Week 821

Sunday, 15th September, 2024

After a beautiful, moonlit but mild night – and it is full moon on Wednesday – the day has opened to strong, warm sunshine. We have a week of warm sunshine in prospect which will be nice. It is lovely to be out walking by the sea each morning with sun on my skin.

Every day, I talk to people across UK and the world. I don’t know if you do this, Dear Reader, but I often entertain that old romance of wondering whether people I talk to are looking at the same moon that I am at the same time. Madness, I know but what else is lunacy?

In the warm sunshine of the morning we went walking. At 10.00 am, families were beginning to arrive at the beach and the shops were beginning to raise their shutters in the hope of making a catch. The FunFare was beginning to start up and children delivered to a few hours of fun. People were out walking their children and their dogs.

The newish Cafe-Restaurant that has opened in the last few months on the edge of the beach was packed for Breakfasts and morning coffee and to watch the sailing school out in front of the roof top viewing platform. Everywhere, people enjoying their weekend.

I valeting the car with enthusiasm. The leatherwork has never looked so healthy since I bought it. Actually, when it goes for trade-in tomorrow, I more or less know what they will offer and at which point I will push them. Honda know our car well, after all and didn’t even bother looking at it last time I traded it in. But, I have pride and it must look its best. The only real question is: which colour from a dreadful list. Actually, it can only be black. Nothing else appeals.

Monday, 16th September, 2024

The Ides of September passed already, but it seems that the Autumn has been ordered to wait. Another gorgeous morning after a lovely day on Sunday. The week is forecast to be sunny and touching 22C/70F – certainly enough to make my outdoor tomatoes finish ripening. We ate some yesterday and they were delicious. West Sussex water and West Sussex sunshine taste really special. You should try it, Dear Reader.

These cherry tomatoes were planted by me two years ago and cleared away in October 2022. On that space I have grown green beans for the past two years but in June I noticed a small tomato plant growing amongst them. Just for fun, I left it and it blossomed and fruited rather late. We have eaten a few tomatoes from it so far but it is heavily laden with nearly ripe fruit. This week’s late Summer weather may have come to the rescue.

Some time next week, all the annual plants will probably be grubbed up as colder nights switch off the plants growth instincts and they yellow and fade. Time and seasons will move on. It’s strange that the perspective of 50 years ago is so short whereas the perspective of 3 years ago feels so long. Just 3 years ago we were in Boulogne sur Mer buying fish on the Quay. That’s not unusual. We’ve been doing it for 30 years. What struck me was the fact that Covid and indoor mask wearing was still a thing and we had to have an ‘official’ Covid test in a Pharmacie in Coquelles before we were allowed back into Britain. Only 3 years ago!

So much has happened since then, hasn’t it Dear Reader. Just take a moment to review your own life over those 3 years. What were you doing on 16th September, 2021? No idea? Keep a diary or write a Blog – get a true perspective.

Out to Honda for a 2.00 pm meeting. We met the Sales Exec. we have dealt with since we came down here. In the last eight years we have bought 4 cars from him. We knew we would buy. He knew we would buy. It was all a friendly discussion about margins on our car and off the new one. Our car was immaculate and had done 7,670 miles. They will resell it for a couple of thousand pounds more than they offer us for it after polishing it up a bit more. I don’t care.

Of course, we chose black as the only acceptable colour in the range at the moment but that was OK. There is a lot of talk about people waiting weeks and months for new cars and Honda have left the UK because of Brexit. All their vehicles are made in Japan and shipped over.

Fortunately, there are 12, Black CR-V e:HEV Full Hybrid Advance in the country and one will be ready for us a week on Thursday if we hand over £53,723.11 including the trade-in. That price will include 5 years full warranty + 5 years servicing and 5 years Roadside Assistance across Europe. It will also include the transfer of the cherished number plate that we have had for about 30 years. I think this is our 15th new CRV and our 20th new Honda over the last 40 years. And I haven’t finished yet. Just love the smell of new cars.

Sunshine and 24C/75F as I drove home. No alcohol to celebrate but Chicken Stir-Fry for Supper. The world is a nice place to inhabit.

Tuesday, 17th September, 2024

The evening yesterday was like the perfect holiday weather with a glorious sunset that all the tourists have to photograph. So warm, we stayed at 24C/75F well into the evening. I love this weather. It makes me feel so relaxed although it is quite exhausting in the Gym.

As you will know, Dear Reader, our Gym was converted out of our garage. The long, wall is South facing and the sun heats the brick structure like a kiln. We’ve even had extra insulation installed to keep the Winter cold out. The heated bricks build up the temperature which is added to by sweaty bodies … well mine … and becomes extremely high.

After a warm and wonderful, moonlit night the day has opened on a lovely, sunny morning although I woke at 5.00 am. Lots to do today so going to hit the floor running.

While I was valeting the car on Sunday, two things broke. First, I broke the arm of the vacuum cleaner in my brutish delicacy. New part ordered – £30.00. Then, half way through the cleaning, the pressure washer just died. New one ordered – £180.00. That was one of the cheapest. When did pressure washers get so expensive? Going out to pick that up this morning.

The vacuum is a Shark cordless. It folds in half for storage. I don’t use it much. The fold/unfold buttons are confusing. I chose the wrong one and broke the unfold mechanism. Fortunately, lots of people do that so the replacements are readily available. That will arrive today.

Tradition has it that we pick up a new car and drive straight to France to try it out but things are different at the moment. We are on a self-improvement programme and a trip to the land of Vins et Saucisson would break our resolve. I will have to save it for a trip to the North. There is plenty of time for everything and priorities are important

Lovely down at the beach this afternoon walking up the inlet to the Marina. Warm – 22C/70F – and sunny with people swimming in the sea. There is just no stopping these small boats.

Wednesday, 18th September, 2024

Well the sun is surely sinking down
But the moon is slowly rising
So this old world must still
Be spinning round ….

Very warm night last night. I woke at 2.22 and again at 4.44. I’m only allowed to wake to identical numbers. A barmy, religious site informed me this morning that these specific runs of numbers are commonly known as Angel Numbers. Another told me those specific number runs had spiritual meaning. If you believe that you are even madder than me and that’s saying something.

Of course, we all know that the food of Angels are figs although the Greek Gods wouldn’t have sanctioned figs from their biggest enemy, Turkey. These fresh, Turkish figs are 25p per fruit in Sainsburys. In the Greengrocers a couple of miles away, they are 99p per fruit. I would pay anything for them. I must be an angel, Dear Reader, because I love them.

Down at the beach on the daily walk in gorgeous, hot sunshine, there are still a few tourists around. Cafés were open but quiet. Walkers stop to rest and stare over the incoming waves.

There is something quite joyful about walking in the sunshine with the sound of waves crashing on the beach. Relaxing, releasing and promising.

At my last Dentist checkup, I foolishly pointed out that the older I got the fewer problems I had with my teeth. The dentistry fates have intervened and I’ve had toothache for the past few days. I think a bit of amalgam has fallen out and the tooth is leaking. Hot and cold liquid immediately makes the pain flare up and I think it is reaching the nerve. I’ve given in today and made a dentist appointment for tomorrow.

Fighting through the pain, Dear Reader, I have mowed all the lawns this afternoon as I melted into a pool of sweat in 25C/77F of sweltering heat. I wonder how many more cuts it will need.

Thursday, 19th September, 2024

Our house is bounded by the sea at the front and the South Downs National Park behind. Our natural tendency is to go to the sea. The South Downs are beautiful and this photo illustrates the evening sky last night.

It was incredibly warm all night. The sunset was lovely and the moonlight was fantastic. You missed a treat, Dear Reader.

We’ve got a couple more days of sunshine and hot temperatures but we can’t take advantage of it today because we both have appointments. Pauline has a hospital scan this morning and I have a vist to the Dentist this afternoon. Pauline’s is much more important but I am the one most scared of his treatment.

First, we drove 30 mins to the delightful, seaside Hospital of Southlands in Shoreham-on-Sea. Pauline was having a couple of scans. We are so lucky down here with wonderful hospitals. Southlands has lots of parking and the hospital was deserted when Pauline walked in. Her appointment started early and she was out in no time. Unfortunately, the result was no better. As feared, she has to have an operation soon. She has another scan on Saturday.

Old people across the country scream about the loss of High Steet Bank branches mainly because they haven’t kept up with digital developments. I am only too pleased that I don’t have to join a queue in a poorly staff office waiting to do some simple financial transaction. However, although I am experienced and confident working online, there are still those knee tremblerss when I am moving relatively large amounts of money around in the ether – could it be scammed, could it be forwarded to the wrong recipient, etc? You certainly hear of cases like that. A friend once ‘lost’ £250,000.00 temporarily. The bank sent it to the wrong account. Fotunately, it was’found’ within a week or so but can you imagine living with that stress all that time.

I have savings/investment accounts with different financial institutions and I’m used to moving tens of thousands at the click of a mouse. It has never failed me. Yesterday, I was moving more than £10,000.00 from one bank to another bank in readiness for paying towards the new car. Usually it arrives within a couple of hours and always can be seen in my main bank account by the end of the day. I went to bed last night with no money arriving. I woke up at 5.45 am and … no sign of it in my account. As I drove out to the hospital at 10.00 am, a ping on my phone announced that the money had finally arrived. I could do without that tension. It was easy in the old days.

Friday, 20th September, 2024

Quite a day yesterday. We reached 27C/81F in mid afternoon. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take full enjoyment of it because it coincided with a trip to the dentist.

Thought I was going to be having a filling but an extra showed the tooth had broken internally high up to the root. No wonder I was in pain. I was told it had to come out immediately. It is nearly 20 years since I had a tooth removed and that was definitely not a pleasant experience. I was being treated by a little girl who was less than half my age and about half my height. She couldn’t get it out and eventually stood on a chair to get more leverage. That was my last Nation Health Service dentist.

Before they proceeded yesterday, they presented me with an electronic form to sign to say I would pay £225.55. That’s what hurt the most. I had 3 injections which took effect almost immediately. Testing my tooth still hurt a bit so I had another 5 injections. Then, with a slight pull, my tooth was out.

Of course, I take warfarin which is an anticogulant and the dentist was terrified I would bleed to death. As the evening went on, I did lose a lot of blood and had to sleep with towels on my pillow which are in the wash this morning but all is well. I am still alive, you will be delighted to hear, Dear Reader.

I wasn’t up to dancing last night. I’m never up to dancing come to think of it but I was sent this photo of couples dancing under the Harvest Moon outside the SeaHorse Restaurant on Brighton Pier last night.

Another lovely morning. Got to make the most of it so it is gardening time. A few more lawns to mow, flowers to dead-head and tidying up to do. It gets me out in the sunshine, exercising and making my world more presentable.

This afternoon in a steamy atmosphere of 26C/79F, we walked down the coast. I must admit I was exhausted after a couple of hours hard mowing in the morning and an hour and a half walking this afternoon has pushed me. Still, it’s all in a good cause.

Saturday, 21st September, 2024

Woke in the night to flashing lights. It was distantant lightning. No thunder. We had heavy rain for about 3 minutes and then it was gone but very hot. Lovely relaxed morning. Taking Pauline for another scan at midday. These are definitely signs of the times.

We always said we would never blame things on our age. We so often blame things – actions and opinions – on the old people around us. We try not to see it in ourselves. Suddenly I see a contemporary and realise, I am old. I was talking to a girl ex-pupil yesterday. She was 43 and complaining about getting old. Wait until you’re 73, I told her and suddenly realised that is what I am and how old it sounds.

I was talking to this young man yesterday. I shared a flat with him over 50 years ago. When I think of him, I hold the 1970s image in my head. It brings me up short to see him here. It makes me see myself. He is old as am I.

For a year, I shared a flat with Nigel, Kevin and Chris. Talking, we all have hazy memories of it. Actually, I think mine is the strongest although I sometimes think I’ve invented it. Talking to them this morning, we weren’t completely clear where we washed our clothes. Did we wash our clothes? We can’t have worn them for a year without washing … can we?

I really am creaking at the joints at the moment but forcing myself to ignore it and push on with the exercise.It is working but simple things like having a tooth removed remind me of my own frailty. I refuse to be left behind by the world and challenge myself every day to keep up with Politics & Economics, Society & Culture and with Technology. I will never say, I am too old to understand or try that. as so many old people do now about the internet or smart phones.

It is our bodies that are most likely to embarrass us first. We have noticed that as we watch films, the dialogue is so variable in its volume and diction. (You see, it makes me sound old just saying that.) I’ve decided we have to install soundbars with our TVs.