FOWC with Fandango: Prone

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Bee

It is that time of the year again when they are here. It was after lunch, when I am usually exhausted after cooking and eating (yes even eating can be tiring) and so I retire to my bed: just for an hour. I even set my timer for an hour because there is a danger that I will collapse into infinity and not awake until three hours later.

I settled quite comfortably, my feline Tabby laying at my side, also having a midday sleep and then the noise began. How can anyone begin to cut their hedges after lunch. It was a constant buzzing sound of an electric cutter, so I thought. Now and again it stopped and then began again. I opened my eyes, but was too tired to have a look through the curtains.

And then I saw it. I believe it was a monster bee, or could it have been a hornet? It seemed to be black and did not have a striped pullover. It was also quite blurred. It was then I decided to put my glasses on to get a better picture. Whatever it was, it flew past  and settled on a picture frame. It disappeared behind the frame (still buzzing) but eventually returned, flew in the direction of the window, and then there was silence. Luckily I sleep with the window open at lunch time and whatever it was departed.

I just wish I had taken a photo, but I was too tired. There are certain things I am prone to at certain times. And then my alarm went off. I am also prone to alarms.

FOWC with Fandango: Prone

RDP Thursday: Compromise

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Car Park for handicapped

I am too old to go in for a compromise. I am growing hair on my teeth. I believe you can say that in English as well as in German. So here are the parking spaces reserved for those like me (see my car on the right with the wheelchair sign). I was a little doubtful today that my shopping expedition would go a little wrong as it is the last day of shopping before Easter and I was almost right.

As I approached the store I saw there were at least 70 spaces still free for parking – oh joy. But this was not to be, as every single space for the handicapped had a car on it, although they did not have the permit in the car. I had no choice but parked on the next space which was actually reserved for deliveries to the electronic department of the store with a big X on it.  Lo and behold there was a guy standing there dressed in his orange coat, wearing a cap and looking very parking attendant official. He immediately came to me in my car and said I should drive further down the road and park. I had lowered  my window so that I could speak with him in a clear voice. As this “down the road” meant parking on a lower floor. I told him to forget it. He was quite surprised at my reaction and explained that he knew that a few spaces reserved for the handicapped had been occupied by non-handicapped but there was nothing he could do. I told him there was nothing I could do about it either and parked my car. He suddenly disappeared.

The funny thing was I had a short business in the electronics department and told the guy that served me that I was on his delivery park place. He laughed and found no problem. Everyone parks there now and again and there was nothing he could do about it. By the way there were no compromises in the electronics. My Philips electronic toothbrush had given up the ghost, although the guarantee was still valid. I had brought my toothbrush with the original accessories and it was exchanged for a new one without any objection. I even got Forty Swiss Francs back on the new one because they had altered the model.

I am drifting and so my car stayed where it was, I did not get a fine, because it seems no-one fines anyone at our store.

I decided there is an age limit on compromise. One of the advantages of being a golden oldie.

RDP Thursday: Compromise

Good Morning

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Sunrise

Today really looks like it will be a good one. The sun is up and the sky is a painting of clouds. My day began with stripping my bed as it is the day of fresh linen on the beds. My duvet and cushion covering is completed and now for a pause with a cup of tea and breakfast and a computer. I also took a few photos in between with my cell phone to capture the morning of the day. Even Mr. Swiss has been busy with the bed linen as far as possible.

Honesty

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday afternoon in the garden when I saw these flowers. I noticed the leaves already and was wondering what will be appearing. This is a plant called honesty. My sister-in-law gave me some seeds a few years ago and now and again they reapper. They are a biannual meaning the first year are only leaves, but the second year you get the flowers before they spread their seeds again.

Honesty

It is the seeds that are interesting wrapped in their pods, something like money. Once you have them in the garden that appear sporadically again.

Yesterday was yet another excursion to the store and now I seem to have everything for the Easter stress. The store was surprisingly empty yesterday afternoon and I could really shop in comfort. Almost the quiet before the storm. Today I only have a few bits and pieces to get. I decided on a chicken casserole for Saturday lunch, and that is something I prefer to buy as late as possible. Chickens do not keep so well for a long time in the fridge, but until Saturday it should be OK. I also bought some more coloured eggs to keep everyone happy for Easter. Will I buy a chocolate bunny? I am thinking about it. The best time to buy such delicacies is on Easter Saturday about an hour before the store closes, as they mark them all down to half price, but that is also the day when I avoid the Easter siege of the store.

Roses on the porch

My potted rose from the supermarket is also developing well on the porch on the table. When it is finished I will plant it in the garden and hope that it will develop to a real rose bush. I find the red roses the best colour, the darker the better.

And now I am on my way to finish off the bed linen. Mr. Swiss helps where he can, but we women are perhaps a little less complicated. The fitted sheets are the worst to mount on the bed, and there I really need a strong man to help.

So I wish you all a happy Easter, although I am not sure if it is supposed to be happy. Just a time when we can recover from the exhaustions of the preparations for the long shut down, at leat here in Switzerland.  Oh how I hate these stupid holidays. One of the advantages is that many people go somewhere and it leaves more room for those, like me, that stay where they are.

Horses 13.04.2019 (2)

So off to finish the beds, a shower and a quick cleaning session with greetings from a little country somewhere in the middle of Europe. Have fun and relax. It can only get better.

FOWC with Fandango: Anecdote

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iPhone

Most of us have one, a handy, mobile, cell phone: call it what you want. And so conversations between me and Mr. Swiss are quite limited.

“I am glad you are back, I had a problem.”

“What happened?”

“I cannot find my handy. Can you call me?

“I am calling you, but hear nothing.”

“I switched it on mute, it only vibrates at the moment.”

“Then how am I supposed to help you find it.”

The problems of modern life.

Or there is the stick problem. Both Mr. Swiss an I have a walking stick for support. I also have a walker with an attachment to hold my stick which means I very rarely lose my stick, but Mr. Swiss…… He is on an eternal search for his stick. It can be anywhere: in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room. Perhaps I could fit it up with a remote that would peep when searching, but even that could get lost.

FOWC with Fandango: Anecdote

RDP Wednesday: Busy

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Shopping

Busy seems to be my new occupation. I used to work, a job, I got paid for. One day I was retired and no longer had to work. I soon discovered that this was a false idea. The family still had to be fed and so the daily work continued, perhaps with a difference. I was not getting paid for it, it was a duty of love.

And so this has been life for the past 10 years. We are getting older, no longer as fit as we were.

And the holidays, the part of life that the working population enjoy: an escape from the daily organisation of work and private life. It is all humbug. Unless you are wealthy, have servants to share the daily chores, you have to do it yourself.

This week is the Easter week, all based on the scriptures of course, but that does not make it easier. I wrote a plan, a master work of logistic, with the daily itinerary of shopping and it worked. Admitted when I arrived home from the shopping orgy I was worn out, but it works. Today is Wednesday and I have all the shopping until next Tuesday lunchtime. Tomorrow is what we call “green Thursday” the day before Good Friday, although I have not yet discovered what is good about it.

This green Thursday is the worst day of all. It is the last chance to make sure you will not starve until next week because the shops are closed. You can, of course, go shopping on Saturday, but that borders on buying suicide: the shops are full of people, the parking spaces all occupied and the shelves empty themselves and you are left with the goods that no-one wanted, the remainders.

And so I have survived without the Saturday participation of this event. We will be living from meat that keeps fresh, something smoked like ham. There will be a reserve of frozen bread and vegetables will either be in a can or something that lives fresh for a week.

It is all a matter of planning and logistics.

RDP Wednesday: Busy

Good Morning

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Front Garden

No super sunrise this morning. I was up a little later and it rained during the night leaving my front garden a little damp, but freshened up. It needed a little moisture I am sure. Wednesday I have no special chores to deal with: clean windows, clean shower and bathroom were all dealt with yesterday. My car even has nice new shiny summer tyres since my excursion to the garage yesterday. All I have to do now is clean myself, but after my breakfast and morning blog.

Tulips

I do not really have a lot to report at the moment. Life goes on with the Spring awakening and my tulips are now beginning to lose their petals. Life passes on too quckly sometimes.

There was an announcement in the Swiss local news that we are now the proud possessor in 54 towns and villages with the new and wonderful modern, fast, 5g network. I mentioned this to Mr. Swiss and he found “big deal” but said he does not want it and there are many places where it has been banned. Yes we Swiss do not clap and nod our heads at every new development. We think it over, why repair it when it is not broken. Mr. Swiss says it is so a big step in the new direction and no-one really knows what the outcome will be. Nothing has changed at home so far. When my vacuum cleaner and mop ask me in the morning “what can we do today to improve your life style” I will probably pull out the plug on my computer. It is all a little eerie.

I even have an electric toothbrush that is now talking to me. It is a Philips model still under guarantee. After a year or so they tend to give up. I give it back to the store with the guarantee and as they cannot be repaired I usually get a new one: also a good idea. This time my toothbrush completely on its own, is making a noise now and again as if it wants to tell me something, like use me. It is really uncanny. I had it on the bedside table last night and every couple of hours it was calling with a buzzing tone. It is now on the table next to my computer. Perhaps it has been infected by a poltergeist.

Chives

I must say I have never had such a wonderful chive plant this year. The gardener planted it in my raised bed and it keeps growing and growing, even throughout the Winter. I like to snip it with the scissors into my salad sauces, or as a garniture to a dish of food.

Today I am off shopping again for this wonderful holiday, full of stress, called Easter. I still have some bits and pieces (many) to buy and now it seems that there are only one or two bottles of cola and mineral water (the fizzy kind) left, so that is now on the list. I love dragging heavey 6 packs (the largest size bottles) home from shopping. Today I will get as much as possible and tomorrow there will just be the rest. I can then stay at home until nest Tuesday when I will have to put in an extra shopping tour in the afternoon to fill up again.

Amelanchier

Our amalanchier tree is now flowering on the meadow opposite. This tree has so many different names I decided to stick to the latin version. Some call it shadbush, or serviceberry and I only knew the German name of Felsenbirne. It is quite a good tree to block the sight from the block opposite and keep a bit of a private area.

And now to go on to other fields, like the shower and the apartment. Make the most of the day and I hope your shopping expeditions for our wonderful stress holiday called Easter are successful. We might fall asleep in the chair afterwards whilst eating our Easter eggs but we have a good feeling that we now have it behind us for another year.

Tabby