Reflection prompts

A lady at work was asking me about my husband today, as she hadn't realised I'm married.

I then got into my car and the cd I grabbed from the mishmash was our wedding background music. As it played, and I drove a route I often take, my thoughts lingered on all the ways life fits together and just how blessed we are.

The universe throws things together to give you a prod every so often. These comments and the choice of cd were my prod. It's been nearly two years and life has a solid rhythm, a predictability that has dangers within it. Dangers of complacency, of routine, of numbness and feeling stifled when that isn't the whole picture at all.

The reminder to focus on what gives everyday meaning was well timed and appreciated, thank you universe.

(the soundtrack includes Venus by Holst, the feather theme from Forrest Gump and some of Craig Armstrong's compositions for love actually and Romeo&Juliet. I recommend any/all of them to soften your outlook when its been hardened by too many to do lists and everyday demands)

Look who's back

Tweet tweet!

I don't think they have any eggs in there yet. They only seem to be on the nest at night. I'll keep an ear out though for a tiny high pitched tweeting (of the offline variety) soon.

Sundown

The week that was and the things I learnt in it

1. Charlie Chaplin was a prolific composer.
He composed most of the music for the films he appeared in, and when he was hounded by the McArthy anti-american trials he moved back to England, in part because he needed to be able to compose and a condition of the trails was that he stopped creative work.

I've been listening to bbc podcasts and classic FM a lot thanks the the broken radio in my car (a long standing issue) and an aching need for something soothing when I get home.

2. If I think its cold out then plants do too.
The french beans died, another batch of them. I can't face trying another load yet until the spring actually springs, so if I get any homegrown beans it will be around September time! As well as the weather part of the trouble is apparently the heavy clay soil we have in our garden. It stays colder for longer due to the higher water content.

3. Biking is *much* faster than walking.
We went on a lovely ride yesterday to Fiddler's Ferry, where there is a real ale pub hiding between the railway line and the river Mersey. It also serves fish and chips, of the fresh, hot, lovely and crispy home made variety. Which made a lovely send off marker for my dietary plans (explained below).

We also saw lots of wildlife; frogs, moor hens, coots, a pair of swans and their cygnets (7), 3 separate herons and possibly a yellow hammer.

4. Doctors don't know everything, or maybe they just don't care.
I've been having some low level health issues for a while. Nothing serious, more annoying and 'get you down'. Nagging headaches, nasal congestion, teenage spot breakouts and an on-and-off gippy tum. After getting my eyes checked, and new glasses just in case, Hubster persuaded me to go to the doctor to rule out scary things.
So off I (finally) went. Without focusing on the doctor's people skills (minimal) or apparent interest in any of my complaints (again, minimal) I came away with the suggestion I take an anti histamine. A stunning medical insight.
Which brings me to my new, self directed, plan. Anti histamines stop allergic reactions, if I need them it is reasonable to premise I am allergic or intolerant to something. Therefore I need to work out what, or at least try to.

So, for the next six weeks I do not drink alcohol. I do not drink caffeine. I do not eat or drink milk or milk products.
Alcohol because of the headaches, also its sugar content and work load it creates on your liver.
Caffeine because of the headaches, and I don't like black tea black!
Milk because of everything else, its a typical culprit in these situations, and other members of my family have trouble with it.

I toyed with the idea of cutting out meat and wheat as well but then thought it through. That's basically everything pre-made or prepared outside the home. And alcohol and milk will be a challenge enough. Given the symptoms that have been bothering me, and my family history (lactose intolerance) it seems a sensible place to start.

If things get better I will re-introduce each separately. If things don't get better I'll cut out something else (probably wheat *gulp*) for another 6 weeks. If all that makes no difference I'll go back to the doctors and crack some skulls, with evidence.

Good morning!

Egv-acado!

That is all. Now to eat.

Milestones

Hubster and I started dating six years ago.

A drop in the ocean in geology terms but modern society wise pretty long term.

I am in a long term relationship. You'd have thought the marriage would have been a clue but something about it has just struck me.

So, raise your glasses friends...to my hubster, and the fact we 'still seem to actually like each other'

Tilting a bit

This evening I've eaten chips in our sunny garden, tidied and sorted to an awesome soundtrack, written to a dear friend and planted out the beans (v2.0 thanks to a late frost)



And all in time for big bang theory*



*i'm watching two programmes on tv at the moment; bbt and Meet the Romans with Mary Beard. I also have Divine Women saved up. I love having tv to watch I really get something out of.