Lunch in Tywyn

Keith wants us to go here today, 'here' being a little place called Tywyn over in west Wales. It's not a particularly unusual place, except for one of its restaurants, the Proper Gander, which does amazing Sunday lunches, and probably amazing meals throughout the week as well. I once made the mistake of refusing a full three course lunch and was immediately harangued (in a very nice way, you understand) by the proprietor who stood over me until I was won over and agreed to comply.
Keith has obviously forgotten that he is supposed to be on a diet!

Tidying up

Last night, I began what I have been meaning to do since New Year and have been putting off for just as long, I began to sort out my filing cabinet. It took me all evening, but then, it's something I have avoided doing for the past four years at least. One thing I did notice during my efforts was that, although I have my decree nisi and a letter from my solicitor telling me that my decree absolute was enclosed and not to lose it as I might need it some time in the future, for instance if I ever decided to get married again, of the document in question, there was not a hint. So that's that then, Jennyta, spinster of this parish for evermore.
However, I digress. Today, having got the bit between my teeth, I began bright and early to shred the foot high pile of redundant paper, but that was soon done, and my eyes fell on ...yes, you've guessed it, Keith's pile. Now Keith has a unique mode of filing and dealing with his paperwork. It consists of chucking it, mostly unopened, in a pile on NASA and then, when the pile gets too high to cram any more on, it is relocated (crammed) into a drawer underneath.
Soon the floor was covered with neat piles of paperwork, arranged in date order and ready to be filed.
Impressive, don't you think? But that's not all. Next I moved upstairs to the forests of trees which were felled and turned into bi- products of the National Curriculum. And this time, I REALLY had a ball. There is now a pile of paper at least two and a half feet high awaiting recycling and thereby being banished from my life for evermore! A completed gestalt.
And that feels very good.

Spring comes early

These were the views as I walked this morning. It was a lovely, sunny day, a light breeze and quite warm. Yes, I know it's not natural in early February and it won't last, but it's so much more pleasant than all the rain and wind of the past few weeks. Now, as long as we can avoid the snow, we're sorted.

Nearly done

Well, we finally got round to ordering and putting up the blinds in the conservatory. It was a pity the desk collapsed in the process of being moved, but you can't have everything.

Time to party

Oh dear, 10 days since my last post. Where are the days and weeks going? How did I ever fit in working full time? I am now doing eight hours a week voluntary counselling and, slowly, things are beginning to move on the private front.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of last night's mini-reunion of some of us from last year's diploma course. (Apologies for the quality). See, I even have a social life now!

Ladies who lunch

Lunch today in Chester with the headteacher from my last school but one, the one which closed last summer. We exchanged 'retirement' stories, congratulated ourselves on having a bit of spare time to do our own thing and reminded ourselves of the importance of not 'stagnating' and making the most of all this wonderful free time.
Gill has the edge on me as she retired when the school closed and, although we have met up a few times since then, this was the first time since I finished. Usually, when teachers retire and meet up with former colleagues, they are congratulated on how good they look now that they are no longer bearing visible signs of the stresses of life in the classroom.
"You look well!" the cry goes up, and later, when the retiree has left, "Wow, she looks years younger/ so much better/ incredible!"
No-one has said that to me yet, so I am left to ponder on the two possible reasons for this:
a) I don't (look younger/better/healthier.)
b) I looked great to begin with and you can't improve on perfection!

I now await the brickbats and insults I just know are coming my way. ;)

Digging holes

Wrexham is plagued with roadworks and has been almost since I moved here, now coming up to five years ago. When I was working I got to the stage of experiencing a distinct sinking sensation every time I caught sight of a yellow sign on one of my usual routes. However, fond as the council/waterboard/Highways agency etc might be of digging up our roads, I think this one is maybe going a bit too far!
B4500, Dolywern, Trial holes, 2 way traffic lights for 3 days until Wednesday, 23 January '08 Delays expected <>

They need to PRACTISE???