I am peeved

And apparently properly middle-aged

The Second Coming (of the wisteria)

No Friday missive from me this week as I’ve been poorly and just couldn’t find the energy or enthusiasm to write. Fear not, I live to see another day (and, hopefully, many more!) but my GP did send me to A&E on Wednesday afternoon. I’d had horrid abdo pain for more than 48 hours and, despite being fairly stoic, (I think), the nurse in me did whisper that perhaps a professional opinion was prudent.

Other than the stereotypically disinterested, unwelcoming and inefficient emergency department receptionists (apologies if this is you) I cannot fault the service from our local hospital. Assessed by the lovely nurses and doctors, I had a CT scan, was diagnosed and back home within four hours which is really pretty amazing. It turns out that with middle age comes the risk of developing diverticular disease and then diverticulitis, and apparently I am properly middle aged. Mike struggled with the pronunciation until I suggested he apply a west country accent and aim for diver-tickle-itis!

This may well be TMI, but I have never been a martyr to my bowels, they’ve served me well until now and for 90% of the time believe I eat a really healthy diet. I have long accepted that musculoskeletal problems are my Achilles Heel, and am frankly rather peeved to have to deal with this too now. I am faced with a low fibre diet for the next couple of weeks until my poor gut settles down and heals (healing a bout of diverticulitis has been likened to recovering from a burn within one’s colon) - and though I initially found the prospect of living on cornflakes pleasingly simple, I am having to rethink that!

Still, the antibiotics and genuinely taking it a bit slowly are doing the trick because I feel much more like myself today, thank goodness, and have managed to participate in the big garage clean out from my feet and not just the stool in the corner.

An early morning dip before retiring to the shade of my bed for the day

Doggy Daycare

Gertie is a bit of a mummy’s girl on the whole, though she happily abandons me when Mike or the girls are home. Kind friends, neighbours - and even my younger sister who is practically my twin - have sometimes offered to take her for a walk, only to report that she refuses to walk more than 500m or so. She is resigned to being left at home alone when required, taking up residence on my bed in my absence, but is simply quite used to me being around in the house, garden or studio.

However, in light of Mike’s imminent move to Europe and my desire to join him now and then, I have been exploring options. A friend recommended a place which we might once have called dog boarding-kennels but this is a ‘Waggy Retreat’ which I have explained to her ladyship is quite different! On our first visit for a walk and introduction she was distinctly nervous and withdrawn, but not so much that she couldn’t kill a squirrel in the blink of an eye on our walk with the owner.

After a relatively successful day without me there last Monday she returns again tomorrow, so my fingers will be crossed that she’ll jump out of the car happily and maybe even eat something there…

Peak Verbena!

In The Garden

Well, let’s not pretend that any of us did much gardening last week! To be honest, given how I felt I was never going to have got much done, but the heat put the kibosh on any thoughts of productivity. It was as much as I could do to take Gertie for a walk at 6am each day and gently shuffle any seedlings and small plants into some shade. I’ve never been more grateful for the overnight storms which did the watering for me, not only that, but actually I love a storm! I lay in bed on Thursday night, feeling uncomfortable and sorry for myself, but enjoying the thunder and lightning as I recalled the magnificent storms we used to enjoy in South Africa.

The heat and rain have been wonderful for the garden and everything is romping away - including the weeds of course. The tomatoes have got a bit out of control and I need to go and do a little judicious trimming so the budding fruits have a chance to ripen. And as for the Tomatillos, they’re enormous! I have never grown them before and don’t really know what I should be doing, so any advice welcome.

What am I meant to do with them

The self sown poppies I mentioned last week are beautiful and prolific, I’m going to dry lots of the seed heads for anyone who’d like some, but they will come with the caveat that they are likely to make their own way around your entire garden.

Couldn’t show you these last week - made for my sister’s birthday.

In The Studio

One afternoon this week the temperature in the studio was 43.7° and I suspect about 99% humidity.

However, I have made progress. My new kiln is ordered. It was a slightly heart-in-mouth moment as I pressed ‘buy’, but I’m excited. Though it will take several weeks to arrive (they’re built in Germany) it did partly prompt the big garage clear out. We have been putting off a proper sort out in here since we moved in three years ago really, there just always seems to be something more pressing, but we set ourselves a timer for an hour both yesterday and this morning and made remarkable progress. A trip to the tip was booked, piles were made, rehoming offered and the corner where the bats roost has been swept and is clear and ready for the electrician to do the necessary for the kiln’s arrival.

I have committed to participating in a local arts trail in October. I appreciate that this is several months away, but when I began looking at the calendar, factoring in the kiln’s ETA, doing some glaze testing and getting to grips with it, along with a trip to Munich to help Mike settle in his new apartment, I realised that I must get a wriggle on with making at least. Pottery is slow, particularly if you pot just part-time as I do, but this feels like a step towards taking my making more seriously.

And Finally, a PSA

Since I’ve possibly already overshared this week, I thought I’d tell you about my new and absolutely favourite pants!

Last Christmas, as is tradition, I bought both girls a pair of Christmas knickers (which also reminds me of the wonderful children’s book The Queen’s Knickers by Nicholas Allen). They individually reported back that these were most excellently comfortable and that they had bought themselves more, so I thought I’d give them a go too. I concur, Stripe and Stare’s knickers are indeed exceptionally comfortable and absolutely no wedgies have occurred! I recommend.

On that note I’ll leave you to enjoy your Sunday evening (or whenever you read this), and wish you a week ahead full of things that make you smile.

With love,

Vx

ps. if you’re looking for joyful things you could start with AlexTSmith and his weekly Joy Parade