28th December 2017
I feel like shit today, looks like I caught some of Gina’s clag. I drove into Ilminster to get stocked up with cold remedies, and went back to bed.
I was running a fever, and a rough chesty cough, it all sounds like lines from the “twelve days of Christmas”. Nicola and Colin had arrived back from their holiday with hacking coughs, and mental exhaustion. The thought of being stuck in a coach for seven days with a load of old people is not my idea of a good time.
27th December 2017
I was disturbed from my sleep to the sound of a cat throwing up. Ah that was a trip down memory lane, one that I hoped I would never have to experience again. It has a distinctive sounds, a pumping hydraulic action that’s hard to ignore. I waited as long as I could to get up, trying to focus on the aroma of a fresh cup of coffee, rather than a pile of catsick. However it didn’t take too long to clean it up.
I had an appointment with the bathroom and kitchen department at Leeks. This went very well and we were able to set out the rooms with all the appliances that I wanted. The price reveal is always interesting, because I had no idea of what things cost these days. The bathroom cost was okay, it was fully loaded with the highest priced items, so there is a bit of room to trim down a little. The kitchen quote was a little higher than I was expecting, but with a little less complex oven and hob it should just hit the target.
I was given a loyally card that would entitle me to a free cup of coffee, just right after an intense decision making session. I walked up to the restaurant and ordered my Latte, that was when the assistant advised me that the free coffee was just a plain coffee, oh well.
26th December 2017
I was awoken by a cat frantically trying to scratch it’s way out of a locked cat flap. I had slid into my sleeping bag just a few hours earlier, so I tried to ignore it. It kept going, even more frantic than before, so I tried to extract myself from my sleeping sheath. Not that easy when you are unfamiliar with the position of the zip. It was pretty dark, the only illustration came from a small LED from the VR console.
I staggered to the door and fumbled for the lock on the cat flap, it was actually easier to open the door. The moggie disappeared, and I made my way back to my sleeping bag. Trying to insert myself was met with all-sorts of problems. I managed to get one leg back in, the other floundering, trying to find the slot. Eventually I was able to zip up the bag, and prepared to go back to sleep, five minutes later I needed to use the toilet, so I had to repeat the same procedure.
I settled down to try to get back to sleep, just as the cat came back through the cat-flap.
I had set my alarm early so that I could be up first, I didn’t want the others to endure me wandering around in my underwear, I actually cannot bare to see me like that either.
Boxing Day consisted of me chipping plaster off a wall, and filling up another couple of rubble bags, to add to the growing pile.
I went back to Ryan and Louise’s for dinner and more quizzes. This is fun, but I also realised that I don’t know very much, but I thought I did. It must be that I am out of touch with current general knowledge, I still know old general knowledge, trouble is there was not much of the old on the cards. The quizzes went on all evening, with some dropping out as sleep overcame them, I had to wait till all the glasses were empty before I could hope to get some sleep.
25th December 2017
The big day is here. I drove up from Barrington to spend Christmas with Ryan and Louise in Bradford on Avon. The moment I arrived I saw my grandson Marlo with a virtual reality headset fixed to his head. Of course I couldn’t wait to try it myself, so my first experience was riding a virtual rollercoaster. I hate rollercoasters, so this was was up there with having a sharp stick up my arse. I had to keep telling myself it was just a game, but my brain thought differently. After the journey, I was left sweating and exhausted, so then I became an Star Wars X-wing pilot. It was a good job I was not fighting for the resistance, my flying skills were not impressive, I plunged to my death on many occasions.
Joining us for Christmas was Louise’s brother Nick and his fiancé Gina. She had a proper London accent, so it was like having dinner in the Eastenders, but without the drama. As usual Ryan and Louise presented a wonderful spread, including the family recipe for red cabbage, my mum would have been proud.
It was great to have a Christmas without television, we had quizzes and games, and we didn’t miss it at all.
There was plenty of drinks, but after a while it became a little too much, although Nick and Gina never had that restriction.
We finished the evening with Game of Thrones Monopoly, with went on until the early hours. Eventually we declared Amilie the winner,although she only had two properties, and cleaned up the rest of us.
Meanwhile in Michigan, it was snowing, cold, and Kelli was sick of winter already.
I can’t wait to spend this season with all her family next year. As long as we don’t mention religion, politics, race, and gender there must be plenty of other things to talk about.
I am sure that my innocent englishness could open up some wormholes to fall down.
24th December 2017
Christmas Eve means it’s time to deliver presents. I went to visit the newest member of the family, little Ethan. He is what Christmas is all about, happy to be the centre of attention, and to tear wrapping paper into shreds. He is still innocent, and that brings a tear to my eye.
In the evening I decided to walk to the pub for a drink. The Barrington Boar is the centre of the village, a great place for food and local beer.
I didn’t know what I expected, the place was packed, lots of laughter, and full of people. I stood with my beer in hand, but it was surreal, it was like virtual reality where everything was going on around, and I was in the middle, isolated. I was a stranger, and not part of this community, and no one made any attempt to welcome me into it. I guess my expectations were too high, I thought small communities drew people into the heart, but maybe that’s my romantic vision of the English which is not real. I still enjoyed the beer though.
23rd December 2017
Drove into Bath for my first haircut since I got back. Mike, the hairdresser handed me a bucks fizz and toasted my return.
He asked me how many cuts I had in the US, and laying it on a bit thick, I told him only one, but the shampoo and head massage was amazing. I suggested he adopted the same approach, so that all the “old dears” who have been his regulars for thirty-odd years, would have a sensual experience. He joked that he hadn’t had any of his customers die in his chair so far, but I added if he marketed his “magic fingers” approach,he might drum up more trade amongst the older lady set.
The City was very quiet, not the usual frantic crowds getting their last minute presents. There were some areas where the Big Issue sellers out-numbered the shoppers.
I have noticed that a large number of sellers are foreign, possibly Eastern European, now far be it for me to judge, and I am very sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, but how can this happen? Immigrants have to demonstrate some means of support before they are allowed to enter the UK, and those who claim asylum get housing help, so why do we “import” homeless people from abroad ? This bothers me a little.
I had a response from Sean the builder to say he couldn’t do the job in my required time, at this rate it will be a six month project rather than three.
22nd December 2017
I took a long walk around Barrington Court’s grounds, there is a tennis court in need of some loving care, and also a squash court that requires renovation. The National Trust do a good job of keeping the house in good order, but the out buildings are lower down the priority. This would make an ideal community project for the village to work on.
I have never been this inactive since I stopped working, I talk with Kelli every day, and learn of the things she is working on, and wishing I was there to help. My long walks helps me plan my immediate projects, what bits to tear down, material to acquire, new skills to learn, it is exciting, but until I smell the dust, and the paint, and the wood, it is still a dream.
21st December 2017
I have the house to myself for the next seven days as Nicola and Colin are off to Austria. I spent most of the day wrapping presents.
I was surprised at how long it took to cover objects in paper, the number of times the sticky tape stuck to my fingers, and the hairs on the back of my hand, and the pain I endured releasing myself. It was like an endurance, and I can’t believe I used to wait until Christmas Eve to wrap my own children’s presents. I used to discover bits of sticky tape stuck to the table edge at various times of the year, and I used to laugh. Of course being in someone else’s house I had to double check that I hadn’t left anything on their table.
20th December 2017
I drove into Taunton again to finish my Christmas shopping. I decided to use the park and ride they operate. I have been using buses a lot recently, and they all suffer from the same problem, misted-up windows. This problem should not exist today with air conditioning, but the upper deck was dripping. Compared to the old buses I traveled on as a child, these have proper mounded trims and ventilation grills, so I would have thought condensation it would have been a thing of the past.
Soon I was wandering the streets looking for gift ideas. In one toy store I noticed that boxes of lego bricks were displayed behind locked glass doors, and the procedure to remove them is as difficult as getting served in a pub.(I am the invisible man). There are many things that are security protected, from CD’s, clothes and razor blades, this adds to a level of distrust I feel whenever I go into a store with a bag. I feel the suspicion hanging over me like a dark crowd, spoiling the shopping experience. I can see how online shopping is less confrontational.
19th December 2017
Another early start for my trip to Whitney on Wye to see my friend Martin.
He had been dealt a terrible blow several weeks ago when he was diagnosed with growth on his liver. He is waiting for a CT scan to see if it can be operated on. He remains optimistic, albeit under heavy pain killers. I struggle with what to say, without sounding uncaring . I have known him for over twenty years, and watched his health deteriorate. He has suffered physical and mental pain from the age of seven, he often talked about death setting him free, but faced with an uncertain future, he clings to life by the same fingernails as we all would.
Martin was selling me his Mitsubishi Shogun, and this will be my workhorse, enabling the shifting of all the crap from the cottage to the tip in relative comfort.
I then had to drive back to Bath for an important dinner appointment. I realised that time had slipped away, and I had to rely on the power of the Jag to get me there. At times I felt that I was holding on to the steering wheel, with my legs flapping behind like a scarf blowing in the wind.
Dinner was at the Mint Rooms with three of my best ex Herman friends. Due to my lateness I was able to make contact with Helen who took my order.
The main disadvantage of writing a blog is that all my stories have been told, and those who have read them, know everything, so I had nothing left to say.
The evening was great, and Bob even dressed up for the occasion (yes I know,) and wore a festive bow tie. I spent the evening wondering when it was going to spin, or light up.
The meal was wonderful, right up to the point at which I must have bit into a chilli, I kept my cool, and finished off my beer in an attempt to relieve the burn, I know that
Another Lifetime to go 