Author Archives: angloswiss

Good Morning

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Shadows

As I was still hugging my bed this morning I noticed the play with light effects caused by the sun on my widows with the curtain stripes. Having my iPhone next to the bed I grabbed it and took a photo, actually two. These are just moments in time, a play of light. My iPad is also next to the bed. I know space is getting cramped on my bedside table, but I realised that yesterday was Earth Day and in some parts of the world still today. What a way to show us its glory with such demonstrations of light, caused by a sun saying good morning.  I mentioned to Mr. Swiss this morning that it has been a long time since we have had such wonderful Spring weather. Every morning and all day sun, warm temperatures and nature is exploding everywhere. Even Kim Jong-un in North Korea  seems to be feeling the change: no more nuclear tests and even closing down one of his sites. Can we believe it? is he also celebrating Earth Day, or is he just proving his point that he can do it if he feels like it. Anyhow I find the light grey suits he now wears suit him better.

Clouds 21.04 (5)

And so I took yet another wheelie into the surrounding countryside yesterday afternoon in my chair. I was undecided, but Mr. Swiss found I should go and make the most of the good weather, he convinced me. At the moment I disappear regularly every afternoon for 1-2 hours, does he want to get rid of me?

Solothurn Kantonsschule 21.01 (2)

This time I decided to take a different route and took a trip around the grounds of the local high school. I never realised how large it was. I usually only see it as we drive past  on the way to the supermarket, but this time I had a look at it in detail. They have a few scultures in the surrounding grounds and I at last got a full view of this one, which has been there for many years. I have no idea what it is supposed to be, must ask No. 2 son, as he attended this school before departing for university.

Horse 21.04 (4)

I paid my usual visit to the stables on the way home via the cemetery, and the pony was outside with one of his bigger brothers. The pony is mainly there for children’s rides. You can also have riding lessons at the stables, but no my sort of thing, I just like to take photos.

Eventually I returned home and must say Mr. Swiss did have a good idea to send me on my way. I always feel so refreshed afterwards. I think I get out more now than I did in my pre-wheelchair days.  I can walk, and at home I hobble around on my cane. Now and again use my walker, which is more a transport system, but going places I have to take the car or general transport. But my wheelchair is ideal, it gives me the independence I need, and I can take my camera and additional lens with me.

Yesterday was the first evening we ate our evening meal outside on the porch and probably the first evening of many. The weather was ideal and somehow you enjoy food more in the open air, at least I do. With the help of No. 1 son, Mr. Swiss transported our sun shade again from the cellar to the porch. Now we are really celebrating summer. We still reflect back to this time last year when we had a scaffolding in front of the porch and a tiny table to make room for the building work. Yes last year was a lost summer in our lives, but we are now making up for lost time.

I hope your seasons are playing well with you, I wish you all a happy earth day, keep the rubbish where it belongs in the garbage can and be careful where you walk, a beetle or ant might also be taking a walk and would be glad not to see the sole of your shoe.

I leave you with some spring blossoms seen on a tree on my walk. If my horticulturist friend in California is reading this, I would be glad to know what these flowers are 🙂

Flowering tree 21.04 (2)

Daily Prompt: Mallet

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Mallet

“Good job we have a mallet”

“What did you need a mallet for?”

“I am roasting a chicken this evening, and it is nice an fresh from the farmer.”

“You mean it is still alive?”

“Well it was this morning.”

“You killed it.”

“It is not breathing or clucking or doing whatever chickens do when they are alive, so I assume it is now dead.”

“You used the mallet on the poor chicken.”

“I will do now.”

“But if it is dead you do not have to kill it again. And I am not sure that I want to eat a chicken that you killed.”

“You are convinced that I killed it.”

“Well you said you were glad we have a mallet.”

“The chicken salesmen said they are most tender if you beat them with a mallet.”

“You are beating a chicken to death?”

“No, it is already dead.”

“When did you kill it.”

“I did not kill it, it was already dead when I bought it in the store. It seems if you hammer the meat with a heavy object, a mallet is the best, the meat will  be even more tender. Just like when you hammer a steak.”

“Thank goodness, I prefer my chicken meals to be anonymous.”

“I do not think that the chicken would remember you if he met you when he was still laying eggs.”

“OK, then cook it, but stop making so much noise beating it, it is already dead, or?”

“Of course, I prefer my chickens already prepared before roasting. I just put the finishing touches to it.”

“With a mallet?”

“Yes, the newest method of cooking them.”

Daily Prompt: Mallet

Good Morning

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Alps 20.04 (2)

It is again a promising sunny morning and it looks like the pre summer weather is still with us. I managed to squeeze in an hour’s wheelie in my chair yesterday afternoon which surprised me as I did not think I would have the time. Even golden oldies have to plan their escapades. The cleaning lady arrived, and now I am happy. After years of battling with keeping things more or less tidy and clean I now have a help: no more bathroom, shower or kitchen cleaning. I am a lucky person. Of course cleaning is not free, but I had to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages, and discovered there were more advantages for a golden oldie.

As you approach the grey years, as least my hair does, you rethink situations. Last year our apartment block was completely renovated, nearly all decided it was something good. We did not. The work is now done and surprisingly did not cost as much as estimated. There are talks about further work in the next 20 years: one of the advantages of growing old, I suppose. I could not care less. They can cover everything in gold plate as far as I am concerned as I will not be paying for it, but those that come afterwards.  I have spent my complete life caring and thinking about the future and now I do not care any more. My cleaning lady is part of my new life. We both have a win-win situation.

Cows 20.04 (6)

And what shall we do today? I am still thinking about it, although you can only take so many photos and eventually there is no new subject material. The cows have returned and they are now in my photographic archives.

Saturdays used to be the beginning of the week-end, two free days in the week to do what you want to and when you want to. Even that pleasure has now disappeared in the golden oldie sunset, as you get free days every day. The problem is now rembering what the name of the day is. How often do we go shopping on Friday for the week-end and have a feeling that it is actually Saturday: another golden oldie problem. When you are two golden oldies, you might think that it helps, but not when both forget the same things. Another problem is that you do not know how you will feel the next day, until it arrives. If you manage to leave your bed in one piece it is an event worth celebrating. My next decision is whether to manage with a stick, or do I need my walker. Since I have a stick holder fitted on my walker, I can do both at once. I am trying to manage only with a stick, but walkers are so useful for transporting stuff like iPads and iPhones and even stuff from the fridge that you need on a working surface in the kitchen.

I have a new hobby actually. It is walker spotting. It is amazing how many golden oldies rely on them. In the supermarket you now have to clear space for them. It used to be the trolleys that were a disturbance in the supermarket, but now you have golden oldies with their walkers, including me, I am part of the team. Yesterday I went for a wheelie and noticed a golden oldie that arrived at the cemetery, with a walker. You see them everywhere, but one thing I must say. I do feel more safe and secure with one. A stick is good, but for shopping they are ideal. I can also balance on them whilst taking a photo and put stuff in them that I see on the shelves. Mr. Swiss has the trolley, I have the walker and together we are the perfect team.

So enough of the senior problems in life, I must now get into action, but with the stick. The walker would now be in the way. Make the most of the day and I hope you enjoy it. Here is a spring greeting from my walk yesterday.

Flowering Tree 20.04 (1)