First thing to mention is that the birthday candle is still going. It's not still playing Happy Birthday - it's now in a cupboard emitting a high pitched whistle. Son doesn't want candle to go until it gives up - it means his birthday is still happening.
Last week wasn't easy - I didn't feel 'right' all week. Very tired. Then on Thursday night I finished work as normal and got on with my evening. By 19:00 I was throwing up and by 20:00 I was asleep in bed feeling terrible. Woke up on Friday morning feeling like I'd been hit in the face with a spade. Took dog for a walk ,and started work.
I lasted approximately 1.5 hours at work and then had to finish for the day. I spent the whole day curled up in bed listening to podcasts and feeling sorry for myself.
On Saturday I woke up, the sun was shining and I still felt ropey. I cancelled the evening meal with friends and curled up on the sofa. By about midday I was ready to go out with the dog. I didn't feel I could achieve anything too strenuous so was lazy and drove to Beacon Hill rather than walking there.
The sun was out and it was a stunning day. It did a lot to lift my mood. This week's photo is where I just sat down on the hill and gazed at the sea and blue sky for about 20 mins whilst the dog wandered around finding random poo to eat.
I headed back home and didn't think to check that dog had noticed. After about 5 mins I realised dog wasn't with me and turned to look for her. I could see her in the distance looking freaked out and lost, but it seems she couldn't see me. I called for her - no luck. So I got out the dog whistle and did 2 toots (our signal). She belted off in the direction of the whistle - except she didn't - she saw somebody completely different and decided it was me and belted in the wrong direction through grasses.
Tooting repeatedly on the whistle I waved my arms so she could see me. Eventually she did - again bounding through the long grasses. By the time she reached me she was covered from top to toe in grass seed - the sort that if you leave them a second get matted into her coat.
I pulled her away from the grass, to where there is a dip in the hill - I think they used to be where the farmers stored water 'back in the day'. Settling down I started to pull the grass seed out of her coat one by one. It took about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, there were two foragers in the bowl of the dip who were trying to be all 'green' and zen. Sensing trouble the dog just barked at them repeatedly.
I apologised for the noise and explained what I was doing. Both of them looked at me curled their lip and gave me a condescending look. After which, instead of trying to keep dog quiet, I just let her rip. After about 5 minutes of that they both wandered off with their noses in the air.
I know I sound dreadful, but let's just point out. This is a semi rural area - that means loads of people live there and also the hill is where most of those people take their dogs out. If you want to pretend that you live off the land, foraging in the countryside - then go into the flipping countryside!!!
After all of this I continued to feel terrible, but couldn't yet relax. I came home and put on a slow cook so I didn't have to cook later and then son and I went into the garden.
The temperature has dropped, it's really quite chilly - very usual British September. Freezing in morning and warms up as day goes on. But it's lovely that it's not raining. The rain had basically started again and didn't stop until Saturday. Son had said that for £7 an hour he would work on garden to get it ready for winter.
So armed with tools he got busy in the garden cutting things back. I was out there with him for a while just cutting back the bits and bobs that need a bit of intelligent pruning. Making sure they come back next year. Something I am extremely unsuccessful at and every year at least one thing never comes back again. This year's death was the potato tree. Husband is thrilled, I'm very sad.
It feels so strange cutting things back for winter when it doesn't even feel like the summer has started yet.
I feel desperate for some sunshine and started to look at a winter holiday. Perhaps going away on 28th December and arriving home before start of term. I couldn't believe how expensive holidays are. Especially now son is 16. His age means that we'd probably need an extra room for him and then would be paying a premium for single occupancy. So, for now, I've given up on that idea. I'm thinking we may try something a bit last minute - but it depends on how energised we feel after Christmas and if we can find somebody to take the dog at last minute.
On Sunday I started to feel a bit better, I went into back garden and did the bits of cutting back that I didn't want son to do - largely the bits with 8 foot drops onto patios etc. (what with garden being something of a hill with 8 foot drops cut into it). Then got supper ready and went out for a walk with dog and husband in the chilly sunshine. Unfortunately, this means I totally overdid it and ended up the evening feeling rotten again.
I can't believe that it's now time to start thinking about purchasing Christmas gifts and being ready for short days. It honestly feels like I got taken up by aliens and missed the whole of the summer. Fingers crossed this winter will be a better one than last year.
They are saying that because of climate change it's likely that all winters will be long and wet now. However, whenever we have an unseasonably warm winter they say that is what it's going to be like because of climate change. If we have a long hot summer that's what it's going to be like from now on because of climate change. If we have a short wet summer (like this year), that's what it's going to be like from now on because of climate change. If we have snow drifts in April, that..... you get the idea.
So basically I get the feeling that nobody knows.
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