An uncertain future

We're all facing an uncertain end to the year. If this was a film, you couldn't really think of anything else to go wrong. Well, you could but let's not tempt fate.

Yes, the news is terrifying, but as one health expert pointed out, keep washing your hands, keeping your distance and wearing a mask. That really does help. And what we all need to do is plan for how to get through these next few months.

Living alone is no fun during lockdown (which we all know may be on the cards in January) but I have Lainy, I have my support bubble and I have other friends I walk with. My social life has largely consisted of dog walks for most of this year. I am 20,000 words into my next novel so I really hope I can still write, as that helps keep me sane. And I think it's a question of trying to keep each other going.

I've also got some good looking books to read over the next few weeks, and although my visit to my Mum has been postponed, again, I hope to be able to see her soon. She has her second Covid jab in early January.

So I end this last post this year by wishing everyone to keep safe and well. And plan for how we're all going to keep going for the next few months. What are you going to do?

Thinking of you all, with love, hugs and best wishes and a healthier 2021, Flowerpot and Lainy.

Comfort Zones

I am a great believer in heading out of my comfort zone as well as staying firmly in it, if you know what I mean. I can be quite easily persuaded out of it as long as it includes Lainy; less easily so if it doesn't.

Some dear friends of mine have taken up swimming in the sea - in wetsuits I hasten to add - but that't not for me, for several reasons - 1) Lainy is still taking time to train, and i have to have an hour in the afternoon to do this, preferably before it gets dark. They swim from 2-4pm which wipes out all the afternoon. 2) I have Reynaud's and the thought of immersing myself in cold water makes me shudder. 3) Particularly as you have to warm up again very slowly. I know I'd have even worse chilblains than I do at the moment. And I hate having chilblains. 4) I'm still working so two hours out of my day is a lot, particularly when that is Lainy Time. So while I really admire their fortitude, that's not for me. I might have a go in the summer when its' warmer and I can tempt Lainy in the sea too.... But to get back to small examples of getting out of my comfort zone: this morning, the Tooth Fairy's car had to have an MOT at 8.30am which is well before his getting up time. I got up at 7am which is also before my usual rising time, but I was rewarded by the most amazing sunrise. It just got better and better as the minutes went by.

Anyway we met up at the garage and headed off to take Lainy for a walk. Driving through town, I was reminded that I'd eaten my tea early the night before (5pm) and that was my last meal. I was feeling tired which always means I need food. Lo and behold a takeaway bakery was open so when I said, 'Ooh shall I get some croissants?' TF jumped out and ordered. The next thing I knew we had two bacon rolls with brown sauce, two coffees and a croissant for me for later.

The bacon was just how I like it - lean and crispy, the rolls were small and tasty with sesame seeds on top, and the spiciness of the brown sauce was just perfect. What a meal, washed down with a cappuccino. Perfect fodder!

We then headed down to Half Moon Beach, scrambling over rocks in order to beat the tide, and had a wonderful time with Lainy on the beach.

The garage then rang saying could we pick the car up as they're really busy, so we had to head back, but got home in time to do a good morning's work. WE both really enjoyed the time out, an unexpected breakfast, and more time training Lainy on the beach and the Hornworks.

It's very easy to make excuses not to do things - and I'm as bad as the rest of us - but sometimes when the occasion crops it, it makes all the difference.....

More reading

Last week I finished The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett. I can't remember how I heard about it, whether it was from a review I read or the TV programme Between the Covers, hosted by Sara Cox, that's been on recently. Anyway, I ordered it from the library and it was one of those slow burn books, but in a good way. What a writer!

I so enjoyed this novel which is about identical twins and their identities. There's so much in this story, which is set between 1968 and 1986 and starts off in a small town called Mallard which was founded by a man whose "skin was white but would never be accepted as white and refused to be treated as Negroes".

While one of the the twins disappears, without telling her sister, to marry a white man who doesn't know her background, the other twin struggles with her loss of identity through losing her sister, and falls into an abusive relationship. The story follows the contrast in their lives and is a fascinating tale of race, gender and identity.

As soon as I'd finished it, I looked up to see what else she's written - The Mothers. So that's on my reading list.... Any of you got any recommendations?