More Snapshots

 I had hoped to pop by more regularly but screens are still an issue and by the time I have the headspace to think it's often too late, but hey it's a Friday night so we'll go with the flow 😁

The Reading List was a surprise find at my local library - it was located on one of the end aisles.  The front cover initially caught my eye and when I read the blurb my curiosity was sparked.  I'm so glad this book came home with me.  A truly wonderful, heart warming and yet at times quite sobering well written book.

The story is centred around an anonymous reading list - To Kill a Mockingbird, Rebecca, The Kite Runner, The Life of Pi, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Beautiful and a Suitable Boy.  The list brings together two unlikely souls, Mukesh and Aleisha.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager, spending her summer break working at the local library that is under constant threat of closure.  She finds the crumpled reading list and sets herself the challenge of every title contained therein.  As she works her way through the list she recognises life lessons and nuggets of wisdom that are applicable to her own life, and the magic within the pages transport her away (albeit briefly) from the painful realities of home.

Mukesh, a widower living a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing, spends his days in front of nature documentaries interspersed with visits from his daughters and grandkids and occasional visits to the temple.  His teenage granddaughter Priya always has her nose in a book, just like his beloved late wife.  In an attempt to enrich his relationship with Priya he tentatively crosses the threshold of the library doors.

The initial meeting between Mueksh and Aleisha is quite strained, him over anxious in a strange place and her frustrated and bored with life, and so she comes across as being quite rude.  Realising the error in her ways, Aleisha attempts to make amends and shares the reading list with Mukesh, and soon they are discussing plot lines, characters and their own interpretation of each book.  Before too long a beautiful friendship is formed.

This book was a birthday gift from Kath and it was so good I read it in two days.  During a clear out of her mother's home the author finds a book entitled 'A Fortunate Man' which documented a country GP at the beginnings of the NHS.  Upon closer inspection she realises that this book is in fact based on a the valley where she lives, and so she makes contact with the current GP in that same area (during the height of the pandemic and all that entailed) and so 'A Fortunate Woman' is brought into being.

The author skilfully weaves tales from the past into those of the present, and the GP herself walks the thin line between professional, care giver and friend.  Patient confidentiality is paramount so the stories and accounts are an overview of GP life.  Reading the book gave me a new appreciation for the work of the General Practitioner and made me appreciate further, and be thankful for the excellent GP care that I have had over the years.  Some books are for keeping and others are for sharing, so I gifted this book to my wonderful GP (another country doctor) and she in turn will share with her colleagues 😊

I'm still plodding my way through the permaculture course, it is certainly taking a lot longer than anticipated!  Some days my cognitive function is reasonable and other days its on a go slow, so no chance of planning it's a case of doing what I can when I can 🌿

Thirteen figs on the tree 🌿

A mini plant guild of tomatoes, chives and flowers.

Winter Jasmine

Guns n Roses at Glastonbury

I joined in with some chronically ill pals to watch the Glastonbury Festival - my Pyjama bottoms were my version of festival pants and you cannot attend a festival without either wellies or Crocs!  Thankfully no worries about finding the loos or the state of them 😂

Pip and Beth had their yearly fairy day last Saturday - later than normal due to other things going on around the Summer Solstice.  They had fun at the crazy golf at Barton Grange Flower Bowl and Dave and I sat in the cafe whilst they did their thing.  It's hard to believe but we've been running a yearly fairy get together for nine years ❤️

In car knitting - I finally have some knitting ability, yay!  It started with my Long Covid socks, the first finished before I got sick in a matter of days and the second took five months to complete, it was frogged back several times over 😳. I kept making the simplest of mistakes.  I was so glad when they were off the needles!

This was my view on Wednesday morning as I'm back doing PA work for Ben.  Driving is still an issues for me so it was easier to stay on site and the chap he was working for very kindly kept me topped up with cups of tea.

As far as Covid is concerned I'm still dealing with dysautonomia issues and have resorted to medication on top of other things to try and keep things under check.  I had a lovely virtual appointment with the Occupational Therapist attached to the Long Covid clinic and she has given me a few simple things to do before our next appointment.

Sorry for the long ramble, its no good I'm going to have to pop by more regularly x