Helen Keller

Rebecca Ferguson: she didn't win X Factor but she is a singer and songwriter par excellence.

Happy Endings?

I’ve just been reading http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/ post on the wonderful blog meets she has had. Actually I have only heard – not in any detail alas - of one ghastly one. One doesn’t have to actually meet fellow bloggers – I can think of at least three Americans - to feel a close bond, and the thought occurred to me: did anybody get married or form a lasting partnership through meeting a fellow blogger?

I’ve found my hairdresser – or at least her mobile number and she is coming on Monday to cut and blow dry - I’ll shampoo it first. This works quite well as Wednesday is our 32^nd wedding anniversary and MTL suggested we dine at the Luttrell Arms in Dunster. We always eat well there but the last time we stayed the room was less than immaculate so it had to be changed, although when we had MTL’s 80th there, some of the family stayed and were quite satisfied. Possibly just a blip

M our handyman is due this morning to look over the hall, stairs and landings, and also the attic rooms with a view to painting and decorating. The problem is that at present there is a blending of shabby chic all over and any fresh décor is going to highlight the rest. And all those doors – even more than we had in my old Victorian house.

I’m re-reading ‘Wallis’ the infamous Duchess of Windsor who caused Edward VIII to renounce the throne when he found his beloved would not be tolerated as Queen.

Whilst on the Riviera one of the many places they leased was the Chateau La Croe.

Lady Mendl herself turned up to participate. Soon the house carried the authentic Mendl touch: a riot of mirrors, extravagantly elaborate gold and white mouldings, yellow, white and blue draperies and whirlwinds of satin, lace, lacquer and tapestries. The royal bedroom was a flourish of black, scarlet and gold, the furniture painted in trompe l’oeil.

Meanwhile the Duke was fraternising with Adolf Hitler – what a lucky escape we had.

Hurrah I‘ve done my 'abroad' Christmas cards. The next step is Post Office – weighing and stamps. As there are six different countries I’ll really have to concentrate and stamp then correctly – without my good specs. I meant to go and do this today but remembered the last time I did (the PO is in the Co-op) they were closed – it was about lunch time on a Saturday. The plan is to stamp them and post then at leisure so they don’t get there too early. One of these days I really will cancel Christmas.

The Windsors with Adolf Hitler

Experiment
These are pyjamas and dressing gown I'm getting for Christmas. Ironically after deciding what fun the spotty and tartan PJ's were, I chose these and a similar pair of PJ's in a plain blackcurrant colour.
Aren't women weird?
Mainly I'm trying out Mike's solution (Mike and Ann - side bar) to solve the photo problem. Fingers crossed.

Woe is me

I’m not talking plague and pestilence here – just a few little pin pricks which I could well do without. For instance I have been throwing myself wholeheartedly into saving the planet(unlike another house holder not a million miles away) washing plastic bottles, flattening shiny cardboard, reverently wrapping teabags, egg shells, and banana skins in the Daily Telegraph and depositing them in their respective boxes and then I went and cut myself washing out a tin of baked beans. I’ve had to ban MTL from doing the same- should it occur to him – as he is on Warfarin.

I was fairly confident when the optician summoned me for an inspection that my eyes were fine and sure enough the beginnings of a cataract hadn’t changed in two years and everything else was healthy (there is a special in- depth examination now which I had) but my prescription had changed. Recalling how much they cost last year I ummmed and aaahed and even quoted my son’s disbelief at how much they cost, whereupon I was reminded of the varilux lenses, the specially thin lenses, the titanium frames and the react- to- light lenses and if I left it longer than six months I would have to have another examination. So for the sake of economy I shall use the same frames, stick to varilux because they are excellent and dispense with the react- to- light which I don’t find very satisfactory - and it still costs a bomb! The big drawback is it takes about a fortnight to fit the lenses – they have to go away and I have to use old glasses meanwhile so be prepared for barely legible posts.

Mum always said ‘A woman’s hair is her crowning glory’ so I was concerned to return from holiday to find my usual hairdresser had disappeared. She only worked two days a week but for anything other than a straight forward shampoo and blow- dry I would always make a point of booking her. She has always been so kind and supportive I couldn’t understand why she hadn’t said anything but was told firmly she wouldn't be allowed to. There is talk that she is going to start again and meanwhile my hair is growing at a rate of knots.

I’m meeting the girls today and they have had far more important problems to deal with so I’ll get a grip and play some music. It will either be below or above this.

Below – nothing like a combo of Maria and Tosca to put thing in perspective.