January Thoughts!

It is near the end of the month and I have managed to stay quite cheerful, despite the dreadful weather. It has been cold (colder than usual) damp and dull. We have had very little sunshine and this month has dragged. However I am able to stay fairly stable - quite cheerful - and the spark of optimism is in the background waiting to show its head.

The days are slightly longer and the spring bulbs are beginning to show through and that gives me hope. I keep braving the cold and going out into the garden to watch their progress and can't wait to see the flowers bloom.

One nice thing happened to me the other day as I was walking home. I had just visited some friends (one who was in a nursing home having rehab and one who had been unwell) and feeling quite pleased with myself as both my friends were improving and we had had quite stimulating chats. An 'old woman' (she looked older and more decrepit than me) was walking towards me and called out - I went over to her and she said 'Oh, I do like your hair, it looks so beautiful against the blue of your coat.' I don't get many compliments and I just felt over the moon on hearing that. I felt a warm glow inside me which lasted for a few days. It is amazing what a few nice words can do!

I have been so very busy these past few weeks. I know that is a good thing, but somehow I am finding it a bit too much and I feel quite harassed. I am going on some week-day walks, working on a project about the Olympics for the U3A, doing some exercise classes, been to the theatre, cinema and 2 museums. And there are one or two other things I have done this month. I have also had visitors staying with me on and off so have been doing lots of housework, washing sheets etc. That is why I am feeling so exhausted. However, it is better than complaining about having nothing to do and how awful life is!

On Saturday I am helping out at the local museum for half a day and on Sunday going on one of my Sunday walks. I hope to get some nice photos to post on this blog.

Last Sunday I went to the Royal Academy with one of my daughters and her partner to see some modern Sculpture. I really did not understand it at all. My daughter thought it was great, but I am unable to understand why an enclosed vitrine holding rotting meat, a cow's head and remains of a barbecue together with flies and maggots all over is art! What was funny was that there was a layer of bricks laid out neatly on the floor - all lined up - except for a few bricks that were slightly separated from the rest. I was studying it wondering whether these bricks were meant to be like that, when my daughter came over and told me that she had seen a man trip over the bricks and they had not been put back in place! There were some things I liked and felt I could understand or just admire. One of the exhibits was a sculpture of a mother and child made in the 1930's and it was made by the mother-in-law of a friend of my daughter. We found it quite delightful. It was lovely to be with the two of them and we had a lovely cream tea afterwards.

Anyway, this is the last day of the month and I am feeling quite positive and looking forward to the spring.