Grand daughter G ran a Marathon last Saturday.  Twenty six miles around Eastbourne, Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters,, up and down the hills along the coast. I asked her if she felt like giving up half way and she said `Oh no, I loved it. Anyone can do it,  it`s all in the head, not the legs`. I`m not sure I agree with her, especially after the needle incident in my case, but it makes you think.

I was soaking my poorly foot in a bowl of hot salty water and jumped up to answer the phone, and managed to drop my handbag into the water, which resulted in a ruined mobile phone, address book, bus pass, and purse. I bought a new phone but I still can`t work out how to text on it so will have to wait to collar a grandchild to help me.

I am off to the museum in Brighton later today to do another performance of readings following the creative writing course a few months ago. There is never much of an audience, just a few mystified mums and toddlers and people wanting a bit of a sit down, so its not a big deal, but I love being in that museum. `.

I am still limping pathetically but I now have a proper grown up walking stick (green) given to me by brother P and also a warm coat from dear departed sister in law Phil, so I think affectionately of her as I go dog walking in the mornings with her coat and stick. I am enjoying the lighter mornings now especially with the wonderful autumn colours this year.

Keeping Me on My Toes

The big toe drama continues.  On Wednesday, I went to the Day Unit at \Brighton Hospital to have the half needle removed with a sort of local whole leg anaesthetic, But after about half an hour of sticking huge needles into various parts of my leg with no effect, I had a general anaesthetic. I saw from the post op instructions that I must not use heavy machinery, drive a car, or sign a legal document for 48 hours. Anyway I was able to rest up at daughter J`s and have delicious meals on trays and watch the Great British Bake Off Finals, (what a tear jerker, but such a kind programme where everyone is nice to each other) .  I must have cost our beloved NHS a fortune and mine must be one of the most looked toes in the history of toes, but hopefully I will soon be back now with my early morning and afternoon dog walks as usual.

National Poetry Day was celebrated by daughter J and I reading a poem to each other at breakfast, 
(by wonderful Mary Oliver) and then listening to Radio 4 during the day, It  was all lovely stuff,and the BBC did us proud.

B.Wiggins has been dolefully sitting on the sofa looking reproachfully at me but he has had frequent walkies from my kind family. Today he has gone to have the full works at the Plumpton College Dog Grooming Department: coat, ears teeth and bottom, so he will come home later transformed. 

I am reading Grayson Perry`s autobiography called Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl  which is imaginative, witty and interesting, just like him and his work/ . I do admire him.

feeling needled..

The last couple of weeks have been dominated by my left big toe. The saga began when i got out of bed one morning and felt a sharp pain  and thought i had trodden on a wasp. Later I discovered a needle embedded which I pulled out. but the toe swelled up alarmingly.   During the next five days I was seen by three GP``s  two orthopaedic registrars, and spent four uncomfortable hours in A and E Finally I am having the broken off half of the needle removed on Wednesday.   The lesson to be learned is: never do sewing in the bedroom and if you do tread on a needle get it X rayed immediately.  One good thing was that I was able to see the moon eclipse last Sunday in all its scarlet glory. This was when daughter J and I stumbled out of A and E in the early hours of the morning.

I saw a wonderful Polish film in Ditchling Village Hall last week: Ida, a Polish film,which was tragic and yet so subtle and understated, also visually stunning. It is such a treat to see these outstanding World films instead of the usual blockbusters.

I have started going to Nurturing Creative Workshops run by an Art Therapist also in a village hall and that is another treat as we do activities where there is no right or wrong way!    There`s no end of opportunities and activities round here. I am so lucky.

My  birthday has come and gone. I had a good celebration with my beloved family and beautiful cards,many saying that the sender read this blog so I was pleased about that as I am always on the point of giving it up.  Also there are those lovely facebook messages which are heart warming.   Somehow, eighty five sounds much older than eighty four, but I will not let this thought depress me.   I cannot complain if my only real medical problem is a swollen toe.