Author: riverfiles

Snowdrops sighted at Otter corner. How lovely.

School Holidays still in progress . Starting to get to me somewhat although delighted to spend last day of vacation with youngest River Sprite whizzing about in mud- coated car listening to Maroon 5’s Animals as well as Sia’s, ‘The Greatest.’ all time faves for the two of us. Disgusting weather – rain free but relentlessly cold and utterly overcast. Felt as if trapped in a Tupperware container with lid firmly pressed down. Gloomy, grey, scudding skies. Very angry with Old Father Thames who made every possible effort to undermine me this morning – first thing – why? – this yet to be explained

He sniped at me as we pottered about making breakfast for the children and snapping at each other like turtles over the gas hob. He had snorted (I think) with derision when I said, “I’m tidying up as I go along”

Definte virtue signalling from him. Unfair! Do not feel appreciated under own roof. Up till 2345 hrs last night clearing up pattern cutting mess we made in dress making project and getting River Sprite child ready to pin pattern on to dress.

GOD how I long to do what Tony Armstrong Jones did to Princess Margaret at some point in the marriage and leave a spiteful note for him (Old Father Thames) within the pages of his bedside reading. He would open a page and a ‘post it’ sricker would tumble out….reading glasses on and…

“You are a supercillious, oleaginous twat”

Daffodils seen! just a small clump out on the verge on the A379 by Yealmpton. Incredible to see Daffs emerge before snowdrops.

Our middle-aged dog (soon to be 7) is inexplicably and horribly constipated. Perpetually squatting and straining with horrible residue stuck under tail area. Had someone I don’t know well round yesterday and while taking her into garden, we encountered this revolting spectacle. “So sorry just don’t look at the dog please avert your gaze” but both of us found ourselves unable to tear our eyes away. A horrible fascination.

Monstrous hangover today. Really one of the worst and not that much drunk. Consumed from a bottle supplied by kind relative over Christmas. Will not be trying that again. Devastating effect for the few glasses I had while watching the brilliant Godless. Dragged self about all day as if wading through treacle. Sweaty, morose and muddled. Have decided mid-week drinking will cease forthwith. Actually felt physically poisoned . A New Year wake up call.

Back in the saddle. Received 2 texts about potential work. Hooray. Was suffering from distinct grumpiness about my job towards end of year and voiced serious thoughts of a career switch with other half (hereafter known in this blog as Old Father Thames) and others who are near and dear. After a month off however due to minor illness beginning of Dec and Christmas can’t wait to get back to it.
What have I missed about work (apart from the money)? ….Hmmmm
1)Getting into a uniform – not having to embark on tedious process of deciding what to wear.
2)Putting hair up into a bun and getting it out of the way. Hair getting horribly, noticeably thin these days particularly on the left hand side which is strange and this upsetting development less obvious to me when swept up. (Buns getting smaller and smaller as less and less hair wound in)
3)The 10 minute sound bite I get with each patient. Different people coming Into room all day long. Every single one, even the difficult/stroppy are interesting.
4)An imposed routine. So easy to just drift from one task to another when at home, be distracted by doorbells etc and look back over end of the day and see how pathetically little has been achieved
5)Feeling of being of some use to the public in some way, however small.
6)The delicious soups in the staff canteen (£1.25) and the cheerful team who serve them
7)Getting away from Old Father Thames – Quite a challenge living with a recently retired man. In the past he was always at work and so often abroad. Now just at home and well…. lurking.
7)Retiring to my car in staff car park at lunch, reclining the seat putting on my sunglasses and having a short snooze. Almost always wake myself up with a loud snort 10 minutes later. Very unladylike.

Back to Jan 2nd then.
Went out with the dogs first thing on my “Behemoth” ( heavy, black, powerful Electric bike, best gift to self of 2017). Weather mild enough not to have to wear gloves or woolly hat under cycle helmet. After a while noticed in rear view mirror I have inserted into my right handlebar they weren’t following. (Usually see them galloping, ears flapping, tongues out behind me as I build up a head of speed.) Very annoying. Blew gun dog whistle that is always sounded at their meal time. No response then saw them emerge from a driveway with one carrying a discarded turkey (or chicken) carcasss. Infuriating. Presumably from some household’s rubbish. Had to dismount from Behemoth. (No mean feat. These bikes are NOT the walk through type) put it on the kickstand and try to wrestle it away from her in case of choking on bones then throw the greasy revolting carcass as high into hedge as I could. Wiped hands on grass to little effect and we carried on.
Went into town briefly after that to get keys cut and into bank to get an old five pound note changed for new. The cashier was talking to the woman ahead of me in the queue about how the branch would be closing down in May. “All of us to be made redundant”. She looked professional as she said this but sad.
Out in the side street young boys with rather long hair were on skateboards making the most of their final day of freedom. Schools back tomorrow.

Came back to find Old Father Thames had again removed my vital green gardening trug which sits upended on the sacks of dog food in the garden. This is SO annoying. The idea is if an upturned trug is placed over the opened dog food sack they cannot get to it, when for example being let out at night and sneaking round there for a snack. Why can’t this important routine be understood?. Went out into lane and found him standing there looking very pleased with himself, woolly hat on and overalls. ” I’ve cleared a lot of leaves and look no more stream running down the road!”
“Well done you….” and yes a good job definitely done but er and there it was the green trug full of mud and leaves. So INFURIATING
“If you don’t mind I’ll just….” I said emptying it into the back of the jeep and taking it back. This scenario has been played out a least twice in last week. Why can’t he learn? Thought about making and laminating a notice saying, “This trug NOT to be removed” but decided against it. I remember reading an article once on how a woman trained her husband like training a performing dolphin. I wonder how she would have handled it?.