Of Exercise, Sleeping and Eating

My mid-morning awakening led to the saga of the mysterious intruder, recorded by Heterocon but, since that time, there have been no major incidents to report. Fish-feeding routines, at both the garden pond and the aquarium, have been efficiently performed and, shortly before five pm, I even managed to get out for a (not so) brief, (not so) brisk, walk around some of the more tree-lined roads and avenues! The combination of sunshine and breeze was just about right for me and, didn't interfere unduly with my hypersensitive eyes.

Shortly after the return home, old Morpheus really held me in his thrall; a shock awakening, actioned by my beloved, signified it was almost time for dinner. An almost vindaloo heat minced beef Rogan Josh variant, prepared by yours truly on Saturday evening, went down bootifully with new potatoes, broccoli and leeks. Yesterday, we'd had the traditional saffron rice but, these days, I'm equally happy with pasta accompaniment. 'Tis the quality that counts!

An attempt to overwhelm tiredness

This afternoon's short walk proved quite enjoyable but, I was certainly ready to slump down on return; that's what ten minutes gentle exercise does for one! Subsequently began to feel extremely tired, in spite of interesting company.It's been rather a weekend for entertaining! This afternoon, Phyllis a friend from Helen's schooldays has called in with her son Sharif.

In order to prevent myself falling asleep, as if I hadn't already had enough, Helen suggested I pick up the laptop and, that is why you are being confronted with a further brief report on my day so far. My eyes are suffering from (an imagined) sleep deprivation so, that's it for now!

Ah! ... that's a refreshing change

Awoke, for the second time, at around 10.15 am but, after a further snooze and relaxation, finally plucked up the courage to disengage myself from bed around the time that Helen returned from her second visit to chapel at 11.40. I must admit to feeling quite refreshed today and, I've actually managed a bbw this afternoon. I'm certainly feeling much more alert than I did at the corresponding time yesterday.

Before my venture into the bed-free domain, I enjoyed playing around with Photo Story 3, creating the odd mini-video on my laptop. Oh what a life of luxury I lead.

A Visit from Ruby

It's amazing how much better Ruby's visit made me feel; she certainly is an absolute charmer. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet her mummy on this occasion, as she hasn't been feeling too well. In fact Ruby herself had been a bit off colour this morning so we (Helen & myself) were extra-pleased to meet her in the flesh and, to take our own snaps to add to the digital Ruby collection.

I also discovered that Ruby doesn't particularly like men, at least I'm not the first of my gender to have this young female crying on my shoulder. We also were pleased to meet Anne, Ruby's maternal grandma; a real family occasion.

Not One Of My Better Days

Well, I managed to force myself out of bed a little bit earlier and, I haven't felt right since! Afraid it's one of my "pale" days; if I was a dog my nose would be dry and my tail down between my legs. Ruby's visit has been postponed until a bit later in the day, she's sound asleep at the hotel at present; perhaps the delay is a godsend, as I may feel a little more awake when the visitors arrive than would have been the case earlier.

Popped into town to settle a credit card bill this morning but HSBC, with whom I have an account, have no human counter-presence on a Saturday and, Halifax, with whom we also have accounts and, which is part of the same banking group (Halifax Bank Of Scotland) as my credit card company (Bank Of Scotland) don't accept these payments. Got to admit, I voted against their becoming a bank but, it seems that as a bank they're far from fully fledged!

The certain fact is that none of the banks give a toss about their customers, their one aim in life is to pay their directors exorbitant salaries!

Meeting Ruby

Tomorrow morning I'll be seeing my great-niece Ruby for the first time. Never before I have received so many photos (via e-mail) of any one person as those I have received of Ruby, ranging from her being a couple of hours old at the end of last October up until recent weeks. Of course it will be good to see her Mummy and Daddy but, I've met them before, so the real excitement is at meeting Ruby!

So, tomorrow morning, I'll have to make sure that I unencumber myself from the duvet realm in plenty of time. All other distractions are on hold at present and, I look forward to a restful night.

Boys and their toys

Just been downloading MS Photo Story 3 and, am impressed at the ease with which one can create a video from still-images. When it comes to graphics programmes I love creating my own images but, it's rather nice to lazily place a folder of images into a programme which automatically creates a slide show, with quite acceptable transitions, together with generating the soundtrack music.

My first little video certainly sets off some of my paintings to advantage! No doubt I'll enjoy filling some of my many lazy moments experimenting with this programme.

Saying whoa! to woe

Although last evening was most relaxed, by the time bed-time arrived, a void was waiting to be be taken over by the demons of stress. There wasn't anything I could put my finger on, it was more a kind of suffocation by the sum total of my minor ailments. A yearning to regain some of my former energy or, at least the stamina and courage to get out and do dome socializing, seems to be at the heart of it. Learning to live within limitations always sounds much easier than it feels!

Guilt at my inability to tackle many tasks continues to gnaw at me; this is the guy who would keep slogging away at work, sometimes against other's advice, regardless of the state of my health, that is now wondering whether he'll be able to get out for a bbw or manage to prepare lunch on any given day. This same guy is also gregarious by nature but, finds himself unable to cope with even quite modest crowds.

Of course, when one is tired, that's when they're most prone to these anxieties but, unfortunately, tiredness is integral to my current state of being, regardless of the amount (or Quality) of sleep. Sometimes life drags, when a rag-bag of ailments yearns for but, doubts that any diagnosis is available.

Having whinged on, almost to the point of self-pity, I should point out that at this present moment I feel quite positive about the day!

Premonitions of Disarray

Impending danger; today the alarm bells started ringing, stress levels suddenly swung right off the scale. Ever since the plumbing emergency of very recent memory we had decided on a revamped bathroom but today, when I went up there with a measuring tape, the logistics seemed more daunting. Even to have the smallest shower cubicle installed will require a re-siting of the washbasin, if we go for the bath and shower panels option various re-sitings will have to take place.

For a matter of greater import, whilst any work is performed in the bathroom, it will be necessary for us to remove the major wineracks from their cupboard space, which shares the joists and certain lengths of floorboarding with the bathroom. As you may well be aware, wine has a quite sensitive soul which does not take kindly to vibration. Needless to say, I share this sensitivity but, whereas I can be redeemed from the effects of vibration the same cannot necessarily be said of wine.

Perhaps I am crying wolf and, any transformation of the bathroom will not prove quite so traumatic as is my dread! The past couple of years has seen us having a new dampcourse, new combi-boiler, new gasfire, warm-roof insulation after necessary repairs and replacement, a new larger hatch into the, subsequently, newly floored loft space! My survival of such devasating events is, in and of itself, little short of a miracle!

For the time being, this fatigued spirit attempts to rejoice in the present moment.

Documenting Documentaries

Our friend Graham came around this evening and, our first task was to transfer the contents of a DVD-R to VHS video for an elderly neighbour of his. In fact the material on the DVD-R proved quite interesting to both Helen and myself. It really feels good when performing a task for a neighbour becomes a pleasure in and of itself.

After that we caught up on three recently recorded TV programmes, two instalments of 'My Life As A Child', a fascinating child's eye view of themselves and their families and, a documentary 'Sad To Be Gay' in which a gay man sought help ... wondering if his sexuality was nature or nurture ... to change! The experience, in a heavily religious community stateside proved quite traumatic but, was nonetheless doomed to failure. Unlike many of the other 'clients', he wasn't starting out from a premise of self-loathing. By the end of the programme he seemed resigned to the fact that it perhaps wasn't his lot to be a husband in a traditional nuclear family. A consolation seemed to be that at least he had a 'family' in the form of his god-children. Helen and myself both felt uneasy with the healing ministry's starting premise, that somehow "being gay is not really who you are!"

Quite amazingly, in spite of still feeling rather fatigued, I managed to retain a reasonable degree of concentration for each of these short programmes.