Black smoke & a bit of snow....

Greetings Worlds !!

It's a very bright day, here in England...... altho' there are plenty of dismal clouds out there, the Sun is blasting thru' - just to lift it all a
bit !!

Ok - it's another Wednesday.... the (kind of) midway point of the week. When I used to be fit enough to work, once you got to Wednesday.... well, it seemed like you were on the homeward stretch. Mind you - being involved in the farming side of life - there were not too many weeks, when I didn't have to work, at least part of every weekend !! Nevermind..... "that was then, this is now".

As I type - the music of the moment is a 'live' track, from Gregg Allman's live album, that came out - way back - in the 1970's. It's called 'Where Do you Go' & has always been one of my favourites - even tho' it's not actually done by Mr Allman..... oh well !!

I'm trying to be clever again, today - trying to do a Cd, from the old tapes.... and typing these words. Hopefully I won't screw up too badly.... tho'.... anything is possible !!

My only company at the moment, is our oldest cat, Smudge..... he is sat beside me, warming himself by the fire... which I've only just lit, so he's going to have to wait a bit - until it stops "spitting" - then I'll take the fire guard down..... Once that's done, he will no doubt stretch full length along the grate, getting all the heat he can absorb, into his old bones !!

He's about 11 years old now....... I went into hospital, in 2002 & when I came home, we had a new kitten !! We also had a French lad stay over, for a few days - as part of an exchange thingy - when J was still in school !!

You see - I go into hospital & while I'm away - the family goes crazy & get up to all sorts of things !! I wonder what they will do, this next time ?! Time will tell on that one - tho' I have said, I would like to have a new kitten about the place.... which is my way of saying "if you find a kitten, give it a home" while I'm away !!

Talking about the family...... ME is asleep (I hope) upstairs, after doing a night shift - she is working again, tonight, so (hopefully) she is getting some sleep now !! J is also about... he's building himself a new computer - which means, I think, that I'm getting his old one.....

I'm not 100% sure how all of that is going to work - as I'm used to what this old bucket of bolts can do !! I'm used to my computer & it's many limitations.... if I get a new one, well - I hate to think how much trouble I'll get myself into !!

That just leaves B - who has gone into town, for a meeting over the 'Carer's Support Group'..... which seems to be falling apart !! To try & explain...

The old group, used to meet every month & sort out things. Then - I'm not sure why - the leader left & since then, the new 'leader' hasn't really been a lot of help.... mainly, as I understand it - when the carers meet, the leader fails to show !!

It's been a bit of a waste of time really..... but, the carers who meet, seem to be willing to give the new leader a bit of a break.... and the meeting today, is all connected to that. I'm not sure what is going to happen.... but, it's all down to the new leader getting things together & moving on......

I think - after the meeting, B might be heading into the gym..... I'm not sure what her plans are really. I'll see her when she gets home, I guess.....

The music has just moved on to a long-ish Tangerine Dream track, called 'Monolight' (I think)... sitting here - with my headphones on, it's been really good - listening to it... really enjoyable, like hearing it for the first time !! I'll have to try & find out which album it's from......

It's weird really..... I've got all of these bits of music playing in my head..... and on the TV, sat quietly in the corner, are images of The Vatican - with people hoping to see the white smoke come out of the chimney !! They look like they are all having a great time, but.... they all look very cold & wet, bless them !!

Life goes on, no matter what happens........ it's 3.30pm here, as I type & there is black smoke, being shown on the BBC news - I'm not sure if that's a 'live' picture or just a film of what happened earlier. I will let you know, if anything happens....

I've just realised, I'm transferring music - onto Cd - from tape 40..... that means I have only 2 more to do !! So - I've recorded 52 Cd's (so far) - hopefully I can get it all done, in under 60 Cd's......... it should work out Ok. I know I wanted to do it on 50 discs, but...... under 60 would be good !! Don't worry - it all makes sense to me......

It has just started to rain out side..... I know this, as one of the cats has just come in & rubbed his wet fur, all around my legs !! Bless him - now he's headed up to bed, where he will probably stay for the rest of the day !! it's a hard life, being a cat, in our home.....

Ok - my plans for today...... well, as usual, I've got nothing special lined up. I've been typing this, with-out wearing my brace thingy - so, once I've finished, I better put that on (again) as my neck is starting to really hurt now !!

It will be interesting what will happen, after the next surgery....... if the various pains will ease, get worse or just stay the same as they are now. I hope things will get better - but, as this surgery is all different, to ones I've had in the past, well - it will be interesting & that's for sure !!

Whenever I actually get the dates to go into the hospital - for the next surgery - I'm hoping to be able to use one of the lap tops, to help me keep up to date - with my e-mails & this old blog of mine. I did think about it, the last time I stayed over (before Christmas).... but, the cost put me off, more than a little bit !!

To use the Internet connections - in the hospital - is about £7.50 a day !! Now - I'm not being a tight guy here, but..... that's a lot of cash, especially when you consider I was in there for 2 weeks !! But - this next time around - depending on how sick I am, afterwards, I hope to use one of the laptops, for at least a part of my stay.

I did miss the whole communication thingy.... not that I really worried too much about it - mainly as I had a few other things going on, at the time - but, it would be good - if I'm up to it, after the surgery, to use the computer a little while during my stay.

One guy - who was there - used the internet connection, every day !! All I can say is "good luck" - I was buggered if I was going to get that excited about it, especially at the cost it incurred !! I'll have to see how I am....... but, it would be good - to use it, maybe once or twice.......

Oh well.... I better be on my ways....... A quick weather update... it has just started to snow here !! Over in Italy, it's still raining & there is no sign of any white smoke, as yet. I must go... until next time....

Bye Bye