Oh so easy, after months of stress.

Back in January flights were booked and then for months the situation was viewed with varying levels of anxiety - green, red, amber systems influencing what trips were legal or not.  On top of that PCR tests and vaccination certificates were required, - the information given about what was necessary changing at times and often not clear Then suddenly the Croatians banned wedding receptions and even now rules influence who can attend. .  It has been a topsy turvy year for all concerned.  But then suddenly we were on a flight,  and two hours later and a rather long queue to have our passports stamped (We are now out of the EU)  and we were out into the relaxed atmosphere of a warm evening in Split.  Since then the family have happily pottered locally, swam, had meals together,  and generally chilled.   I often travel alone, so it is very nice to have my niece and nephew here, to share the fun, have Sunday lunch with etc.  And it is nice to meet more of the Croatian family here too.   So all is good 

Split

Split

A busy week

 Monday Yoga and work 

Tuesday guitar and work 

Wednesday art and work. - 

Thursday- tried sewing but even worse at it than I was at school  and work. 

Friday down to Cheshunt for the allotment 

And at the weekends - work.  

Next week I have two meetings on Monday evening - the book group and the Green Party, but will have been to London too for my PCR test so not sure I will be doing anything really that evening.  

I love that there is so much going on in this area and even more is coming on stream as pottery might be back,  so why am I still thinking of moving.  This is exactly what I wanted all these contacts with people and learning so much. I still want to do Tai Chi and swimming too   

Home from home, or home and away.

 I spend a lot of time in my head imagining I am being interviewed,  I have these narratives running around. Probably not unusual. When I stride about in my leggings for example I tell myself I am a youthful older person, which is probably why I was using my nieces scooter when I fell off and sprained my ankle badly,   but when she asks me to run up hill, the voice in my head says run but my legs do not obey, my legs tell me I am not pretend elderly I am elderly.  Young older person statistically yes, but the old lady legs and arms skin also tell me the same story.      Like all things in life it is how one squares that version of oneself with the internal version, it is a constant dialogue.    

Inverness

When I moved from my home to my flat, I imposed a narrative, your son has left home, you are no longer a family you are a single person again,  revive yourself and enjoy this next phase by downsizing. The minute I arrived in my flat, I realised it was a false narrative, and ever since I have not known how to tell myself my own story about where to live. Perhaps where I am living is home, yet I still hanker for home. 

Pitlochry

Yet I also hanker for travel, but this Covid world has made that seem a smaller space dream, and so I embraced this and my old lady narrative, by booking for what I knew would be a holiday mainly occupied by older people by coach up to Scotland and I am pleased to say it went well.  I did tell myself I was one of the younger ones,  but the 80 year old who outwalked me showed that youth is not always fitness.  But that was why it was so wonderful, not having to drag my own case around, not having to get myself from A to B or worry about when the bus or train would come. My only worry was the torrential rain that was forecast which might have seen us all off, but which only materialised thankfully when we were in the coach.  Because of the restrictions imposed in Scotland, some things were off the agenda including a train ride and whiskey distillery visit, but the scenery, history, food, location and company made up for it.    I have now spent so much time in the north of England this year that I begin to feel like a local.   But when I get home, will the south still command my attention?

                                                     

Carousel production Open Air Theatre Regent's Park. 

Moray Firth

Well done. UK team,  brilliant Olympics,  both the winners and the participants, but how lovely that we did so well in this show without an audience, where the Japanese were watching events on their doorstep via TV and yet where excitement was still conveyed.