Sharing this date (Sun, 15th) with the excellent, younger blogger, RTG, (arteejee.blogspot.co.uk) I wish him lots and lots of happy returns for today, with a fervent wish for some alleviation of his health trials - and ditto for the latter directed towards his very own great and good wifey, Anne-Marie ('Warrior Queen') too. (frommybraintomymouth.blogspot.co.uk)
I have my own health issues, of course - who doesn't? - but must be thankful that mine are not as incapacitating as those of many are, particularly for others around my age. So, praise be to the 'gods' for that, at least so far.
Advancing into Shakespeare's sixth of life's seven ages ("the lean and slipper'd pantaloon"), I'm managing to keep body in reasonable shape and, even though saying it myself, think I look a little younger than my actual age. However, there are still the visible effects of the tripping accident, now all of 15 months ago, when I went down and bit the concrete, 're-arranging' front teeth.
My dentist has done all she can within the National Health Service range i.e. all that is required for health reasons, but what remains yet undone is still conspicuous each time I open my mouth. Apparently, because further correction would be required purely for 'cosmetic' reasons of appearance it can only be done privately - and the cost of repairing just the one main front tooth is prohibitive, for the moment at least.
I only mention it to excuse my failure to show my 'gnashers' in the latest pics - something I have to remember daily not to reveal whenever I'm talking to others - or just smiling. Not a pretty sight! - and so distracting for the person I'm addressing.
The pussies below are, of course, Noodles and Patchie - Noodles , the upper one in the middle pic, is causing me particular concern in that his tummy has ballooned since he took to drinking a lot of water and milk quite suddenly a couple of months ago, almost certainly due to kidney trouble. (His condition doesn't really show up in the photo.) The vet says that at his age of 15, little can be done for him. However, he doesn't appear to be suffering unduly even though when he wants to move he now has to waddle like a duck, carrying all that hog-like weight - and he's unable to jump up to anywhere, even just a foot or so, sleeping most of the day on the carpet.
These were taken just a few days ago, with apologies that they seem to be a bit fuzzy:-
So, see you again on my 72nd - though in the interim there ought also to be quite a few more film and misc blog postings.
Happy Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteAnd I cannot wait for another year of Raybeard!
Thanks, Bob. Actually I myself CAN wait. If only I could get time to stand still. It's getting a little bit frightening. :-)
DeleteHappy birthday, Ray!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are right - you do look younger than 71.
Ta, Rozzie - and that's exactly what you were supposed to say. ;-)
Delete🍰🎈 Happy Birthday to you! I hope you are enjoying a nice day just the way you want. Does this mean a new photo icon is coming? Best wishes to you again Raybeard!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you too, M.M. Today will be just like any other day - something my pussies know all about.
DeleteYes, on every birthday I always change to updated photos on my profile, but for some reason I can't find how to change the mini-pic of me whenever I post a comment on (some) other bloggers' posts. The one that pops up there is outdated by some years now. I'll keep working on it. There's gotta be a way!
Best of birthdays to you! Until the next one, of course. ;)
ReplyDeleteGrateful thanks for the thought, Walt. Keep looking forward is the best policy, except when I'm wishing I was back in the past, which is a lot of the time.
DeleteBest wishes for a great birthday!
ReplyDeleteYour wishes immensely appreciated, TGA - and more than you may realise as I've just looked at your blog and am amazed that I haven't picked up on it before now. It looks absolutely FAB - so you now have myself among your ardent followers. We'll be talking!
DeleteOctober is my favorite month and numerous very special people were born in this month - including you (and, of course, Franz Liszt).
ReplyDeleteEven though I haven't been leaving comments lately, I still always enjoy reading your interesting movie reviews.
I plead complete ignorance about recent films, however, because I haven't seen one in years (I watch all the old flicks I can find on YouTube...)
My very best wishes to you (and your feline companions) on this special day. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Always good to hear from you, Jon - and I do mean always! Thanks so much for your meaningful wishes which I most willingly and gratefully take to heart.
DeleteFilm reviews will continue for a little while yet but (and I know I've been saying this for some time now) I'm really wanting to start winding down as cinema-going is becoming more and more of a chore rather than pleasure-obtaining. But we're not quite at that point yet.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
Happy birthday Ray. I have enjoyed meeting you through blogging this year and for our exchange of film thoughts and in loneliness blogging means so much to me. Not just in loneliness of course but in particular to me at this time. I like to see the photographs of you and the cats this morning. Thank you again, and have a happy day. Rachel
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel. Your reactions to my film opinions are greatly valued in that you don't hold back on what you think and, unlike me who's so keen not to offend, you tell it straight. Long may you keep it up - though don't hold me to the 'long' as far as my continuing with film talk is concerned. But we've discussed my decline in enthusiasm before, methinks.
DeleteNow going on to 3 p.m. and the day is just like any other, but I'll make an effort to 'enjoy' the rest of it.
Happy Birthday! It's funny how 50s used to sound so old and 70s was ancient, but now that I'm past 50, 70 doesn't seem antiquated at all! Hope you have a pleasant day!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you too, Sadie. The 70s are now the 50s. I'd be even happier if they were the new 20s, 'cos that's how I feel - and would so much like to have that time again, only without the mistakes. But that's something we can all say.
DeleteYou too have a nice remainder of w/e.
to borrow a line from "a hard day's night", he's a clean old man. and yes, I got the elton john reference in your blog title.
ReplyDeletebirthday smooches & hugs from across the pond from us and meows from our pussie girls to you and the boys. glad you are "still standing"!
cinema-going is a chore perhaps because the movies are not worth the time/money. winners are few and far between; many are a waste of celluloid.
so I hope you treat yourself to something tasty today and know that you are thought of with love & care on your special day! :-)
A big 'thank you' to you, W.Q. and to your trio of pussy-esses.
DeleteYou've got it exactly right regarding films now. I said in a response to a recent comment that when I come to do my favpurite films of this year, it's going to be hard that out of the over 70 so far that I've seen, I'm going to find just 10 that I've positively liked. Time overdue to start considering "Why go on with it"?
I'm going to make myself (a rare event indeed) a toad-in-the-hole later for my dinner. (Do you have that?) But, being now as near vegan as dammit, I'll be using Quorn sausages. At least there's little to do other than mix up the batter, plonk in the saucies, shove it in the oven - and wait by doing something else. My kind of 'cooking'!
It's nice to know that "love and care" are directed my way. It hardly comes from any other direction! No, that's not fair - I do have an elder sister, as well as two surviving brothers - and after that 'only' my blog-pals like yourself and, of course, my two pussies who expect to be waited on at any time that suits them - but I don't mind.
Mucho 'mwah-mwahs' to all of you.
Happy birthday raymondo
ReplyDeleteSincere thanks to you, J.G. - and greetings to every single one of your 'brood'.
DeleteLooking good for 70
DeleteSeventy ONE, J.G. Makes it sound even nicer! :-)
DeleteThank you, Raybeard for the wishes. Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt's true what Elton said in the song you referenced, and I'll paraphrase, "If love is a circus then we'd be clowns by now!"
My pleasure, RTG - as it also is to receive your own wishes back here.
DeleteQuite how long I can continue standing is anyone's guess, but there's no reason to think I won't be still doing it this time next year.
Hope your own physical difficulties are over the 'hump' now and that your gliding back down to normality, or at least to a state where it's not on your mind so much. But do continue to keep us informed through your blogs. I'll be watching.
Happy birthday, Raybeard. May you live long and in good health, and likewise your furry friends!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to you also, L.A. Living a lot longer is really only worthwhile conditional on there being a modicum of good health to go along with it, and I have to say that up to now the signs don't look at all bad. So I'm content.
DeleteThanks again - and also from Noodles and Patchie.
Another year and yes, where has the time gone?
ReplyDeleteThis morning has been a time of reflection. So much has changed and yet, so much has remained the same since I began following your blog so many years ago: Joyous times and sorrowful times. To me, it seemed that at times, our lives were running parallel, especially with our little ones. But as of today we are still going strong.
I am wishing you and your precious ones, a happy, healthy day and another wish that this remains true for the next 364 days when I can send you the same wish.
Thank you, Paul. It's a shame I don't have the info to reciprocate the same wishes to you as far as b/day is concerned. But maybe you prefer it this way - and I shan't press you.
DeleteI know almost as little about your own 'little uns', but I'm quite certain that they are providing you with similar contentments as mine afford me.
Just a few minutes ago watched Noodles heaving his bulk of a tummy across the carpet to be fed. Very upsetting to see. His dimensions in that area seems to be increasing daily, such that he seems almost going to burst. I think the vet was trying to veer me to the point of agreeing that it would be kinder to put him to sleep, but I can't quite take my mind there. At the moment he doesn't seem to be in pain, only 'inconvenience'. If that changes definitively I'm gong to have to face up to the inevitable. It's becoming another of my life's 'sorrowful' episodes, just three months since I was put through the grinder with my dear, ever daily-missed Blackso.
But I'll try not to get too 'down' for at least the rest of today - and for as long as poss.
I have every intention of being here in a year's time - hopefully with no worse health, and with a fatter wallet. (Wouldn't that be nice!)
Happy birthday. I'm a very recent reader, but have come to look forward to your reviews.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kirk. Hope I can continue to give you enough interest to re-visit me here. The number of my followers is not as great as some (particularly for someone who's been blogging as long as I have) though nevertheless each and every one is greatly valued and flattering to my ego.
DeleteHappy birthday young man, said from the lofty perch of 72 (73 in March next year.) And still standing, though a little unsteadily occasionally because of pesky arthritic knee. I hope you treated yourself to something nice, a sip or two of wine maybe. I hear that 70 is the new 60 though I have my doubts. That said you are looking pretty good for 70! (Wish I could say the same.) Keep up the blogging, I value your reviews and enjoy hearing about your day (and the kitties.)
ReplyDeleteThank you ever so, Judith. It's good to know of others around in the same age bracket as us - and comforting to know that we haven't ALL gone the way of all flesh - yet!
DeleteDidn't do anything at all special yesterday (now Mon morn), just as I also stopped observing Xmas many years ago. I think it might be that the wisdom of my cats is catching - every day being like the one before, and one is left looking out for something unusual to happen, preferably something positive.
No little drinkies either, I'm afraid. Decided 6 months ago to go teetotal (I've done it several times in my life) on the realisation that alcohol just doesn't bring anything to me - apart from the occasional headache. (I never get headaches otherwise). But I am appreciative of the kindness behind your comments.
I'm also lucky in that I've not (yet?) been troubled with any arthritis, something which I dread, so got to be grateful for that too.
I hope that your suffering in that way is not TOO debilitating, though I can imagine it being a blinkin' nuisance. May it not limit your movements too much.
Thanks and greetings to you from me, as well as from Noodles and Patchie, the 'Dynamic Duo', even if the adjective is hardly appropriate. :-)
Belated birthday wishes, Ray!! Hope it was a lovely day. So glad I found your blog (maybe from John Grey? I don't remember now). I always enjoy your reviews and the peaks we have of your life and your lovely companions.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Elle C. Yesterday was actually no different from any other Sunday, but there was nothing planned about something 'special' anyway. Stopped 'celebrating' b/days many years ago, largely because there's no one around any more to 'celebrate' it with. Nonetheless, I do thank you for your thoughts and wishes.
DeleteHope my postings can add a tiny bit more colour to your life. Greetings also from my 'terrible twosome', one of whom continues to cause increasing concern, but he was not so indisposed as being unable to ask me to pass on the message. :-)
Being of the same vintage, I sympathise.
ReplyDeleteMy cat has also recently started to drink copious amounts of water, but has not ballooned. I'd imagined it was kidney trouble too, so we'll probably just let it run its course.
It's very troubling, C.M. If he starts to be in obvious pain then there's probably only one way it can go, something I dare not contemplate.
DeleteMany thanks indeed for popping in here to visit.
Sorry to be late! Wishing you a very happy birthday month. I love that final photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mitch. Better a late-ish one (only slightly) than none at all. And surely you must mean the last but one photo? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that I'm so late to the party to wish you a Happy Birthday on your day. I hope you're doing it Cajun-style, and celebrating for at least a week, in which case I am right on time. And right: you don't look to be in your 8th decade, I hope that goes for the insides as well as the outsides, so yay! That IS worth celebrating!
ReplyDeleteI have lost most of my kitties through kidney failure, and it's a slow decline and not painful until the very end, and there is nothing to do but give them everything they want plus a heating pad for their beds (old kitties just love to be extra-toasty warm).
Thanks greatly, Vivian. You're not too late at all as I did and am doing NO 'celebrating'. That all ended about 50 years ago (for Xmas too)! If I had a family or friends - even just one single friend living within reach, then things might be different, but things being as they are, what's the point?
DeleteHealth is okay, I suppose - high blood pressure, which has been a lifelong thing, + diabetes type 2 since 5 year ago, are both being managed by taking the tablets (currently 14 per day!), but if you meant mentally inside, as I suspect you might have, I have to say that, as far as I'm aware, all is ticking along in good order. Thanks for enquiring.
Yes, the cats are a constant source of concern. Seeing them when they are in distress for whatever reason pains me almost as much as it does them, I feel. However that's just one of the things one must accept when one takes them in - my surviving two having left their own homes to move in with me, just like my dear deceased one I lost in July, and that is indeed a great honour. I'll bend over backwards to make them feel comfy in return for the enormous contentment they give me back.
Thanks so much for your visit and kind comments.
Happy belated Birthday RAY!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sol. Brings the maximum possible wishes closer, though I'm absolutely NOT ticking names off on a list. :-)
DeleteSo sorry I'm so late, but happy belated birthday with lots of wishes for a great year ahead! ***hug****
ReplyDeleteDelighted to have you visit here anytime, S/b. Thank you ever so much for your kind wishes - and grateful thanks for putting away my worry as I was getting concerned about your silence. In fact I was considering e-mailing you to check that all was okay, but now much relief to find that you are at least still there and able to tell us so. I hope that things are a at least little better than just that, but it's good to know. Thanks once more for dropping by. Very much appreciated.
DeleteI feel bad.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read blogs in a week; I always fear I am going to 'miss something big' and my fears are realized. I hope it is not too late to join the conga line of congratulations wishing you many happy returns and the best year yet.
Not to worry, Dr Spo. Your wishes would have been welcome any time at all, and by no means do I think any less of you, realising that there are numerous calls on your attention. I'm just flattered that you can still find time to include my humble self on your list for the occasional peep. As long as you can continue doing it I'm very happy indeed.
DeleteThanks once more.
I count you as a dear dear chum.
DeleteLikewise to you - and so much more, Dr Spo! Thank you, you've made my day.
Delete