Ukraine invaded and the north blasted by the weather.

 It has happened,  we are almost out of a pandemic,  the climate crisis needs immediate attention, so what does Putin do?  Invade the Ukraine.   The implications for them and all of us are huge.  I hope the Russian people can try and persuade him to turn back.  

Meanwhile up north we are on about our fifth storm.  On Sunday the trickle turned into a wide river just in the garden below and yesterday the main doors were shut at Bowes Museum because the wind was so fierce and two women were blown over trying to find the alternative door. Despite that we have managed to get out and have fun with dogs and dad and son and daughter in law. 

                                                                             

I have even managed a little trip within a trip, this time to Leeds.  For two nights in Leeds one could have almost a week in Spain this time of the year,  but it is nice to be able to explore a bit more of the UK and to catch up with old friends in the area.  At first the town was so full on I was like I am more of a country hick than I realised but by the end I was enjoying hoping on and off buses and getting to know the different neighbourhoods.  

The axe has fallen and two confidence boosts.

 I have had my updated energy bills, along with the rest of the country, I am suddenly paying a whole lot more for my gas and electricity.   This time last year I was only paying about £30 a month in DD, I did ask them to put it up,  but they did not, now it will be a whooping £170 a month.  So over £2000 a year. If you consider that most pensioners are on about £9000 a year,  that is close to a quarter of their income.  It is not sustainable.  Once upon a time when I had a lodger,  it was an income, now it increases my outgoings and just covers their cost.    So here it feels bleak,  on the other hand I am not facing down a whole Russian army.  So even bleaker news from abroad is shutting out the bleak news here. 

However,  two nice things have happened recently,  first I had a vague idea for a picture, and have been brave enough to put it up on Grayson Perry's Facebook Art Group, it is only a little sketch but I thought it would resonate and to my delight so far has had over 80 likes. The most attention anything I have done recently.  

And through my volunteering with the Harmony Gardens in Cheshunt with Wyld Edges,  I have been interviewed, photographed and even appeared in a twitter feed.    Think that is a first.  

Queenie has reigned for 70 years.

 I do not know how she does it, but this weekend, was the 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.    I have been alive for almost 67 of those years so she is the only monarchy I have known the only way of living has been under her "Guidance" "Authority" whatever you like.  I may not be a wild supporter or follower of Monarchy but I can see that has given a structure and a culture in effect to my whole life and it has possibly contributed to the stability and  yet stuffiness of the country.   I do not know how she does it.  I crawl to work a few hours a week, sometimes enjoying and celebrating the time, sometimes resenting it,  often feeling very tired. But then in between I am in some ways celebrating life more and more as I find things available at last to do locally, that I could not access when I was working full time for example gardening, T'ai Chi, yoga, art.     But as I do them I am mindful that I do them with a body that aches all the time and the chances are it will get more difficult. Nevertheless I am surrounded by many people a lot older than me who are much more energetic and who are therefore providing a positive example despite the challenges of getting older (e.g. some are recovering from Cancer, but still get out there and are fully active)   I am incredibly lucky to have this time and it is no point wishing I had had more time previously to exercise,  get involved in politics etc, but ..... Is this just filling in time whilst waiting for death, or rushing to have a more fulfilled life or just life trundling on its own sweet way?  The good thing about being pulled into politics, is that any thoughts I had had about what I wanted to do with life have been shelved and now this is what I am focusing on.  There is a lot to learn about so that is good for my brain,  though finding the time and or energy is a bit of a challenge, and then there is the camaraderie so that is good and who knows perhaps we will also benefit the world with any luck.   Some of the others for example did a litter pick this weekend, and we have raised questions about footpaths, building and education already with the powers that be.                                                                  

Volunteering on the Community Garden in Cheshunt,  first we have to clear all the land of all the brambles and all the rubbish. 

                                              

Previous birthdays have sometimes been sad, I was dumped on both my 40th and 65th birthday,  twice I have been to a funeral on my birthday, which ironically was very jolly as I saw lots of family and people sang Happy Birthday,  this year will be marked by a trip to the pub and a party meeting - online.  Many old friends have to a certain extent faded away, sometimes we get in contact, and one or two I meet properly but now there are also the people I paint with, garden with and do Tai Chi with.  

Went as local party representative to this event in Cheshunt. 

I do not know why but 67 feels significantly older than 66.  Somehow I need to really embrace this ageing process.  I know most of the time I do, but sometimes people get a bit maudlin this time of the year and this year I definitely have. I think it is partly because I had hoped I would spend the day with family but cannot, however,  I will enjoy my birthday and will raise a glass or two to myself and hope for many more years, if vaguely healthy, to come. 

My art is not going to change the world but doing it changes my world. 

A question of priorities?

 I am incredibly lucky although I know lots of people who have had Covid I do not know of anyone very close to me who has died from it and most of my family have had a relatively good pandemic compared to some.  Yet that is not the case everywhere in the country. When I look at how many people who had died in the UK compared to in China it is astonishing.       One Chinese student asked if people were all trying to leave the west to come to China as it is so much safer there, which tickled me, but it is an interesting question. Our freedom comes at a price, but their safety also comes at a price but which is higher.  

Meanwhile Putin seems to be a new threat waiting in the wings.    

January jaunts. 1

I am relieved to say that most of the family seems to have recovered from Covid and now we have finally plunged into the new year with a mix of birthday celebrations, green party meetings and walks and work on a local community garden.  

Certainly the Green Party is taking up much of the time as we try and get to grips with planning law and all sorts of other things that affect the local community.  Once we start campaigning it could be very hard work. So, it was nice to get stuck in and do a couple of hours work on the community garden down the road in Cheshunt instead and do something practical. 

  

Over Christmas,  I failed to get to three parties, partly cos of timing and sometimes they were cancelled cos of the virus.  I am amazed to have so many invites.  That Boris might have been to the odd party was not a surprise but that so many parties were happening staggers me,  the rule makers ignoring their own rules.   Like many people I feel incandescent but at least I cannot say that I was under the illusion that Boris would be a good leader. 

The attack on the BBC also leaves me incandescent I really on the BBC for my education and entertainment all through the day,  I hate to think how diminished my life will be if this august institutions is diminished further.  

Lovely family Christmas but the spectre of the double line cuts things short.

 There is nothing nicer almost than a family Christmas, but at this time, it is difficult to organise and sustain.      But a meal out with all of us,  a panto with some of us, and a shared Christmas Eve, and  Christmas Day Dinner, both with brilliant meals produced by H and R - I have already decided that Christmas Eve curry - homemade of course - should be a thing,  all happened before the plans fell apart and people had to part early to self isolate and recover or just get away from potential illness.   We also had snow to add to the fun, three dogs, who sometimes were very very happy to be together and at other times looked ready to tear each other apart and one who escaped and was almost lost.  We even had two trips to the infamous Barnard Castle whilst away.  

Despite everything was able to stay on for mulled wine, dance and games and fireworks on New Year's Eve and am now back home and back to the ordinary every day.    However, I still find it shocking to have suddenly seen a positive result in a lateral flow device.  I did not know what it was at first I am so used to seeing the nice clear c line and I had to look it up to realise it was a positive - a very negative positive.    Luckily those affected seem to have had a mild illness and were able to self isolate and not affect others.   But the lack of post to order PCR tests  over Christmas, closed help departments on New Year's Eve and the late results back made decision making re work and isolation for those not ill more difficult.    One person who owing to their frailty might have received the new medical treatment is still waiting to hear back from a doctor even though the treatment is supposed to start within 24 hours of a positive test, so bits of the system are not functioning in a helpful way sometimes.  But we are all still here so we have survived but what a horrid way to start a new year. 

Dogged determination .

 I am come from Istria, via Slovenia, Austria,  Germany and France and now I get to walk by the Thames.