Ah,
we are starting to see the signs that spring is arriving. The snowdrops
are out and blooming, daffodils
have shot up and a few have opened their flowers, and crocuses
are just beginning to push their tops through the soil. What a lovely
site when you spot any of these sites. Also, everyone is remarking
how the days are now getting lighter. This past week we saw a pronounced
lightening of the days as we were leaving work in the afternoons,
and everyone is happy to now have twilight on the way home instead
of complete darkness.
Not a lot happening at work for us, just the usual carrying on. Friends
John Coulson and Karen Whiteley were back from skiing trips to France
and Austria, respectively, and both reported masses amount of snow
and good skiing conditions.
As I'd mentioned last week, I've been having trouble with my back
and taking acupuncture. On Friday I went for my third session at The
Northern College of Acupuncture. The two who are
working with me are Irish (!), Brendan and Kahir. They certainly seem
to know what they are doing, and needless to say, are full of the
gab and jolly gentleman. Afterwards, I met up with Paula Downing in
The Living Room,
on the River
Ouse. It's a lovely spot, which hasn't been open all that long.
We had a nice catch up, and we ran into Kirsty Robinson. Kirsty's
fella, Andy, had asked her to marry him at The
Star Inn in Harome,
when they were staying there for a few days after New Year. She was
sporting her engagement ring, a beauty, which she'd just picked up
that day, and was she ever happy! We are all so very happy for both
of them. It was good to see her and catch up with her as well. After
a few, Paula and I got a taxi, and he dropped us off at our respective
domiciles.
Saturday dawned dreary, but warmer than it had been for the last several
days. I wandered into town to get tickets for the Cole
Porter musical, “Anything Goes”, which will
be performed at the York
Royal Theatre. Sally Corrie and I are going on Wednesday.
Then I walked down to Lush,
where I picked up some birthday presents. I love to just walk into
that shop, as the smells and aromas are just wonderful! Then I did
a bit more shopping and wandering, and finally got back to the flat.
I called Liz Kirby, as we were headed out to do shopping. I drove
round to hers and collected her, and then it was off for lunch at
The
Blacksmith Arms in Huntington. We dropped in on
Bruce and Sally Corrie for a quick visit prior to continuing on to
ASDA
for our routine shopping. Afterwards, I dropped Liz off at home, then
brought all my stuff home and stored it. I looked in the paper, and
I decided to go to the movies to see “Oceans
12”. It was okay, but to me, neither it nor the remake
of “Oceans
11” come close to the original. But then, isn't that
often times the case? Afterwards, it was back home.
Today I was up and out doing some more shopping, as I found I'd forgotten
to buy certain things. Then, back home for some cleaning and straightening
up of the flat, ironing, and getting things ready for next week.
So there you have it. OH! Before I close, I have been forgetting to
mention something I think is quite special. The people (not the government)
have raised over £400 million for Tsunami Relief. I just think
that is remarkable. In every shop, church, pub, stall in a market,
etc. and at every till in any supermarket, you see the collection
containers for Tsunami Relief. I give all the time, as do others,
needless to say. I just find it remarkable how caring and giving these
people are. I think it's a wonderful mark of their character. Schools
have put on productions, bake sales, etc., there have been walks,
talks, concerts, collections everywhere, just about anything you can
think of to raise the money, and from large cities to tiny villages,
it's happening everywhere. How wonderful to be part of such a caring
and giving society. Well, on that I will close, and I wish you all
well for this coming week.
Love,
