Nine Feet Underground

'I hate you telephone thing, listening in.' Today is going to be entirely about work, with the odd brief interlude for lunch and carer visits.  Before I started work I read son #1's Marx essay, which seemed pretty good, at least to someone who knows more about Groucho than Karl.  It's been a very showery day, but with significant sunny interludes which I've taken advantage of. There's no Idler tonight or for the next few weeks as they are having a spring break, and are back before the end of April. This gave me the opportunity (?) to work a bit later and get a few admin tasks out of the way. I started dinner alone again (naturally) and ended up eating alone too. I've now finished the first MAFSA of the week, after which son #1 joined me and we watched the first part of an interesting documentary fronted by David Harewood called, ' Get On Up: The Triumph Of Black America '. I hadn't intended to watch it live, but it was so interesting, I had too....

I think today will be like yesterday, in almost all respects, only perhaps more so, work-wise. In the background, though, lots is happening. This afternoon Q and Φ will be driving to Canterbury ahead of  Φ's graduation tomorrow.  Son #1 is finishing an essay on the contemporary relevance of Marx (Karl, not Groucho). I am just working. Before six, Q and I have a call ahead of me stopping work for this week's 'Ulysses for All' lecture on 'Wandering Rocks'.  Tonight's guest is renowned Joycean, John McCourt , another 'exiled' Dubliner, now living in Italy. Another really good lecture and discussion, which, as is so often the case, ran over the time allotted, and I left a little after eight to have the dinner son #2 had made. No one joined me to eat, so I watched more of MAFSA in a bid to catch up. Stopped watching it for a call with Q, before a chat with son #1.  A bit of clearing up done, I'm going to head to bed. Can / 'She Brings The Rain...

In contrast to yesterday, I've woken to a cold, wet and very dark day. It feels like winter has never left. It's going to be a case of 'Heads Down, No Nonsense, Mindless Boogie' - prizes if you can get the reference! For some inexplicable reason my diary is full between 12 and 2 so I'll have to adapt for lunch and meditation.   After work I caught up with my big sis and we shared our news and thoughts on things. There was a fair bit of talk about about the big 'R'. Who knows? Life is way too unpredictable. After the call, time to make dinner.  I'm having another go at risotto, this time with smoked bacon lardons, chicken and veg with the secret ingredient being a really intensely-flavoured chicken stock.  From now on, if I ever need to take stock, I'll use this stock, assuming it's in stock and the supermarket's stocking process is working, if not, I guess I'll just have to accept their answer that we have no stock in stock. It's out ...

The sun is shining and it's my non-working day. I've already stripped the bed and have the first of two wash loads on. It can finish whilst I'm out. After the second carer visit, time to head to head for the shops to get a haircut and washing-up liquid (if I can come away from the shops with just washing up liquid, it will be a miracle). I'm back now just before the third carer visit of the day. After some banter, I decide on doing something unexpectedly exciting:  I am going to hang my washing outside for the first day this year. Wow.  A lie down is in order I think. Over lunch I watched more MAFSA before switching to reading. I only have one episode to go to catch up with last week's episodes.  Change of medium now. After a bit of clearing up, time to finish 'Wandering Rocks' ahead of Wednesday's lecture.  I've finished 'Wandering Rocks' and am now reading around the episode, catching up on phrases (in Latin and Italian) that I don't un...

British Summer Time is here, and I'm not far behind.  The weather, however, is seemingly unaware of this transition.  Perhaps the clue is in the first word. Having had a very enjoyable Saturday, I have to pay the price today and catch up on the chores that I didn't do yesterday. Starting with washing. Early morning son #1's gf left for home and son #1 emerged into the light, briefly.  Last night's outing was a heavy one, so everyone is recovering. Let's hope that doesn't have a detrimental effect on the work he needs to get done. It's suddenly lunch time, which I eat whilst catching up with MAFSA. At this rate I'm in danger of getting ahead of Q. Change of pace (a sinkapace) as I switch to the weekend's papers. Lots of interesting articles, several of which I have to share. Q and I have a call to finalise the details of a week in Barcelona with some of her family in August.  We now have flights and a place to stay! It's very exciting - thanks Q a...

Starting the day with my usual shopping trip and visit to the bread stall in the market.  This will be the only routine element of the day. I'm back  and eating breakfast whilst son #2 gets ready as he's got a couple of MRI scans booked at the hospital and I'm going to take him there before I head off for my lunchtime assignation. I've dropped son#2 off at the hospital and have returned home for a quick pit-stop before driving halfway between here and Liverpool to meet Q and Φ for lunch and to collect my laptop.  We're meeting at the Cock Inn, about which I am remaining entirely silent. Early evening and I've returned home.  Had a great lunch together and have found a new way of meeting up if we're unable to spend longer together.  After we parted I headed to an old (as in, 'known for a long time') friend's house for coffee and a chat. Unfortunately, he's hurt his back, and was struggling to get comfortable. Hopefully his back will get better...

Apparently I have large/wide ear canals. This would probably why I'm always hearing someone singing 'O sole mio' with an Italian accent. Ear canal. Near canal. Far canal. Down to earth. Busy working day ahead, but at least it's a Friday. After yesterday's visit to the ear emptier, I've decided to reduce the amount of time I use in-ear earphones.  To that end I've ordered a pair of over ear headphones with built in mics, and these should be delivered today.  Having had reduced hearing for well over a week, and probably longer in reality, I've realised how much I value my hearing and how difficult life would be without being able to fully listen to music. Now I'm, ahem, slightly older, I need to take care of my ears, or at least do a bit better. At lunchtime son #2 returned from Costa Rica by way of Houston.  It was nice to see him again, though I'm sure he and his gf would prefer to be together.  Work's now done and I'm packing up.  Q and ...

With any luck this will be the last day I wake up to blocked ears. I've got a busy day ahead work-wise, so I am expecting to be stuck in front of a screen most of the day. After a heavy round of meetings, I'm off to Dyson with death. (Slight exaggeration) I'm back. My ears are vacuumed.  It's quite a strange experience which can be slightly irritating at times and tickly as well.  Overall it was good and feels amazing to be able to hear properly out of both ears.  I won't go into the details 'cos it's a bit yucky, though I could wax lyrical if asked.  I also learned some useful things about avoiding it getting to this state again, which was good. Time to prep dinner ahead of tonight's Idler which features physicist Carlo Rovelli talking about Greek philosopher Anaximander, but not his pet salamander who lived on the veranda along with a baby panda. What could be grander? Carlo is a great speaker and it's the third time I've heard him talk. He is...

More of the same in prospect. The only unusual interruption came in the form of the man who normally cuts our hedges.  There's a lot to be done, as usual, including the trees out front (which are not yet in bloom so can be trimmed and shaped) as well as the sad demise of our cherry tree which is rotting at the base and roots.  Additionally he cleaned out our gutters and identified that some of the concrete on the roof gully is coming away.  I've arranged for a roof man to come and have a look next week. ££££ Aaagghh! Work has been very full-on today, so much so that I forgot to put my dry eye drops in.  Not a dry eye in the house. Work over, tonight is 'UFA' again with lecturer Laura Pelaschiar talking about 'Scylla and Charybdis'.  After questions, we entered the breakout rooms and I was randomly assigned to a room with three interesting people, all in the Republic.  A great discussion ensued and I ended being elected as spokesperson for the group when we...

A quiet day in prospect, both in the real world and here in this blog. Work keeps me busy all day and there's nothing of interest to say about it. Screens. Brain. Bum on chair. Getting up and moving about. Eye drops. All that paraphernalia. I had a chat with one of the carers, K, about MAFSAU, which she and her husband are also watching.  She's watched yesterday's with the experts (should that be in quotes?) and says there's much to enjoy. We exchange opinions on some of the couples. Similar thoughts. (I wonder how she persuaded them to fly in from Australia?) I did get a couple of wash loads done, though I don't think that is probably worth mentioning. Damn. I'm counting the hours until my ears are vacuumed.  Not quite sure if it's a special Dyson attachment or what.  Just as long as they don't suck my braincell out too. Although. I was about to start dinner when I discovered we only had enough for two and there are three of us. Drat. Decided to get a t...

My right ear (yes, right here) is still blocked and so today I'm going to have to find out how to get it unblocked professionally and where. I've got two main goals for today, beyond the ear stuff: reading episode 9 of 'Ulysses' ('Scylla and Charybdis') and reading the weekend papers.  I've also got to have further conversations with son #1 and a variety of less important tasks. I have an ear appointment for Thursday afternoon!  Hooray! It's been driving me mad only hearing out of one ear.  I tried to listen to music (I have a bit of a backlog 😝) but it just wasn't the same. It's quite a worrying thought. I've finished 'Scylla and Charybdis' and am suitably mind-blown. More Shakespeare references and allusions than you can shake(speare) a stick at. In part this episode is about further demonstrating how different Stephen and Bloom are, one almost entirely living in the mind the other almost concerned about the physical world and rela...

Last morning in Liverpool for a few weeks, sadly.  Lots going on, especially in Q's world.  I also have to try and solve a problem at home, or at least help someone get back on track.  It's causing me an immense amount of stress, more than I had realised, so I really do need to drive out some changes. We've had breakfast and I've now packed the car with everything ready for the off.  My journey will take an initial detour via a fuel stop - filling up here is so much cheaper with diesel at 158.9p/litre. I'm properly on my way, though there seem to be a lot more cars on the road, guess there may be a reason for that. I'm back now, though I picked up son #3 enroute so he could visit his mum with son #1 (son #2 is still in Costa Rica, after a change of plans).   On the way home I had a couple of calls with Q, the second of which was to tell me I'd left my laptop behind. Luckily it was my personal laptop (and a whole bunch of other tech stuff that's in the la...

Waking up in Liverpool again and not in too much of a hurry. It's noticeably warmer - I think spring is in the air, or it's not far off, at least. Q made a lovely breakfast which we sat down and ate together.  We both had bits of admin to do, so we got on with it. I had a call with son #1 to see how he's getting on and to check how E is doing.  OK(-ish?) and no change are the answers. Time to go shopping at Edge Lane along with half the rest of Liverpool: it's mother's day tomorrow, so I guess it's busier 'cos of that. When we go home we watched the very funny Oscar-winning, short film (25 mins max), ' An Irish Goodbye ', which is on BBC iPlayer. All I can say is, watch it! Dinner is cooking now and so we settle back to get up to date with MASAU. In the meantime, son #1 informs me that a good friend has dropped meds off for him, E and I. Thank you so much again, kind friend! Dinner, followed by more MAFSAU and time to go to bed.  Nice outfit! Sonique...

Waking up in Portsmouth for the first time in months, though admittedly in a hotel rather than Q's house, which we'll be off to in a bit. First, though, a hearty breakfast, a brief chill then checkout and walk to Q's house.  We're there to check it over, clear it up (if necessary) and meet an estate agent. Meeting over, we head to the shops to buy cleaning products by way of the local bakery for almond croissants and bread.  Not for nothing is it called 'Bread Addiction'. Cleaning finished, we're off to a coffee shop to meet one of Q's former colleagues.  We had a decent coffee and a chat.  Q and her friend enjoyed a good catch-up  before we returned to the hotel to pick up the car and drive back to Liverpool. After an interesting detour through the A-roads of the Warwickshire and a pitstop near Stafford, we got home around seven-thirty, tired but glad to be back, though not as glad as the cat was to see us. Q knocked up a quick dinner of pizza and garli...

Blow me down with the leg of a chair!  I have woken up with a head full to bursting.  I fear I may be getting a cold. Drugs! Give me drugs! (prescription, ofc 😀) 'Know me come eat with me' Apart from work today, later on, I'll be packing for our road trip to the south coast, as will Q when she returns from work. (Grammar checkers, don't speak proper, do they) To lift my spirits and help combat the advance of the evil cold germs, I'm listening to music - my 'liked' songs playlist on random.  It seems to work, memories notwithstanding. Work is done, Q is already home and I need to finish packing so we can get going. Arrived at the hotel in Portsmouth around 9, feeling knackered.  Long day. Sleep beckons. Liela Moss  / 'Memories and Faces' / 'My Name Is Safe In Your Mouth' [[An oldie, but a goodie. Heard this again this morning after quite some while and it sent me down a path where I'm thinking about people who matter and have been lost.  ...

The penultimate working day of the week is here.  A couple of really important meetings ahead and, of course, work. Late afternoon I had an unexpected call with a colleague I'd not spoken to for a while.  It was a good catch-up, both technical and personal. Turns out he's on leave on Friday as well, and though we'll both be heading south, he's off to Portugal for a Land Cruiser road trip in the sun. Sounds like he needs the break from work and those other pressures. Q comes home from work late and I'm starting 'Ulysses For All' at six for a couple of hours. Q starts making dinner, and, most appropriately given tonight's episode, I eat while listening to the talk.  The episode for tonight is 'Lestrygonians' whose main theme is food.  The guest speaker tonight is Flicka Small (thinks: where does the name Flicka come from? Q reckons 'Felicity'.  The inner child (inner?) also thinks that the only surname that should follow 'Flicka' is...

Back to the screens! Work was punctuated by several heavy downpours of hail.  The weather seems very changeable, veering between sunshine, overcast skies and freezing downpours.  Winters's icy fingers still poke their way into the day. I stopped work a little after Q returned and we set about making an early dinner.  I had a call with son #1 whilst prepping dinner.  He's off out to Nando's with a couple of friends and it shouldn't be a late one.  He seems to be making progress on the uni work he has to do, so that's good. MAFSAU after dinner and now I've caught up and we're both watching stuff we haven't seen. Cue more discussions. It's getting much colder as the evening wears on and we've had even more hail. Tomorrow will be an earlier start for Q, so we're heading to bed earlier. Coach Party  / 'Micro Aggression' / (Single) [[]]

The world is all mine. I'm getting carried away, the day is all mine to do as I choose, that's what I mean. That is such a great feeling. After breakfast, Q headed for work and I cleared up.  First on my agenda is writing and catching up on radio shows from the weekend on the BBC Sounds app. The weather forecast is ominous, but I'm planning to go for a walk and get some fresh air and exercise. That's enough sitting down, I'm off for a walk before the rain hits. I feel better from that brisk outing, which included a stop at the local Morrisons to buy some more milk. Time to begin reading the 'Lestrygonians' episode of 'Ulysses' in time for Wednesday's lesson.  One of the themes of this episode is food, paralleling the cannibalism of the equivalent episode of Homer's odyssey. I've made good progress and lunch is looming.  Great news! Q is coming home for lunch, so I'll hold off eating until then. That was an unexpected and enjoyable int...

A lazy start, with bacon and eggs for breakfast for a change.  I did eat an almond croissant on my drive north yesterday, so the universe remains in balance. The sun is shining and the temperature has risen to double figures - a big change over the last couple of days.  March hares, eh?  Our plan is to go for a walk this afternoon. We're off out shopping at Tesco next and I drive so I can refuel my car ahead of a long journey next week.  Diesel was 159.9p a litre, which was the best I've paid in quite a while. Now that IS an exciting fact, isn't it? Back home for lunch, but first Q is making us a Basque cheesecake and demonstrating how easy it is and suggesting even (my word, not hers) I could make it.  There is a chance I could, based on the masterclass.  When will I be brave enough to try? The bun is in the oven (not really, it's a cheesecake) and so lunch is next.  Over lunch Q's mum calls from Australia and then we settle down to watch more of...

I started the day with a shopping trip to get stuff for the journey to Liverpool and some goodies for son #1 whilst I'm away. After shopping I returned to get some chores done and finish off packing. I don't have to rush, just take it easy and set off when I'm ready. ...and I'm off! Now I'm in Liverpool. Just like that! I set off in sunshine and arrived in cold rain.  Q and I sat and watched the final two episodes of 'Come Dine With Me', which made us both laugh. Mid-episode we  had a bit of a break whilst Q started cooking tonight's dinner (a beef ragu) (slow cooking) and then finished the off. After a really enjoyable dinner, accompanied by some incredibly good red wine, we started watching 'Gold'.  Two episodes in, we're hooked.  Really good to see Hugh Bonneville in a serious role - great acting. The day draws to a close. Calls are unnecessary. Baba Ali / 'Burn Me Out' / 'Laugh Like A Bomb' (Forthcoming) [[]]

Another cold morning marches on.  Not as cold, no snow. That's all gone. I don't think I'll have much to write about until this evening, unless the day throws up unexpected surprises. At lunch time the community matron arrived to change E's catheter, otherwise the day continued in it's usual way. Tonight I'm making risotto, without a recipe, but based on guidance from Q. It will have smoked bacon lardons, peas, carrots and sweetcorn in it. What can go wrong? Against expectation the risotto has turned out alright - yeah, I know it's simple, but I'm definitely a 'follow-the-instructions'-style cook, not one of those who can just wing it. That's a skill I admire. It's not the last risotto. Son #1 and I ate and watched the second episode of 'The Mandalorian', then cleared up. He had some work to organise and so I watched a couple more episodes of this week's 'Come Dine With Me' starring one of my Idler friends. The next ep...

Disturbed by the bin men, who appeared to have arrived earlier than ever before (6:30 a.m.), so I threw on my dressing gown (it's cfold out) and took out the rubbish. False alarm, they're not actually stopping here.  One of my neighbours was equally tricked and dashed out in shorts and a t-shirt. Life in the fast lane. I've got a double eye-test booked this morning: contact lenses first and then the full gamut of sight tests, photos of my retina and all that jazz. The most recent machine they've added is just shy of being actual torture, so I expect when I go back in a year they'll have perfected it. The most important point is that my prescription has not changed, my eyes have pretty much stayed the same (two, one on the left, one on the right, not too close together etc), which is quite good when you become dilapidated.  Cue Primal Scream song.  There is one thing I do have to start doing - putting eye drops in twice a day (at least) whilst wearing lenses.  Appare...

Snow! When I went into the shower I noticed it looked very white outside the window, so I opened it and there it was. According to my social media contract, if there's snow outside, it's obligatory to post photos, and so I did. Like everyone else. It's a way of showing one's individuality. Late afternoon I heard the sad news that the last of my aunts has died. For various historical reasons I didn't know her as well as I should have, but she is still a presence in my memory of family parties in London and some more recent meetings. I now have only an uncle left on my mother's side of the family, but thankfully a host of cousins, not to mention two sisters. Work is now over and after a quick chat with Q, it's time to get set up for 'Ulysses for All' and episode 7, 'Aeolus', with guest speaker the notable Joyce expert, Terence Killeen. Terence is perhaps best-known for ' Ulysses Unbound ' which was republished last year to mark the cent...