyes I'd take it gladly. Suki is also mooching now that the weather has changed from sunny to thundery; he's sneezing and his eyes are runny. I guess you can take the cat out of Spain but you can't the siesta out of the cat. Here he is, doing what he does best:

Apart from that it's just politics that bothers me: all this unaccountability. Even our own Westminster MPs are only accountable once every five years and it isn't good enough; they call it democracy but I don't think it is. They talk of localism and Big Society when in actuality it's nothing more than throwing crumbs at us while the European Commission and the UN dictate the policies and member state governments couch diktats in terms they strive to make acceptable to us. I do wish my children would wake up to the threat but, living in London, they can't see the wood for the trees.

It only remains to be noted, lest we forget, that this weekend is Battle of Britain Weekend and RAF Cosford is putting on a spiffing show. Chocks away!