The Life and Loves of a She Weevil

Summer lovin'

2011-06-04T11:05:00.000+01:00

I must admit to not being a big fan of heat but long days of blue skies and sunshine, drying washing on the line and having the windows open all day and all night kind of make up for it.

It's a month since John had stroke number 4 - the hospital have sort have decided that he may have a problem in the vessels in his brain - no shit sherlock. We have made some major lifestyle changes and we are both (apparently) looking if not feeling better for it.

Twenty five years ago on Monday, I joined the Wrens. I was so excited I could have popped. I met some amazing girls, who have, I have recently rediscovered, turned into clever, funny women.

Things are changing once more. Arty daughter is returning to being arty in September, surrealo son is loved up and organising things for people who like yellow, and the two year old genius is now eight. "The artist" is not arting at the moment but concentrating on not having any more brain storms and I am helping him get there. His beautiful pictures like the one above are featuring here. Expectations are being managed; the living is, as the song says, easy.

We are on the move again. The estate is being demolished and hopefully we will get a lovely new house out of it. You have to take, I have learnt, comfort where you can. You have to ac-sen-choo-ate the positive, for life and the way we live it is a fragile, transient thing.

I'm about ready to put my brain back into gear. I thought a spot of light reading might be in order, so if you don't spot me wasting countles hours clogging your feed with my latest achievement in some distraction that purports to be a game, you'll know where I am.

This afternoon we are intending to have a barbecue on our new oildrum barbecue, that's if the weather holds. The rain will come again but for now I'll just make hay.

Windmills of your mind

2011-05-14T13:42:00.003+01:00

Another funny couple of weeks.

John had another stroke but things are finally looking a bit more settled in terms of health related benefits. I apparently have no more battles awaiting me for which I am grateful

On the housing front, we came home from holiday to find the paperwork we had been waiting for all winter had arrived and although it meant yet another form to fill in (one that I have already done as well) the news looks quite good and according to the woman I spoke to on Wednesday, one of the new houses on the first phase isn't out of the question and if we are able to get one we may even be able to choose our own kitchen and other fittings - how fab.

The important issue is that these houses can be adapted - there is already the reinforcement in place to fit a lift, or a stair-lift and the tracking for hoists have been designed in. So hopefully even if another stroke happens we wouldn't have to move again. We really would like now to put down some roots.

Lachlan and I have just walked back from Homebase at Beacon Park and taken a twirl around the sad houses, empty and boarded up, on Woodhey Road. The demolition has barely started but in a year it could be our new home - wherever we are, we'll be together.

Party!

2011-04-28T14:01:00.004+01:00

I have just been asked by the plumber carrying out our gas safety check what I make of all this Royal Wedding lark. He wasn't mightily impressed. Those of you who know me know that I hold no favour for the Royal Family, but it does seem like a happy occasion and any happy occasion seems worth celebrating at the moment.

I would also like Lachlan not to see the cynical side of life at the moment; I remember with fondness enjoying royal weddings and the jubilee even though my dad was a republican. Lachlan can make his own mind up about things like this when he is older.

It's a shame I can't invite you all - I haven't heard of any street parties, so we are having our own family do tomorrow afternoon. I have spent the morning doing what I love most: occasion cookery. I started making mayonnaise from the Elizabeth David "Summer Cooking" recipe book and made a quick pavlova - it's the Kenwood all in one recipe: 4 egg whites to 9oz icing sugar. The pavlova is out and cooling and I'm poaching the chicken for the coronation chicken: the curry sauce with homemade mayonnaise is now chilling in the fridge and tastes yummy.

On the side in the kitchen is a simnel type cake in preparation - it will form a marchpane centrepiece. The fruit is just absorbing some tea and getting plumped up while I'm waiting for the Dove's farm gluten free plain flour to arrive.

Then I'll knock up some bread rolls and chocolate brownies although these won't be gluten free, and perhaps a qick rice salad.

Whatever you are doing tomorrow enjoy your day.

Moving

2011-04-26T07:21:00.003+01:00

We received some limited information, over the holidays, about the next steps in the neighbourhood regeneration programme.

They are inviting us to apply to the local housing register, which I did back in December just to find out how the new system was working, so at least I have reduced the forms left to fill in in my life by one.

We are finally getting out into the garden which we have ignored for the last two years due to weather, ill health and the crushing sense of defeat brought about by the fact that we are going to loose our home.

We should be grateful for our social housing, and we are, very, and it is not the loss of the the house that is the issue but the loss of our home and the disruption that this will inevitably mean.

The plans for the new estate, which can be found here, look lovely; I'm not hoodwinked into believing that this is not a land grab, however the houses all have dining kitchens - something we don't have at present, which will mean a lot to us. They are also future proofed with level thresholds, gardens, planning for adaptations etc; having three strokes now under our belts this seems like a necessity, a point I will be stressing in our face to face interviews.

Kind hearts and coronets

2011-04-25T07:25:00.002+01:00

It was strange to see the one person who can reduce me to tears with a single phrase on Saturday in the car park of Sainsbury's (Helston). It could have been any day and I would still have thought of the phrase but the fact that it was 23 April, ~~St George's Day,~~ ~~Shakespeare's birthday,~~ would-have-been-dad's-sixty-ninth-birthday struck me as whimsical and portentous.

I completed my shopping not able to get that phrase out of my head; not amusing when you are struggling to find the frozen food section for a last night of the holioday and no money left, don't tell Jamie kind of dinner. She just kept popping into my head toting a Benjamin Bunny Tam O'Shanter and a fitted white day dress and running in the smoke and the steam of the 9.15 to London and now Bernard Cribbins was trying to muscle in on the act too.

It's all very distracting when you can't keep actresses of a certain age and fictional station masters out of a small shopping trip.

By the time I left I had been convinced to buy a lottery ticket which I just never do, using a load of numbers which may once have been the numbers could possibly but perhaps not.

Thank-you, I think, Ms Agutter for the disturbed shopping and thoughts of my dad.

Happy Birthday, Dad

A foggy, foggy day

2011-04-07T07:38:00.003+01:00

No, not in London town, but most certainly in Plymouth.

We are off to our camp in the country tomorrow for two weeks of Lizard loveliness, courtesy of Kate and Phil at Franchis (pictured left).

A year has made a big change. John and I are slowly coming to terms and learning to cope with his health problems and the help we have had from the NHS has been superb. We are trying to work out ways that we can work together from home in the future so that we don't have to be relieant on out of work benefits. John cannot go out to work -well not without a supremely understanding employer and a number of adaptations and very close supervision - however we could, for the moment, work together from home. There has been no real clarification on the fact that John's condition is, I believe, progressive - however, there is at least some sort of record of his ability now and that will be able to be measured in the future. There is also a recognition that his own intellect and articulacy has masked the cognitive impacts of his strokes.

Being at home together is providing a kinder, less stressed environment and we are moving together to make things better because we love each other.

My two older children continue to defy the paucity of expectation that many of the professional held for them in their early life. Thanks Sister Dympna for your lack of aspiration for and complete misjudgement of my children - you have spurred them on to achieve at all costs. I take that back. Apparently, I am the inspiration.

I take this opportunity to wish all my friends a very happy Easter, whether or not you believe. This is the time for new beginnings and hope.

Good day

2011-01-12T16:09:00.003+00:00

Today I did something amazing. I did something, for me, so mind-blowing I can't quite take it in.

This just the smallest step but this evening I genuinely feel as though by the end of this year (perhaps sooner) I will be a driver. I can hardly believe I drove. I started the engine. I moved off from the kerb, waited for an oncoming bus and then pulled around the parked car and drove down the road. Okay, the lovely Rhona was telling me exactly what to do at every tiny stage of the way and my legs didn't really know what they were doing but I didn't panic, I didn't cry, I stayed calm and even (sshh) enjoyed it, something I could not have anticipated, even this morning.

I am still picturing myself making the car go in broadly the right direction with something of a sense of glee. Apparently this has made me very smiley today. This, as you all know, happens very rarely. Today, therefore, is a good day.

Epiphany

2011-01-07T07:47:00.003+00:00

This week has been a little like gifts from the magi, not, you understand, that anyone has delivered gold frankincense or myrrh, but in the surprise of a series of small silver linings.

In global terms, or even in normal terms, I have achieved nothing but for me I have been able to move forward on things that have felt impossible for a long time.

Next Wednesday I have my first ever driving lesson and today I am contacting a guy called Barrie in Saltash about a new allotment through landshare.

The kitchen is sorted, the washing, whilst not in any way under control, is atleast in some sort of attrition. I feel like I am winning small battles instead of constantly losing the war.

I am sure that once I get my hands back in the earth, the world will seem a better place. Those of you who know me, know that I am not at all new-agey: too buttoned up to be barefoot but there are fundamental things that I believe people should do for their own wellbeing, and growing things is one of them.

I am also trying to do a little writing to let out some of the torrent of feelings in a controlled way, so I'm afraid you may have to deal with more of my musings than you have been accustomed to.

Can do

2011-01-04T12:59:00.004+00:00

I am feeling very odd.

Today was the first day back at work and of course, I am not there. To say that this is, in many ways, a huge relief is a massive understatement. The relief is tinged with real fear about the future and I waiver wildly between feeling unusual optimism and the pit of despair. Ho hum. To give up a job, any job, seems foolish and melodramatic but to give up something that is making you sick to the bottom of your soul ....

Aside from all the mental turmoil, today I have achieved the following:

steam cleaned the kitchen

reported our broken boiler and am awaiting boiler repairman (no mean feat when you are not even inclined to let your own mother into the house of doom)

tidied the living room (almost took down tree but twelth night paranoia stopped me)

made lentil soup with Christmas ham stock

phoned Carers Champions

phoned Simply Counselling (a counselling service for stroke survivors and their families)

I thought I was on a fairly even keel with it all but when I was leaving Simply Counselling a message I got quite choked. I do feel robbed and bereft and angry, so very angry ...

I am now waiting for DWP to phone so I may do some baking - it's a bit like fags and buses - they are bound to phone when I am elbow deep in flour.

In other news, Adult Social Care have granted me a lovely amount of money in order to purchase some driving lessons, so hooray for them

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T08:48:00.002+00:00

For every season there is change, change, change.

To all my friends I have recently said goodbye to, until I started working for schools this was a significant part of my life and this seems like the right time to start again.

I have been low and unwell for most of the holidays but am now beginning to feel a little better. Some might say that this has all been a reaction to the lack of adrenaline (stress); let me assure you there has been no real lack of stress.

As some of my blog friends will know John has had another stroke (October 15th) and as we are still, only now, beginning to really pick apart the problems that his first two strokes have left him with; things are not easy in the house of Weevil

So time to get back to basics: time to write and read; time to grow and sow; time to love and be loved.

A very happy New Year to all of my friends, old and new.

Sold! Sold! Sold!

2008-03-31T12:36:00.006+01:00

All sold and another heap off to friends down under.

Happy Christmas Fairy

2008-03-05T07:53:00.003+00:00

Hooray - the artist's minigallery is up and running again!!

2008-02-28T10:45:00.010+00:00

Nudes to the left of me, nudes to the right ....

And all available for sale over here:

www.minigalleryworld.com/John_Morris

A good week ...

2008-02-21T17:01:00.004+00:00

... This week has been another good one with a little diference from the humdrum of every day goings on. Yesterday we went to beautiful, but atricously signposted, Bath. Arty Daughter had an interview at Bath Spa University for a place on their Fine Art course.

She is talented and clever and was offered a place on the basis of her portfolio alone.

For those of you who have missed him, the Painter has eventually managed to get a new Minigallery subscription sorted out and will soon have some new pieces available for sale.

He seems to be focussing on bare naked ladies at the moment so you are having my bottom inflicted on you in his honour.

Have broached chickens with neighbours who seem easygoing about it (and everything else) but we need to make the garden a bit more secure before we can go ahead.

... and I'm feeling good

2008-02-14T11:08:00.007+00:00

I know in my heart that global warming is A BAD THING but the last few days which have, happily, coincided with half-term and a much needed break from the now 9 part time jobs have been spent very happily in the garden. I'm not a fairweather gardener and am happy in wind and rain, which has been just as well over the last few months, but to be able to potter with only the slight resemblance to Mr Bibendum that my natural figure invokes and without the layers of fleeces, jumpers and ski jackets has been rather delightful.

My propensity for perennials means that the collection of sticks in the ground you can see will, one day, be rather more than twigs.

In other lovely news the Artist's minigallery will be up and running from 19 February - watch this space.

And finally heart felt Valentine congrats to my friends over here.

One fine day....

2008-01-26T17:11:00.001+00:00

A very happy New Year to anyone who remembers me. I am now even more busy in the job department which would be fine if the Local Authority would stop buggering about with my pay.

However it has its compensations as the Artist now has a new studio (or as we like to call it, the shed) and is busy being creative again - yay!!

Some of you may remember that we had a potentially large garden from the google earth picture somewhere below but it had a large patio, robbed out of its paviours. Thankfully, the shed now takes up much of this which means we can't really see the garden from the lounge but the plan is to be in it when it's dry enough anyway.

Since Christmas I have been taking advantage of any dry days to move things that I'd given temporary homes to after buying them and plantings 'bits and pieces' I've bought. Today I planted out some rhubarb, gooseberry bush (with words of warning from my mother about looking underneath it), redcurrant and blackcurrant, an apple and a pear tree.

The chicken thing is looking like a distinct possibility - my neighbours my need a bit buttering up first, although I thought 3 pullets wouldn't cause to much noise, what do you think?

She Weevil's Moveable Feasts

2007-09-19T10:43:00.001+01:00

Almost gone and entirely forgotten, if you would like to submit your favourite recipes for this little weblog, here, they would be most welcome.

There is already a glut of tantalising little treats there (well, perhaps glut is overstating it somewhat but it they are there nonetheless) and yours could join them. There is no prize and no reward other than the knowledge that you have been immortalised on tinternet.

Politics of envy

2007-09-18T15:58:00.000+01:00

I am a nice person. This is a truth universally acknowledged. So why am I sitting here smouldering? Google, and more especially googling, is bad for my health. Today I found someone who used to be my best friend and she has done very nicely for herself thankyou very much. All I can think is horrid thoughts about the "golden ones". You know the ones who happen to be standing next to you when the cosmic shit hits you full in the face.

I should, as a nice person, think "Oh! Jolly good for her" but the best I can muster is a muttered "Spoiled cow" and a teeny (it was really teeny) "lucky bitch".

Tomorrow I may have come to terms with it all but today I am just plain jealous and I hope she gets a huge boil on her pretty, upturned nose.

For Diana ...

2007-09-17T12:56:00.000+01:00

No, not that one. The nosey one from two posts down. *Waves* .

Things I should be doing today:

Minutes, minutes and more minutes. A couple of agendas. More minutes.

Things I am doing today:

Pondering on baby status over here and thinking about baby status over here. Thinking about lovely weekend on the Lizard and looking at new to us caravans on ebay. I am also thinking about how to get roughly £13,000 so I can get one of these.

And when matters of import such as those are not at the forfront of my thinking organ, I am pondering shed situation, permission and purchase.

It's all go in the house of Weevil, I can tell you.

Happy Christmas Fairy and the scottie dogs

2007-09-05T07:59:00.001+01:00

These wonders can be found here.

Back to school

2007-09-03T08:11:00.000+01:00

LTB and Surrealo Son (oh, and me) are all back to school this week. The summer holidays have been a fantastic break and we had really lovely weather down in our little caravan. Since we have been home we have finished the bathroom, started the garden in earnest and made five pounds of blackberry jam.

I have planted out two of the rescued roses along with some crocosmia, some lilies, a Bishop of Llandaff Dahlia, some catmint, and rather a lot of herbs. There are also various things that I planted from mixed packets of seeds that are yet to be identified - some look a bit like sunflowers and the dog keeps eating them (who knew?) and the other has glaucous foliage with a red vein - keep your smutty thoughts to yourselves - and may well be a brassica of some type. Whatever, it has provided an attractive addition to the border.

I was also lucky to have been given some lavender plants and honeysuckles and jasmines by my mum for my birthday along with another beautiful David Austin rose "Heritage". Thanks Mum.

The Happy Christmas Fairy and the back to school bags.

2007-08-29T16:40:00.000+01:00

I may have forgotten to mention for some time, that I have have two lovely sisters; one grumpy one and one Happy Christmas Fairy one. They are both variously talented individuals but in the absence of anything concrete from the grumpy one to show you, I would just like to point out that the Happy Christmas Fairy one makes beautiful personalised PE bags like this:

Or this:

She even makes grown up bags for grown ups like this:

Best of all, they are available here, so go and buy one this second!

The kindness of strangers ...

2007-06-08T14:52:00.000+01:00

While we were away at Easter people from other allotments started nicking bits and pieces from ours, supposing it to be abandoned (which in effect it was). My allotment neighbour came round and told Arty Daughter to get me to call him when we got home and I did. I was very upset as I was having to give up not only the allotment but also my lovely roses; presents from my mum and my dad before he died.

The news of the new house and the prospect of a garden seemed somewhat ironic; if only I'd known a couple of weeks ago, I might have been able to salvage them!

My delight this morning, to go downstairs to meet my allotment neighbours wife, with not even my hair brushed to be told that they had saved the roses and potted them up for me and I could go round and get them whenever we got a house.

The kindness of Tom and Mrs Tom is overwhelming. Those roses are really loved and I am so pleased that they will be coming home to our new house with us (on or about next Thursday).

Good-bye to all that

2007-05-28T09:35:00.000+01:00

Well we've only been here, in Urine Towers, for the past two years seven months and three days but if you all keep your fingers crossed really tightly we may indeed be on the move to Urban Decay Grove.

As you can see from the little picture on the right it has a pleasantly sized garden and the little crescent is tree-lined.

Of course not much has happened in the intervening three years. We arrived here in such traumatic circumstances and the trauma seemed to lurch from bad to worse. In spite of it all Surrealo Son and Arty Daughter are blooming in to wonderful young people and two year old genius is now four and knows everything there is to know about Harry Potter.

It won't miss anything at all about this dank little dive. I won't miss the humiliation of having things delivered and the delivery person snearing, or not being delivered and the delivery person and the company snearing.

We are not going to miss the "Slugs". They haven't featured much because what I took at first as a rum eccentricty actually turned out to be something a little more sinister. I thought it wise not to report on the majority of activities from below but one is a matter of public record. Save to say that this and other things have had a grave and detrimental effect on all of our lives and have made our little escape to the country an absolute necessity. I may be a little quiet over the next few weeks but this will be a good and busy quiet, not another post stroke hiatus. With love and hugs to all my blog friends near and far.

Headbangers ...

2007-05-21T21:08:00.000+01:00

No, I haven't gone over to the dark side, Ella is still my drug of choice on the musical front but I do seem to be surrounded by headbangers. In the jobs I mentioned below I have recently had to deal with a few individuals who need their heads banging together.

In addition to those who would benefit from a short, sharp block knock I have also encountered others that are inducing me to bang my own head hard against a brick wall in order to maintain the illusion of my own sanity.

In other news we may be moving from Urine Towers to Urban Decay Grove but it is semi-detached and has a garden (front and back); who cares about the crack den next door and the prostitute in the bus shelter?

In other other news I may have invented something brilliant but only if you are over 6 foot tall and own a caravan.