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 |  A third blog? A good idea? A fresh start? A disaster? An omen? ...who knows anything? |
I nearly gave up on blogging and WDC. Then life threw another huge curveball and I felt like giving up on everything. But I'm Scarlett...I keep trying and hoping. I know not where this will go but I take it one day at a time.   |
| A very long and delayed journey home from Tucson was soon forgotten as I celebrated returning to my humble home in my lovely town. The things I was going to do, the plans I'd hatched and the pleasure of social occasions all beckoned appealingly... Then...within three days I started with a lousy cold, which has developed into a really nasty bug leaving me only able to function at a very basic level. All appointments and social occasions have had to be cancelled.  Dennis has spent a month with sitters who have cared for him well, understood his needs and given him lots of love. There have been no problems. Then...on the second evening of suffering my bug Dennis returned home barely able to walk with injuries around his eyes and obviously distressed. This meant spending the following day cramming him into his carrier to seek treatment at the vets. He thinks Dennis has been in a fight  and has contracted an infection into the bargain. He is recovering well thankfully though getting anti biotic tablets down him requires a lot of devious skills. Without going into detail it appears my son's soon to be ex-wife (hopefully) can still create major trauma and massive problems without even being present in our lives. It seems there are no lengths she won't go to in an attempt to cause disruption and destruction. So much effort has been put into trying to be tolerant and reasonable, but it appears she cannot respond to anything amenably. I fear she'll be back in hospital and estranged from her children if she cannot alter her ways. On the plus side I did win two writing competitions while I was away. They won't make me rich or famous, but the prizes might help towards the vet's bill and the bug medication. And of course my favourite time of year is in full swing...  |
In some ways it seems a long time since we left England for our long awaited trip to Tucson. In other ways the month has flown by very swiftly and we're now packing up for the long journey home. I've enjoyed the sunshine, seeing another part of the USA, meeting some relatives and making some new friends. The outings to places of interest have all been fabulous and I shall reminisce with my photos for a long time to come. But i will be glad to see my family, my friends at home, my cat and my humble abode despite the winter weather and the approaching time of year I love to hate. I'm grateful for the experiences and staying safe and well during my time away. Just a lot of travelling and a very long flight to go then no doubt after a week or so I'll be wishing I was back in Tucson. Such is life. |
| I was surprised and pleased to find congratulations and reviews in my mailbox today celebrating my seventeenth anniversary with WDC I would never have believed I'd be in Tucson for that milestone and I also need to send more huge thank you's to whoever enabled me to be a member still by gifting me a membership. I'm still enjoying the sunshine and scenery, though the mosquitos aren't so welcome. I have visited some lovely places in the area, but have got lost a few times when out walking. The vast spaces and long distances to places in America never fail to amaze me. The upsetting news from California is heartbreaking whatever part of the world we come from. My heart goes out to all those suffering as a result. The elections I've found interesting, though I admit I don't fully understand all the details. But then I don't understand Brexit either, so I conclude I'm a bear of very little brain. I'm no big political animal. People ask us our opinions of the US president, but we think it best to keep our thoughts to ourselves.  Time is flying by and it seems strange to think of winter conditions and humbug hype back home. I miss some things, but definitely not those. |
| Greetings from Tucson Arizona. The weather and my accommodation are perfect. Dennis and I both fell in love with my house/cat sitter before I left and she sends me updates regularly so I know he's fine back home. He'll probably sulk when I return as he's having a great time with her. It was a long and tiring journey to reach here and the flight rather uncomfortable, but it was worth it. Jet lag and mosquitoes are my only complaints so far. But it's early days as yet. I planned on doing some reading, writing, reviewing and catching up, but my friends are keeping me busy so there's not much free time as yet. One of my cousins and his wife in Utah are coming to visit later in the month. It's only an eleven hour drive he says.  So today it's off to town to get bus passes so we can hopefully explore further afield. Better get going. It's a long walk to the bus stop. I'm definitely doing those ten thousand steps a day at the moment, but doubt I'm losing weight as the wine here is very cheap and moreish. |
| I'll be knackered. I've now had enough of all the planning, packing, organising, checking and sorting associated with travelling on a long trip. I don't like wishing time away, but think I'll be pleased when it's this time next week when I'll actually be in Arizona all being well. I'll be spending the day with my house/cat sitter on Monday and travelling to London, Heathrow with my friends on Tuesday. The eleven hour flight to Phoenix on Wednesday is not something I'm looking forward to. I've never done a long haul flight before and I'll be on my own as my friends booked business class seats before I decided to join them. Hopefully it will be better than anticipated, but knowing my luck who knows? So, I hope to be enjoying some sunshine, leisure time and seeing new places over the next month. I shall miss my son and the grand monsters, my sister, my friends, my home comforts and Dennis of course. I won't miss the antics of Halloween, the fireworks or the Humbug hype which is already dominating most shops. By the time I return I know it will be pretty manic, but I won't think about that at present. One day at a time sweet Jesus. Thank you again to whoever gifted my membership. It really has made things easier for me and I've already started some reviewing which I haven't done in a long time. I've also revamped my intended book which now has a title and five potential chapters. I intend to write and keep up with the site while I'm away, but I also know plans frequently don't come to fruition. No obligation to read of course. |
| I've not signed into WDC for a few days and to be honest have been feeling rather low and anxious lately as well as bogged down with things to do. Two days of constant rain haven't helped, reminding me of last year's long, wet winter. My sister visited for three days, but since she left I have not seen or spoken to anyone, reminding me painfully of all those I have lost. I still have concerns and doubts over my upcoming trip to Arizona in a couple of weeks time. Son's wife has been released from hospital and I'm concerned as to what the future holds on that front. BUT... Today I signed into WDC and checked my mail. Some VERY kind and thoughtful member has gifted me a Premium membership. It's an anonymous gift with a very witty note attached and it literally brought tears to my eyes. Whoever it is I cannot thank you enough. The kindness of members of this site has often overwhelmed me and in this case has not only saved my departure from the site, but reassured me there is always hope, friendship and worthy reasons to have faith in the future. HUGE thanks anonymous gifter. I shall ensure I use my membership well and it will inspire me to continue with my book which I hope to submit to a publisher in the near future. Pass the tissues please. What a wonderful surprise on a gloomy, wet day. |
Another long gap between entries and another hectic month gone in a flash. When I booked my flight and accommodation in Tucson, October seemed such a long time away and now here it is and I have lists of my lists as regards things that need doing. We've had family birthdays all this last weekend and I have child minding duties this week which will limit my time to tick off many of those things. But ho hum, I guess it will be achieved in time and what isn't will have to wait. As long as I have my travel documents, passport and manage to throw a few things in a case then I'll hopefully survive. The biggest concern has been about Dennis the cat. Initially I thought I'd have to book a Cattery and he'd have to survive, but after seeing how limited the areas are and how much the cost is, I wasn't happy. It's taken a lot of research and enquiries, but I've now secured a house/cat sitter from a trusted website. I had to pay to join it, but it will cost a lot less than a Cattery as the sitters do it for free. (it also cost a lot less for a year than WDC) The lady I have chosen sounds absolutely lovely and I'm hoping to meet her before I go away. I'm sure Dennis will settle with her and be much happier in his own environment free to come and go as he pleases, though I know he'll show no appreciation as usual. But I will appreciate a dedicated cat lover who will also be able to close curtains, put out bins, collect mail, keep my home ticking over and keep in touch as well as caring for my cat. So, the countdown begins. On the day my WDC membership ends (also the anniversary of my Dad's passing and Halloween) I should be boarding a plane for my first ever long haul flight. Now, what have I done with my lists? |
Another twenty-one days have passed in a blur with blogging taking a back seat again. I can't imagine writing a blog entry every day as long ago in the past, but life is all about change as I only know too well. What worries me is I can't remember what exactly I've done with those twenty-one days, but obviously nothing sensational as I'm sure I'd remember that. I guess I just bumble along, coping with humdrum, frustrating companies, a fussy cat, intrusive telephone calls and the unexpected. I swear I should stop making any plans as every day is unpredictable and generally throws up things I didn't expect. I wouldn't mind if they were exciting and positive things, but I guess at my great age that's too much to hope for. Anyway, all I have are a few comments and observations.  The heatwave is over and rapidly being replaced by the rainy season. Shades of the last long winter. but I'm hoping it won't be months of wet weather ahead again. I shall be the first to remind those who complained loudly about the heat who now complain about the rain that they should have appreciated the decent summer more. Problems with utility companies and bills still keep rearing their ugly heads and sometimes I despair at the inefficiency of many companies. Thank goodness for the few excellent ones. Making telephone calls is becoming something I dread and it seems very few companies don't have a queue of folk waiting to speak to a real person. All the grand monsters have settled well at their new schools, though it's early days yet. They looked so smart in their new uniforms and I think they will do very well at their prospective schools, which seem much quieter and organised than the ones they left. I am so proud of my son for coping so well with the children, his home and work with little help from anyone. At the same time he's managed to lose a massive amount of weight and is looking and feeling much better. I'm keeping everything crossed this will reverse his diabetes eventually. My own efforts to lose weight are as ever not so successful. Their mother has seen little of them and not contacted them very much. This is not what we want as we do not want them to become alienated from her. She will be released from hospital next week apparently and accommodation has been allocated for her. What happens then we have no idea and cannot predict, but I have a feeling another dramatic chapter in this whole bizarre story is about to begin. Watch this space, but then it's one day at a time as always and today I need to clean my filthy windows. Oh Joy. |
On the advice of Chanon   I have used the gift points I have to purchase two months of membership, but after that I think there will be no solution but to drop to a basic membership and whatever that entails. I'll be upset to lose the items in my portfolio, particularly the blogs which record my life experiences from as far back as 2005. And what experiences they have been. One reason I wanted stay on WDC as long as possible has been to read through all my blog entries for research purposes in order to progress with the book I am now determined to complete if possible. The journey was absorbing and interesting, but the pain almost unbearable at times. I have managed to export my blogs onto my computer, but of course they take on a very basic form with no photos or comments, but there's nothing I can do about that. Whether the visits to the past are a factor I don't know, but I've been feeling rather low and tired of things lately. My son and grand monsters are presently on holiday in Thailand and much as I don't normally see them every day or depend on them a lot, I think it has made me realise how alone and vulnerable I am in this world. I think I miss my husband more now than ever. I'm not a hypocrite and know my marriage was far from perfect, but our holidays, trips to America, times with family and friends seem so precious now and knowing there'll be no more is deeply upsetting. My life in my new home is better than where I lived previously, but being solely responsible for every task and bill takes its toll and accentuates my weaknesses. I despise people obsessed by money, but we all need it to survive. Living on one pension instead of two makes things very tight. Council taxes, utility bills and basic every day needs do not alter a great deal when two becomes one and I struggle. There are many a lot worse off and I'm grateful for what I do have, but luxuries are now a thing of the past and the reason I cannot afford the WDC fees. The Lottery win still eludes me and always will. I am not looking for another husband or a permanent relationship, but on the advice of a new friend from my writing group I explored the possibilities of dating sites for the more mature in years. Someone to share walks, meals, cinema, theatre and maybe the odd holiday appeals on some levels, but again the fees these sites charge are out of my range. Maybe I should start my own for duck lovers or old cynics. But I am grateful for the many caring people I do have in my life, both male and female and the new friends I have made here through joining several groups. I'll be sad to downsize on WDC, but writing my book is now top priority and I may or may not manage to find a free blogging site in which to continue my rambles. This blog has helped me survive so many traumas and I will always appreciate that. If anyone knows the winning Lottery numbers for any weeks between now and October please let me know. |
| Another nineteen blogless days and little to show for it. A quick summary. The heatwave continues. This country is just not able to deal with it. I love hot weather and blue skies, but have to admit the limitations it imposes are a little frustrating. It's difficult to do any heavy housework or travel far. A swimming pool would be very welcome. However, come winter I shall be the first to remind those who complain how much they complained about the hot summer. There's no pleasing the British when it comes to weather. Much as I love warm weather, I'm not too fond of the wildlife that comes with it. Flies are brilliant at finding their way inside through small openings,, but hopeless at finding their way out through wide open doors and windows. Eating out with a multitude of wasps is hardly ideal. Cat fleas are hard to eradicate despite tablets, sprays, pipettes and specialised flea combs. Dennis and I have spent many evenings scratching. I have enjoyed some great days out with friends and my sister as well as helping out at the book festival in my town. My writing group are very supportive and I am presently attempting to put together the long awaited and overdue book of my personal story. I have a title and book cover, the first three chapters, a synopsis but have yet to complete details of all chapters. It is indeed a very long and complicated story which continues. I spent last night at a very enjoyable school reunion which turned into my birthday after midnight. It was good to be amongst friends and to have a sleepover which ensured I didn't wake up to an empty house on my birthday. Tomorrow is my grandson Dylan's tenth birthday so more celebrations. I suspect my blogging days are coming to a close. My membership expires at the end of this month and I cannot afford to renew or justify the cost when I don't do a great deal here any longer. It's sad, but all things come to an end. I'll always remember the great times I've had through WDC and the people I've added to my friends list. But the time has come... Who knows what the future holds? |
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) I try to dress according to the color of the day. Thursday is orange. Once I dress accordingly I only need to look at what I'm wearing to be reminded. 
