Sometimes it's the simple things in life. Today I watched the birds from my living room window. They live in the trees just opposite. I have 1 Robin red breast / 2 Black birds / 3 Blue tits / 2 pigeons and a squirrel who I haven't seen for a few weeks now - guess he has turned in for the winter and hope he has a good supply of nuts. The Black birds bully the Robin red breast - I've told them not to but they don't take any notice.
It gets better.
My neighbour is 95 and in very poor health. His care worker is on holiday and the agency haven't sent anyone to cover (what ???). They have said to call social services but he doesn't want to as they would put him in a care home for sure. He can't dress himself or make his bed and keeps falling. So guess who is his 'replacement care worker' until she returns ? One guess.
He said he feels he should pay me some money - no way would I accept. So he's buying us both fish chips and mushy pea's for lunch. I'm off to the chippy soon to get them and I can't wait. Not an ideal diet with afib but a treat now and then won't hurt. I really am looking forward to some totally unhealthy grub.
Before you ask I'm not sharing them with any of you.
Have a great weekend and be grateful for the small things in life.
Paul
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Paulbounce
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That's a lovely thing that you're doing for that elderly gentleman Paul. Is he managing to wash and feed himself?
Why is he so worried about going into a care home for a short while, some of them are lovely - as was the one I helped run. I had lunch there every day and if I could have bought similar meals in a cafe or restaurant, I would have. We had no smells and bedding sheets were changed every day.
Is he managing to wash and shave ok?
The simple thing that has made me happy today, is bumping into several friends in the supermarket this morning. then having pitta bread stuffed with houmous and salad for lunch, followed by a jam doughnut and some grapes It's a beautiful sunny day and my washing on the line is drying quickly. Can life get more perfect than that.
Enjoy your chips you good Samariton (good old-fashioned word).
Woke up to weird chirping. Looked outside and there's a lovely green and yellow/orange parrot sitting in my back door. Escapee apparently caught later.
That care agency is a disgrace and you are an angel 💝 Our angels dress in pink and arrive at 7 am to care for my husband. Something that made me happy was that one of my daughters took me into town to collect my new glasses that have been waiting for weeks while another daughter ‘babysat’ my husband who loves women’s sport. When we arrived back they were sitting next to each other watching the Rugby final - sadly New Zealand won again at the last minute but not by much. Now he’s back in bed gathering his strength for Strictly, the downside of having his bed in the living room 😀
That made me laugh - see I can be useful to some people. To be honest my washing didn't dry very well either, despite sunshine and a breeze. I didn't put it out until about 2pm.
Fish, chips and mushy peas 😋. Would have had to have a couple of pickled onions too! I live in Yorkshire but being a southerner we use to buy a “Wally” as well. Haven’t seen them up here.
Glad you mentioned squirrels coming back. Had 3 regularly up until early autumn (who I was about to enrol In attitude and friendship classes!) and then haven’t seen them since. Dont remember that happening other years and was concerned. Tried to find out if they go off on a winter vacation or something else to no avail. Have seen one lurking in a tree so hopefully they’ll come back. Love watching their antics and gymnastics. Also have robins, tits, jays, sparrows, magpies etc and a family of deer. Think they have an adolescent with attitude on their hands though! CountryFile from my conservatory.
We are incredibly lucky to live in a remote rural part of France next to a lake and a little river. I still delight every morning when I see a kingfisher or buzzard or hear frogs croaking and never take them for granted. In even the worst days after my stroke 2 years ago this gave me a reason to live and struggle to recover. Now I have a series of little DIY and construction projects which get me going every day and give me a sense of achievement and fulfilment knowing so many of these efforts were impossible for me just a year ago. No doctor or pharmaceutical can ever substitute for things like this. 🦊😀
We have a house in rural France and the wildlife is thriving there. We are on the river and have kingfisher, otters, pinemartins and swifts, swallows, housemartins galore. We dont have to go far when we're down there and just sit on the terrace and watch them all.
It really brings home to us how much more difficult it must be for those struggling with chronic illness who are living in poor housing and deprived environments where there is nowhere to go. I always think how lucky we are.
Enjoy your reward for being a good neighbour Paul.
My simple thing was walking up to my local Co-op for my paper. It's slightly uphill all the way up and I took it slowly not stopping, thinking coming back it will be all downhill and easier! I also passed a large hedge full of squabbling sparrows. Made me smile as it sounded like a load of kids in the playground
Lovely story which shows how satisfying it is to help others and nothing like helping with other’s difficulties to forget your own. I believe what goes around, comes around as they say, we all will need help one day so need to be prepared to offer it. Well done you. 😘
there’s an ongoing conversation going on with my grandson ( he was 3 last week). It involves the moon a star and the sun. It’s dark now when he’s having his tea and when he’s at our house he sits on his little purple chair ( which he loves) by his table at the window.
Over a number of evenings the moon with a clearly seen star nearby has been bright. Tea has become a slow affair. He’s talking so much about the moon and star that go in and out from behind clouds. Then the question of where has the sun gone ??? We say it’s gone around the other side of the world giving other people light. So now he’s not stopping talking telling us all about the moon the star and the sun. It’s lovely and a privilege to be here and able to sit and listen to him.
Now he’s asking me to sing about the moon 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ I’m definitely not a singer 😂😂😂. But if anyone knows any short rhyme’s about the moon please let me know.
That's kind of you. And he will enjoy having company for lunch.
Squirrels are not turned in for winter yet. They don't do that until it gets really cold. The shorter they hibernate the more likely they survive the winter. Hibernation is hard on a body. Often the squirrels around me stay out all winter and I feed them.
I love feeding the birds. They repay me in spades with their antics. We had 2 broods of blue tits hatched this summer. Around 10 little fuzzies at any one time on my feeders and nuts. Delightful. They are looking grown up now and I can't tell who was a baby and who a parent. But they are still fun. When the feeders need topping up they come and tap on the window glass. They sit on the sill and peck until I get the message and go and fill them up.
Listening to Elgar's Nimrod and remembering my parents who both saw active service during WW2 and for many years after.In the background, the sound of the under 11s playing football in the park behind us.
That's an amazing thing you're doing Paul. I hope you both enjoyed your fish and chips. I found out I'm going to be a grandma this weekend so I am certainly celebrating life. x
Love the thought of fish n chips, you can keep the mushy peas tho 🤢. You sound like a very caring person Paul.
What makes me happy today is being out for a walk with my 7 year old grandson. He notices everything, and I love the feeling of his little warm hand slipping into mine. Makes me so grateful.
How kind of you Paul, he is very lucky to have you next door. I'm afraid most times when I see squirrels I am walking my dog and she literally howls with excitement, people can hear her for miles! I'm about to go out in for a walk in the sun and just thankful to be here.
Your neighbour is lucky to have you look after him. Hope you enjoy your fish and chips. This weekend is a mixed one for me. Yesterday we decided to go out for lunch on the bike . Unfortunately I pulled/ tore something (probably a tendon) in the back of my right knee getting on . Since my last hip op I have been a bit casual about getting on not getting my husband to bring the bike up to the steps by the front door or looking for a kerb to aid mounting while we are out. So it's a bit my own fault especially as I have had twinges of tendonitis there recently- too much gardening. Still we carried on and had a lovely ride seeing the autumn colour and a great lunch at a new restaurant. Today I am paying but I managed to hobble out with my stick onto the balcony and lie on my chaise longue for a bit enjoying the sunshine and listening to the noise of honking geese from next door but two . I expect that they won't be honking past Christmas. Plus this week I saw the first robin in the garden.
Winning first prize at a murder weekend nine days after having a kidney removed. I admit I was with family and they did all the leg work. Felt being there was an achievement all the same.
What a kind fella you are....... or, just trying to score a free chippy dinner 🤣.I am honestly happy any day I wake up, no matter what happens (except Friday and and a nightmare eye appointment at the hospital) but this weekend, I'm happy as the lovely George Russell has just won his first F1 GP. Its the simple things in life 😁.
For me the simple thing that made me happy was my husband & daughter taking me to the local beach for a short walk having been unwell for past 5 weeks! I was a bit wobbly & nervous but so grateful for the winter sunshine & blast of sea air , loved watching our dogs running around.
They had fish & chips , so I nibbled on a few , was wonderful , hoping this has given me the confidence to return to work next week.
Your neighbour must have really appreciated your help & support, very kind of you .
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