Holiday guest

All my rushing around was worth while. My friend arrived as planned and we have a very enjoyable 4 days together - except that the weather decided to change from the nice sunny days of the previous week into cold wind and rain. The gas fires had to be put on for the first time this year. But the weather didn`t stop us going out.

On the first morning we went to a nearby small town where she`d also previously lived (as well as having lived in the same town as I`m in year`s ago), then from there we went on to another largish town, where wandering round the large store there, I saw a Coffee table which I liked. and it had the bonus of two drawers in it - ideal for concealing all the clutter that at times builds up on surfaces in the room I thought. I`d been feeling that my newly decorated lounge just needed something in the middle as when one person sat in the armchair anyone sitting on the settee looked a mile away! So, we measured the table and brought the measurements home.

Next day we went back to purchase the table, as it was the ideal size. Whilst doing so my friend spotted that there was also a small square table in the same design - your tv would look good on that she said! I agreed with her, so have ordered both - they`re coming on Friday.

So we enjoyed our first two days. More about what we did the next day, tomorrow

Picking Mother up

I seldom go out to an evening event, but last night a couple of the "girls" I work with planned a surprise dinner out at a local restaurant to celebrate the 60th. birthday of another work colleague. So I had accepted the invitation and went.

I had a lovely time, and really enjoyed it. The meal was good, and the fifteen of us were all old friends, so we had plenty of laughter and fun. Looking at the clock I saw it had got round to 11.30 p.m., so, said to them, "I`ll have to be going now, as I`ve got to pick mother up, I`ve left her round at her friend`s, and he`ll probably we wanting to get to bed now". Little did I know how true those words of mine would be. So, I said my goodbyes to them all, got in the car and drove the short distance home. (No, I`d had nothing to drink, so I was quite ok to drive!)

I collected Mum from her friends, drove home, got her walking aid out of the car, opened the front door and took my bag and various bits indoors, leaving her to follow. A few seconds later I heard her call my name, going to do the door I couldn`t see her, but I saw her walking aid running down the pavement, then I saw her, she`d fallen over onto the drive and pavement.

Now, she`s too big and heavy for me to pick up, and with her arthritis couldn`t get herself up. It`s now about 10 to midnight, no neighbours have lights on to show they`re still up, no-one was walking up or down the road. What to do?

After a minute or two of indicision I went to the phone in the hall and dialled 999. The helpful operator of the Ambulance who answered asked me quite a few questions, and said she`d send help, but the ambulance could take up to 45minutes to arrive, if it got diverted to a more serious emergency.

So, there I stood out in the cold with my parent laying on the concrete. Eventually after what seemed an age, but was about 15-20 minutes, flashing blue lights appeared and a medic in a car arrived, assessed the problem and decided that he couldn`t lift her on his own either, he rang through to find how long the ambulance crew would be as he needed their assistance. They were still about 20-25 minutes away! Whilst he was doing this our neighbour came up the road, we called to him and he came to see what was the matter, whilst he was coming, a neighbour opposite got into his car to go and collect his disabled son from the same event that I`d been at. I didn`t see him get in the car, but was aware of his car going very, very slowly past looking to try and see what was happening at ours, he drove very slow and hesitantly down the road, then turned at the bottom and came back to see if we needed assistance.

Between the three of them they managed to get Mum up and into the house. She fortunately hadn`t done any damage to herself, apart from bruises, but the medic thoroughly checked her before he left.

What an end to an enjoyable evening, but how thankful we were to have such good neighbours, even at past midnight!

A Sunday Walk

I awoke this morning to a thick white frost which made everything look beautiful as the sun shone and it glistened from the grass, shrubs and trees around. Although a lot colder than last Sunday, I decided to go for a walk this afternoon, but not on the cliff top.

Getting ito the car, I went to a National Trust park near where I live, parked the car and set out for a walk. Patches of snopdrops lined the path at the start of the walk, looking so delicate and fragile and beautiful. (They`re one of my favourite flowers).

I hadn`t gone far along the path, when someone called out "hello" to me. Looking to see who it was I discovered a friend that I used to work with and her family - husband and children on bikes, dog on lead, and her pushing an empty pushchair whilst her daughter had the youngest toddling along on a pair of reigns. Stopping to speak to them, we then began to walk along together, and after being assured that I was welcome to join them on their walk, we had a lovely long walk through the park. Probably going further than I would have gone on my own.

It was so lovely to have some company for a change, and not have to go for a walk on my own. Yet, having said that, I do also very much enjoy having a walk on my own like last week. But this chance meeting just somehow "made" the afternoon today.

An ordinary day

What shall I write about today? It`s not been a very noteworthy day. It`s been a rainy day, so apart from going out for a while this morning and doing a bit of essential shopping, I`ve not been anywhere.

I got some nice local caught cod from the fish shop, then went over the the greengrocers and got some potoatoes, went home, made some batter and cooked some delicious fish and chips for lunch for myself and a friend who came over today. Then we had a good old natter and caught up with each others news.

Reflections

Sitting reflecting back over the past year, as we come to the end of it, I think I have to say it`s been a pretty ordinary year . No outstanding events. Nothing really to write about. So this may be the most boring post you`ve ever read!

Looking back at the Resolutions I made for 2007, I haven`t been too successful on them. I failed on the first and third one, but have had partial success on the other four. Shall I make any new ones for 2008? I`m not sure.

Yet, there have been some good times during this year.

• I met a fellow blogger for the first time, and we got on so well
• I had two enjoyable holidays on my own staying with friends
• A new person at work is becoming a good friend

A surprise gift today, really made my day - a thimble from another blogger in Finland. It`s all the little things in life like that, that really mean so much, the thoughtful and kind gestures, that make such a difference to life.

Just looking back over what I`ve written, and it seems that the most outstanding thing about 2007 has been Friends. Friends made both over the world of blogging, and in day to day life. Thank God for friends.

Singleness

I recently had to fill in a questionnaire, and amongst the questions on it was about what type of person I would like, or think, should be the successor to the current one.
Should they be male; female; single; married; married no family; married with family; etc....
(ok, I know in these days of discrimination that such a question shouldn`t be asked or take place in any decisions, but it was there, and I answered it) .

And, after answering it, as male and single (having worked with females, I find males easier to work with, and a single person probably gives more time to the job). I realised how my answer, - as a single woman - could be interpreted!
That it was that I was looking for a "man"! - And, before anyone one wonders, No I`m not...... although if Mr. Right did come along and didn`t mind the burden of an elderly parent...who knows?!

I wonder though, how many other single people like myself find it as difficult as I do to make friends with people of the opposite sex for fear of being thought that more than friendship is being sought?