Nine Feet Underground

An early start today: I need to pick something up from the shops and son #1 and his gf are off out for a walk with friends. Back from the shops and no sooner have I got indoors than another text arrives to say I have another parcel to pick up from the very same shop I just left.  Typical.  It can wait until tomorrow now.   As the New Year approaches, I'm thinking of changing the name of this blog.  There are personal reasons why it was called 'Tales From The Crypt', partly as an homage to the comic of the same name, partly as a jokey reference to a silly rhyme, and partly circumstantial. The only challenge is what name do I use?  I need to get my thinking cap on.  If I can find it. It occurs to me I could continue on the comics theme with 'Astounding Stories', but I think that probably sets me up for major disappointment, so probably not. Where's that cap? Let's get the chores out of the way, most important of which are three things on E's behalf. Two ...

I've got a few minor chores to do today, quite a few are admin jobs that I need to do on E's behalf, not to mention filing in my office that I've not found time for in weeks. So much paperwork! I'm going to fit the jobs around some things I need to do purely for myself.  I'm doing some planning for the next 12 months, and this will probably be split across the next few days. It needs a lot of thought. Uninterrupted thought. One indulgence will be watching John Huston's film, 'The Dead' , from 1987. It's only available on YouTube, as far as I can tell, though perhaps one of the more film-buff oriented streaming services might have it.  It's certainly very hard to get in physical form, despite the awards it won. 'The Dead' was excellent, it's fairly faithful to the story and dialogue from the novel is spoken by the characters. If you'll pardon the pun, it really brings the story to life, though some characters are not as I imagined ...

I have succumbed. There was no way around it.  I've given in.  I have been to the shops as I realised I had no fruit for my porridge and porridge without fruit is a cardinal sin, as I'm sure you know.  Consequently, I also went to the card shop and coffee shop.   When I arrived home the community matron was here, making a routine visit to change the water in E's PEG balloon, and no sooner had I got the shopping in, when the carers arrived.  Piccadilly Circus! Latest news is that my father-in-law's funeral is set for next week, so we just need to work out the logistics of that, dispersed as we are. I am enjoying having the freedom to use my time as I wish, I could get used to it.  Doesn't time fly though.  The Idler community would be proud. I finished reading 'The Dead' and appreciated the story even more than I did when I first read it.  I need to find the time to watch the film now. One of the things that struck me was the attitude to femal...

I have agreed with son #3 that I'll make celeriac soup today.  It's a Christmas family favourite and we've had seafood starters the last two days.  What else I will do, who knows? The only thing I have decided is that I won't be going to the shops! I'm going to read James Joyce' short story, 'The Dead', which is the last story in 'Dubliners' and is set at Christmas.  It's a story of great subtlety and nuance (as are all the tales in 'Dubliners') and so I need to savour every word and sentence.  Once I've finished it, I'm going to watch John Huston's film version of the story, which is supposed to be excellent. Amongst all the usual interruptions that we get every day, I did manage to start 'The Dead', but not finish it.  Maybe tomorrow. This week, but not today, alas, I need to sit down somewhere quiet and do some planning for 2023. It could well be a year of much change, though exactly how much is uncertain. After...

Can you say, 'Happy Boxing Day'? Well, I just have, so there it is. I'll probably not write much today, like yesterday, as I'll be too busy doing it. Being present in the moment. Today's dinner is a beef joint which I'm cooking in the slow cooker, served with all the Christmas trimmings and Yorkshire puddings, of course.  We have a seafood starter, because we all love seafood, after all. We eat in the same room as E, as always, so that she can feel part of Christmas, in some way. I also bit the bullet and found a moment to tell E about her dad's death on Christmas Day.  As with almost everything I say to her, I don't know if she understood what I said, or took it in, but there was no reaction from her. At least none that I could detect. Early evening sons 1, 3 and I, played a few rounds of a card game called Mantis, which is named after the Mantis Shrimp (who he?), rather than the religious one (I know!!!) We all won a game and then we had the decider, w...

Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas Day is a day for cooking, presents, time spent with family (wherever in the world), not for blogging. Highlights of the day, in no particular order (necessarily), were: opening presents on a video call with Q and her family; doing the same with son #2 and his gf in Costa Rica and meeting her mum and dad, who only speak Spanish (which I don't, but tried); sharing dinner preparation and serving with sons  1 and 3; having breakfast with sons 1 and 3 whilst watching Tom and Jerry (especially 'The Night Before Christmas', something of a family tradition; watching 'Four Weddings and A Funeral' together, still finding it funny (as did my sons) and still shedding a tear (contact lenses); a chat with my big sister; and, speaking to Q too. The winter, and Christmas in particular, seems often to bring sadness to our house too.  I got a call from my brother-in-law bringing the sad news that my father-in-law died early this morning. It wasn...

Unlike yesterday, my plan is for a chilled day.  In previous years we've gone food shopping on Christmas Eve.  I have always found that most unpleasant and detracted from the pleasure of Christmas, especially as I feel (at least I have since I've been an adult) that Christmas Eve is the best day of Christmas, with Boxing Day / St. Stephen's day coming a close second. Of course, this is an optimistic view of the day and, as is so often the case, I have two wash loads to do, one of which is due to my decision to change my bed. I was really pleased to get a shopping delivery on Christmas Eve, for the first time in a few years.  Turns out t his was a big mistake.  I have never had an order with so many substitutions, worst of all the dinners for Christmas  Day and Boxing Day were amongst them.  I think the lesson is to aim for a delivery a day or two earlier.  After the shopping arrived and we'd had lunch, I shifted into chill mode. There have been several...

A day of chores (washing, mainly), tidying and present wrapping lies ahead of me.  I don't think I'll have a lot of time to stop and think, or write. On the positive front, son #2 seems to be having a great time in Costa Rica (it's a mere 27C there, so it must be tough for him), which means I can relax. (Well, as close to relaxing as I ever manage to do here). In the afternoon I got some sad news.  E's dad is very ill and is receiving morphine in his nursing home as part of palliative care.  I have always hoped that E would outlive her mum and dad, and it looks like I may get that wish, not that I want my father-in-law to die, of course.  He has been both supportive and understanding of my situation and life changes and is a kindly soul. There aren't enough of those around. Son #3 and I eat together (son #1 and his gf are going out tonight) and watch the most recent 'Live At The Apollo'. Son #1 has yet to go out and I'm going to bed.  The wheel turns. Ja...

Today began early. Too early.  Not only that, it began in a very unpleasant way.  How so? At around 3 am (yes, that is an actual time! Who knew?) I was awoken by my sons 1 and 2 informing me that water was dripping down the light fitting in the hall.  This has happened before (Christmas Day evening a couple of years ago, when some really good friends came to our rescue) and so I and the boys knew what to do.  Stop the cock.  I was half asleep but nevertheless managed it, then turned on all the hot taps (the water is pouring out the top of the hot water tank) and started a call to BG, which son #1 kindly completed. Apparently they are going to send someone out between 8 and 1 tomorrow. Back to bed. I didn't sleep much longer, but did my best. Got to get up early as son #2 is flying to Costa Rica and being picked up at 6:30 am. Said my farewells to an exhausted son #2, the cleaner arrived and then the first carer, K. No water. No heating. The day proceeded as norm...

We were really tired last night, so we got up late.  I have to drive home, after breakfast and chatter.  After wishing everyone a fond farewell, it's time to head off, via a petrol station and thence the English Motorway System (Black Box Recorder). That was some journey! More deviations than a deviants convention. Apparently I was far from the only one who wanted to head south. The boys are back in town, and son #2 is getting ready to fly to Costa Rica for Christmas tomorrow.  We've planned a mini-Christmas celebration, non-traditional, with a pizza delivery, TV and a card game called Mantis which sons 1, 2, 3, son #1's gf and I played.  It was fun.  Family time. That is what Christmas is about. Being together (sting). Off to bed after a jolly chat with Q. Tomorrow Christmas gets serious! Willie J Healey / 'Sure Feels Good' / (Single) [[Q: Willie is ginger and a singer, these are not the criteria! ] ]

It's been a while.  Since I last published a blog and since a wrote a multi-day blog post. I shall do my best to capture the essence of these four days, most of which were spent in Dublin. Let's start on Saturday, which began like any normal Saturday at home, with a trip to the shops and bread stall. After that things changed.  Time to finish packing and drive to Q's house in Liverpool, for a brief stop before Q and I head to John Lennon International for a short hop (I Flatley deny it!) to Dublin. Q's mum and daughter drove us to the airport and our break is really under way. Q and I grabbed some food at the airport as by the time we get to our hotel they'll probably have stopped taking food orders. As we queue to board our plan, I'm starting get worried that it may be overloaded. The amount of botox and filler sported by a large bunch of Liverpool lasses who must be going away for the pre-Christmas craic may just tip the balance.  I think they may also be carr...

My last working day of 2022! It's going to be a very busy day both as consequence of that and also because I'm off to Dublin tomorrow, via Liverpool. Working, preparing and packing. Tonight's dinner is pies, damn pies and no statistics, whilst watching the first episode of  'Am I being Unreasonable?' A good start which bodes well for the series. From tomorrow there may be a temporary hiatus in this blog. Our Dublin adventures may be rolled into one post. Until then... Fazerdaze / 'Thick of the Honey' / (Single) [[ ] ]

As the final working day of the year approaches, I have less and less time to write or things to say. Our cleaner returned today, to a very frosty morning, and I made an emergency dash to the shops before work to get some cards and wrapping paper for presents I need to wrap before the weekend. Son #2 isn't feeling well enough to go on his challenging trip to Watford and so I won't be spending the evening alone after all.   Q's leading an department awayday to the creative campus in Liverpool centre, which is likely to be more fun than my working day. Heigh ho! The working day is done! I've almost got all the presents I'm going to except for one son, who shall remain nameless, though hopefully he'll rectify that by sharing a Christmas list today. Son #2 and I are having a takeaway as I'd only got dinner for me, and it's the easy option.  We have some German-style food whilst watching the first part of a three-part documentary about Agatha Christie. The da...

Today is likely to be very busy with work, with each successive day getting busier as Friday approaches. I will attempt to collect some (printable) thoughts and write them here as the day progresses. Probably. Although there are no thoughts printed here, so far, it's not because they are unprintable, just because I've had no time to write them here as the day has worn on.  After they're gone, there's no point trying to dredge them up from all the other sludge in my brain. Work is over now, but there's not so much of the day left, so not much to say either. As well as being bin night, tonight is pizza night, so hopefully we'll have dinner early as it's the easiest pizziest dinner to do. Pizza, salad, and garlic Homer (d'oh! balls) Son 1, his gf and son #2 eat together with me as we watch 'Tornado' - Stewart Lee live in York.  Though we did see him live on tour (immediately before lockdown) for this  set, it was both different and still laugh out l...

First day of work in the last week of work for 2022!  Usual rules apply! Apart from today being another day in the grips of an icy blast of Arctic air, the only other thing of note is that the plumber is due back to inspect a leak that appears to be coming from where the tray and shower enclosure meet.  I suspect they're being a little stand-offish as they haven't been formally introduced.  A dance card has been marked for tonight. This week's poem is an intriguing sonnet by John Donne, one that has both clarity and mystery. It's not quite in the spirit of the season, or perhaps it is?  Christmas foreshadows the end of the year, the death of one year and the birth of another.  It requires further thought.  Officially it's called ' Death, be not proud (Holy Sonnet 10) ', and here it is: Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet c...

Today is going to be a day of travelling, with the consequence that I'll not be writing much here, I suspect. Q's already gone to work and I'm packing my stuff and loading it into the car in sub-zero temperatures (it's -4C at the moment). Luckily, after the weekend purchases I'm keeping warm, especially my head. The car is now loaded and I'm about to warm it up, clear the snow and ice and then head off. See ya later! That was a fun journey!  I got home between 1 and 2 pm after a pitstop at the services. For most of the journey the temperature was below freezing, but got warmer slowly as I headed into the midlands and south. Parts of the journey were very scenic (when it wasn't foggy!) with the snow-covered fields and hills very atmospheric and seasonal. Beautiful. Having unloaded the car, I have a brief break and catch-up with son #2 and then it's time to pick up son #3, his gf and all his stuff from uni.  I think I'd prefer to stay in the warm, but ...

Lazy start to the day, with a big decision to make.  Make or breakfast, or go out?  It's a sunny but cold day, so the decision is a simple one - we're going to walk to the neighbourhood café for breakfast. The food and the service are always good, so I'm sure it's the right choice. Back from a crisp and crunchy trip to and from a filling breakfast - we both had the Hood breakfast with a couple of extras washed down with a coffee. I don't we'll need lunch today. Q has a hearing test in town after lunch so we're heading in to the 'Pool. Unfortunately, heavy traffic (exacerbated by the snow) means we are late and have to accept a later slot. This gives us an opportunity to go shopping -  and the cold weather encourages me to buy some new waterproof gloves, a waterproof warm hat and a fleece blanket.  Crazy man! Once we get home, it's time for Q to get down to some serious baking, which includes Terry's Chocolate Orange brownies. The dinner goes on t...

Awoke this morning to a good one to two inches of snow on the ground and snow is still falling.  Q loves the snow and is thrilled to see it. I like the snow too, but preferably delivered when it suits me, like on a Christmas morning and never when I have to drive anywhere. Today it's perfectly fine. After taking a few photos, time for breakfast.  We've booked an evening meal at a local pub that's been recommended by some of Q's colleagues, but before that Q has also got an appointment at a waxing parlour (is that the right term? Not sure I know!).  I drive us to the waxworks in a place called Old Swan, which is definitely old but seems to have a shortage of swans, not to mention a shortage of places you might expect to find swans. Unless it refers to vestas? Whilst Q waxes lyrical, I go and park in a nearby ASDA and enter within its hallowed portals. Once the moon has waned, Q re-joined me in the car, we head for Tesco where I fill up the car with diesel (it stinks and ...

A busy day ahead on multiple fronts: work, the shower and travelling to Liverpool after work. Consequently... Early afternoon, the shower was finished. I've not had a chance to properly look at the work that's been done, but after a cursory look (got to get back to work), it seems pretty good. Sadly I will not be the first person to use the shower, I guess. Work is over and I need to finish packing for Liverpool. Earlier in the day, Q sent me photos of snow in L16, which suggests it may be a fun journey.  Oh well, I have music, and water, and will stop at the services for food, so it's just about getting on with it. Q's out at a leaving do for the Vice Chancellor tonight, and when I arrive in a snowy Liverpool after a fairly taxing journey, she's still out, so I settle in and, having unpacked the car, sit down and watch a programme about Dusty Springfield.  Before it ended, Q returned, and we caught up on the day's events. Time for bed. The Big Moon / 'Daydr...

If it wasn't winter before, then winter certainly arrived with a vengeance overnight. The plumber said he might come today, if he gets a couple of other jobs done.  I think the odds are low. The day passed with me busy at work and, as I predicted, the plumber didn't return. He'll be back tomorrow. Unexpectedly, my meds order came in and a really kind friend offered to drop off my prescription on her way home from work.  This was brilliant news as it means I shouldn't (barring the unexpected!) need anything else until next year. Once work was finished (late again) I started to make dinner, during which process our friend dropped off my medication.  Thanks again to them for their wonderful help. Son #2 and I sat down together to have dinner, during which time son #1 and his gf returned home after bus omnishambles.  We watched an excellent and moving documentary about Spike Milligan, before I headed up. The Ruts / 'Babylon's Burning' / 'The Crack' [[] ]

Day 3 of showergeddon, which begins with a change of plan (which was agreed in advance), with a later start due to a couple of smaller jobs and collection of the shower itself. The plumber arrives around lunchtime, with the shower and very ambitious plans for the day. As the afternoon progresses, there is much progress and noise, and in the end the plumber stays until 7:30 p.m., an hour later than he expected.  Sadly, he's still not as far forward as he expected and hopes to complete tomorrow (if he gets away in time from two other small jobs), otherwise on Friday, which is cutting things fine for me if he's running late. HHPB! When will it ever end? Whilst the plumber was still in the loft, a kind friend dropped of some meds for son #1, who has run out and can't get a med review (which he needs) until 23rd December.  Right now, these meds are very important to him. We ate together and watched another episode of Frankie Boyle's 'New World Order', before it was t...

Day 2 of shower replacement. The shower still hasn't been delivered.  We may end up with an enclosure to stand in, like one of those magic Star Trek showers without water. The plumber needs the shower by first thing tomorrow, if he's to finish on time. On all other fronts it's a working day, punctuated by any requests the plumber has (please can you play the album 'Never Mind The Ballcocks' by the Sex Pistols?) The plumber worked late today, as did I (I can't relax whilst he's here, so I may as well work!), and at the end of his day I am beginning to see the finished product. Can't wait to have access to a proper shower again. Once the room is decorated, I can think about stage 2 - replacing the main bathroom. I made the dinner and son #2 and I ate and watched TV together, finishing the Jimi Hendrix documentary  before heading off to our different enclosures for the night. Queen L / 'Future Utopia' / (Single) [[Great tune - a recent release with ...

First day of 'shower week'. Loads of stuff has been delivered ahead of the shower replacement, just need the plumber now.  The shower itself hasn't been delivered, and allegedly it will be here on Tuesday or Wednesday. Fingers crossed. The plumber has arrived.  The process of ripping out the old shower begins. Now that he's settled in and working, and the tree has been delivered, I can get on and go out for a quick shop: Christmas cards, food, medication for my tendonitis and so on. Just got back and, of course, as I wasn't available he's encountered the first problem that needs me to be around, hence delay. Overall, it's been a day of disruption: my bedroom is in chaos, we have no shower, there are boxes of stuff everywhere and there have been periods of intense noise disruption.  Luckily he left early having stripped out the old shower, and I found enough peace to meditate.  It has been my day off, but hasn't felt like it! It's also bloody cold in ...

The day has finally come.  Son #1 and I need to return home from a wonderful week in Liverpool.  Great company, many laughs and some delicious food, both at home and in restaurants.  One of the highlights of the week was son #1 and I being able to be present for Q's inaugural lecture. The day begins with moving q's mother back in followed by a breakfast of French toast, bacon and maple syrup, washed down with a fine cup of coffee. Son #1 was a little later appearing, but nevertheless he did well and we were ready to leave a little after midday. Home now after a fairly good journey with a single pit-stop at the services before the final leg of the journey. We made dinner in time for the first half of the England vs Senegal football match, which we watched to the unusually enjoyable end. Time for bed, I think.  Tomorrow is the first day of the replacement of the en-suite, so we're all facing a week of upheaval. Aoife Nessa Frances / 'Way To Say Goodbye' / 'Protect...

Saturday again, and the sky is brightening promising a clear start, if not for the entire day.  A later start as we don't have anything planned, other than a need to go food shopping. After breakfast, plans for the day emerged and Q's mum and daughter headed for Ikea, and Q and I went food shopping whilst son #1 got ready. Home for lunch, but before that son #1 and I went on a quick tour of the campus before it rained.  Once lunch was eaten, the Ikea party returned, which meant it was time to  assemble the furniture, also known as matching the instructions to the parts supplied. With a following wind, we should finish assembling it tonight. I hope. In between times we had a great roast beef dinner, with the trimmings (including pigs in blankets) followed by lovely dessert of home-made chocolate mousse.  YYPB! Yay! We did it.  It was good to help get the chest-of-drawers made. Great team work. Tired now and so it's time for bed. Honey Dijon & Channel Tres Fea...