I had a rather lovely lunch date today with an interesting, intelligent woman who was very good company. Yes; I took myself out to lunch. Because I’m worth it.
I’ve had a very wobbly couple of weeks. Now, I know compared to people who were mixed up in the Isis suicide bombing in Manchester I have nothing at all to complain about. But, sometimes, as much as you try to stay positive, every little thing irritates and those little things attract more little things and before you know it you’ve got a whole pile – a hillside – of little niggles that are all serving to get you down.
I’m writing this at 5pm on Saturday afternoon, sitting outside, revelling in the peace and quiet. The only noise is the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance and the gentle plip-plop of soft raindrops that are just beginning to fall. After ten days of non-stop noise from lorries revving up and the cement mixer, and the dirt and dust from the plot next to me where they’ve started building a house, the silence is priceless. Finally, I am able to open the back door for the first time since 7.30am this morning (yes – they even work on Saturdays!) to let some air into the cottage, which feels like a greenhouse. Fortunately the power is on, so the fans are going like the clappers in an attempt to spread cool air around.
My saga with my Internet provider continues. I just have to use the experience as part of the storyline in a book one day soon. The trouble is, I don’t think anyone would believe me. I’ve had to call the technicians back so many times, I’m sure they think I fancy them. But every time they come they find another reason why it’s not working – the wires from the pole opposite to my roof need replacing – the wires on three poles further down the lane had been eaten by rats (!) – there’s a problem in the main box for the area – it’s your modem – and they appear to fix it and when they leave me it’s with Internet service. But within an hour or two, it stops working. Every. Single. Time. To say it’s frustrating is an understatement. They brought another modem yesterday afternoon as they were convinced it was mine that was the problem. They set this new modem up only to find that it gave the same reading as mine – 2.3 when it should be about 15. Is it any wonder I can’t watch any TV or movies or have any Skype or FaceTime calls??? Consequently I’ve felt very isolated.
And I’ve also come to realise, sadly, that here, apart from lovely B&C I really don’t have any friends. I have acquaintances, but not friends. So – it really is time to leave I think and the good news is that the perspective buyer should be arriving today so we can finally get things moving. Please pray to whichever Deity you worship on my behalf, that it goes through without any hitches so that I can take my money and move back home.
But then, on Wednesday I had a super day. My dear friend R came to see me with her husband and two boys. We had such a good time and their visit really cheered me up. It was a real trip down Memory Lane as R and I were besties when she worked at Jolly Beach and I used to bring the singles groups. She lives back in UK now and is here on holiday. We spent the whole day reminiscing, her husband fell asleep on the sun-lounger and the boys only got out of the pool to have some lunch. Great fun!
Yesterday I heard of the tragic death of one of the Daughter’s friends – a vivacious young woman with a loving husband and small child – and I tried to imagine how her mother must be feeling and I just couldn’t. I sat and cried my eyes out at her pain and afterwards I gave myself a huge metaphorical shake and sat and counted my blessings, which really do run into hundreds.
And in among all the stormy weather of the last few days I suddenly saw a huge, bright, beautiful double rainbow. 🌈🌈 It took up the whole sky and it looked almost close enough to touch. My Regular Readers know that rainbows are a special sign to me from the Universe that everything is going to work out. ❤️❤️❤️ I have some great photos of it but my connection is too weak to enable me to upload them to show you. 👎
And so today, instead of staying at home fuming with resentment because I couldn’t watch the French Open on TV as it’s only on a premium chanel, or on the iPad, because the connection is too slow and weak to allow my Filmon.TV app to do its job; and at the noise and the heat caused by the building work going on next-door, I got myself showered and changed, put on some slap and went out to lunch. And it was rather nice sitting with other people all around me and having lunch cooked and put in front of me (even though it wasn’t the best lunch I’ve ever eaten!). And as I said, I enjoyed my own company and now, this afternoon, feel much calmer and happier than I have all week. Hopefully, I can now concentrate on my writing projects again.
I just have to hope the internet signal lets me post this some time soon….
