Nine Feet Underground

Off out early, second day in a row, to go and pick up the bulk of my drugs from the pharmacist.  On the plus side I'll grab a coffee and also the latest issue of 'Shindig!' and see what their top albums of 2020 are. Only 'Wire' left to do a review of 2020. Back home in time for a trip to the outer reaches of consciousness, or as some would term it, work. A morning of wall-to-wall work was broken up by the visit of the community matron to check my wife over and today she was accompanied by a community matron in training, someone I already knew.  The person in question is male and I am wondering if the term 'matron' is gender-specific?  Obviously 'nurse' isn't, so I guess 'matron' probably isn't either. My mind has probably been horribly warped by too many old 'Carry On' films, so the word 'matron' is always a) said in the voice of Kenneth Williams (generally preceded by the word 'ooh') and b) is Hattie Jacques, ...

Early morning is a rush. Need to get shopping done and breakfast eaten by around 9:30. Meditation session begins at 9:30 with 'hellos' and ground rules and order of the day, though I guess there'll be no fire alarm drill since we'll be at home. Returned from shopping with son #2 just at around 9:15, so it looks as though we should get the shopping put away and breakfast eaten in good time. Son #2 is being especially helpful as my lower back pain seems to be getting worse, if anything. I was one of the first of nine attendees online and was welcomed with a friendly greeting from one of the counsellors/mindfulness practitioners I've met quite a few times before, both as the presenter of the eight week course I attended back in 2018 and also for some one-to-one counselling/guidance.  He remarked on my colourful t-shirt which sparked a chat amongst those of us present and an introduction to the other meditation guide, who is the only one of the four mindfulness practiti...