Thursday 14 October 2021

On having reached a significantly numbered age.


Yes, I'm still here - if anyone was still wondering. Three-quarters of a century old today and, boy, do I feel it practically daily! (Afraid that without a 'smartphone' I don't have the wherewithal to post, hassle-free, an up-to-date profile pic of self like I usually do on such anniversaries, which may be just as well, being that my more haggardy looks could well reflect current pressures. But I'll persevere on an attempt).

Today, Fri., is also the b/day of our considerably more youthful blogpal, RTG, famed in his own right of course, though also for many years spouse of the late and enormously missed Warrior Queen, Anne-Marie. Do please pay his blog a visit - 

http://arteejee.blogspot.com/

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I wasn't really of a mind to do a post this morning, but rather just to let the day pass over me in my seclusion. However, since it's getting on for five months since I last blogged, thought might as well at least let it be known that we're here and surviving, though currently in a rather prolonged trough of despondency which has been continuous for about a month. I'm not  going to list assailing troubles, aware that some of you are going through, or have experienced, far worse. I'll just say that health-wise things could be better, even if nowhere near as debilitating or critical as for some, so must be grateful for what I do still have.  

Quartet of pussycats are all fine, they being, in terms of physical presence, my sole friends in the entire world - and all of them oblivious to the severe bollocking I've had from my landlord who's reminded me that I'm not supposed to have any pets at all. ("This whole fucking place stinks of cat!"). He's been here nearly every single weekday for several weeks now, currently having removed my bathroom sink - and more recently the toilet too, now replaced just yesterday by a more water-efficient one. (He put in a new shower some time ago - and it's really good). He's hoping to install the new sink later today. For ten days now I've been trying to cope without that bathroom sink as well as having put up with four days without my own toilet, necessitating use of that in the vacant ground-floor flat, now in a disordered state of being entirely renovated and re-constructed - builders' tools, planks, plaster and paint tins all over rhe place, creating an obstacle course which I've had to negotiate, most riskily in the dark carrying a torch - not easy when I need to have a wee several times in the night. And each time waking the cats who then expect to be fed.......But here I am going on about my troubles when I wasn't going to - so I'll cease with this litany of woes.

Anyhows, I do still daily read most of your blogs, even if not commenting as regularly as before. But if and when things start to look up again I earnestly hope to be back. Maybe when I get round to seeing the new Bond, now booked for next Thurs - which is going to be my first cinema visit in well over a year - I might even do a blog post about it. Who knows?! 


29 comments:

  1. Happy birthday. Hope this is this start of better times. I’ve missed your musings, but would see a comment on other blogs, so knew you were OK(ish?).

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    1. Very moved that you would take time to visit me here, Mitch. It's appreciated a LOT. Thank you ever so.
      I'm at the lower end of 'okay' but still tootling along despite negative forces, especially over the last month or so. However, I WILL survive.
      Greetings to you, your other half - and I can't possibly forget D and M.

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  2. Happy Birthday Raybeard!!! I truly hope you het more trips around the sun. I was over joyed to see you pop up in the reader...and so glad all are doing and meddling along as we can do. Do have a wonderful 75th!

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    1. Your wishes greatly appreciated, M.M. Ta.
      My motto of present times is to do what one can without attempting what simply cannot be done, even if the possibilities are reducing year on year.
      'See' you later on the [your] blogs.

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  3. Raymondo
    Jaygee here..and I've missed u
    Happy birthday dearheart x

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    1. Thanks mucho, JayGee. I do still read your blogs, blogs of varying moods. [This morning's was especially moving and even devastating]. I'll try to comment more in future, if only to let you know I'm still here. The reason I haven't written is that yours is the busiest blog I follow or even know of, and you're never short of followers/admirers anyway. But thanks again to you for popping by here.

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  4. Happy Birthday, Raybeard! Good to see you back. My day has just started; so far, so good. I'll blog more later this weekend, but for now a sincere wish that you have a great day.

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    1. Thanks a million, RTG. I've just responded on your own blog, and I look forward to reading your next posting later this w/e.
      Best wishes once more - they can never count as TOO many.

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  5. Happy Birthday, dear. What a lovely surprise. Enjoy your day and your outing to the movies. Let us know what you think of it. Take good care of yourself... stay safe, stay healthy.

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    1. Many thanks, U. Good to know that my 'absence' was noticed by a fair number. I feel better now.
      The crowds are thinning for the Bond so I'll be more comfy next Thurs - where we still have to be masked for the duration. But this is much too important to be missed.

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  6. Happy Birthday and it is good to see you again. Glad all is well with the cats. I would love to see your review of the new Bond film. Hope all is finished at your place soon. Have a good day and take care x

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    1. I take great pleasure in accepting your b/day greetings, Carol. Thanks many times over. And it's splendid to 'talk' with you again.
      I'm afraid the work in the flat is very far from over. It's all a mess and the everlasting disruption is very much getting me down, day after day. But I'm at the landlord's mercy, who at this very moment is working busily in the bathroom.
      Cats are all fine still. I'll tell them you mentioned them.
      Sll the very best to you.

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  7. Happy Happy Birthday, sir, and cheers for many more.
    I see your blog on my page and even though it says it hasn't been updated, I still check and see, and was thrilled to see you here today.
    Snuggle with the cats and enjoy YOUR day!
    xoxo

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    1. Grateful thanks your your thoughts, Bob. The birthday wishes which I get have got alarmingly fewer by the year so I value even more those that do arrive.
      Now with the colder nights I have to share my bed with two, sometimes three, pussies, so snuggling is par for the course whether I'm in the mood or not. [I only rarely am not].
      Hope you and all are well. I get my Covid booster jab a week from tomorrow. Luckily there's no perceptible anti-vac [or, indeed, anti-mask] movement at all in this country, unlike yours where I watch the daily horror show of protests on YouTube. We are so fortunate, somewhere where sanity has the upper hand.
      Thanks again for your wishes - and please give my regards to Tux too.

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  8. Well, well hello, RB, it's so nice to have you back where you belong.

    Sorry to hear of the crap landing in your lap.

    Today is your special day. You and the pussies celebrate!

    Happy Birthday for today and the happiest days ahead.

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    1. Thanks greatly, Anon. I'm not going to attempt a Carol Channing response of gratitude to you [I don't do impressions - maybe except for Noel Coward] but I mm chuffed at your words nevertheless. Thank you.

      It's true that the last few weeks I really could have done without, but as time progresses it MUST mean the end is getting closer.
      I look forward to coming happier times - though the window of opportunity to have any such at all gets ever smaller. Still, we live in hope.

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  9. happy birthday raybeard continued musings for all

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    1. Grateful thanks for your thoughts, K. You go well too, please.

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  10. Yay for birthdays! And a happy one to you!

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    1. Ta, Walt. Much appreciated - as I always feel towards you.

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  11. A very happy birthday to you, Ray. Getting old isn't always easy (and I'm only 71 but certainly noticing a big difference) but, as I keep reminding myself, it beats the alternative...

    Sorry to hear that the bathroom shambles, but I am sure it will be much better when done.

    So glad to hear the pussies are still with you.

    Big hugs,
    Rozzie

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    1. Huge thanks to you too, Rozzie.
      It's only since about last January that my age has shown itself up markedly in my slowed-down moves. I now walk along with an old-man's shuffle, which I suppose is what I now really am. Definitely feeing my age, and it's far from being 'pleasant'.
      It'll be good when the bathroom is finished - he couldn't complete it yesterday, but that's only the start. Renovation of the kitchen will be far worse in terms of disruption. I shudder to think of such weeks ahead.
      Yes, pussy-cats are fine. I so envy their not caring about what's going on around them. As long as they are well fed and can find somewhere comfortable to sleep, they don't care a fig about what else is going on.

      Hope you are keeping well - and Covid-free. I get my booster shot one week from now and will be relieved to have it.
      Hugs to you in return, and all your close ones in Oz - and everywhere else.

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  12. Belated Happy Birthday! It's been a rough time and I catch myself not commenting like I used to, although I tend to read everything. And I don't care how much grousing your landlord does, I'm glad you have your cats. I think pets help keep us sane!

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    1. Hi there and thanks a lot, Sadie. 'Rough time' is certainly the precisely right expression, it seems for both of us? I hope that yours hasn't been to as low places that I've seen recently - and that above all your health is in order.
      My cats have been my saviours'. I don't know how I'd survive without them - and if I had to give them up.......it would be unthinkable/pretty well impossible.
      Thanks for your visit. Much liked that you took the time to call by.

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    1. Thanks hugely, B. Your own blogs help to keep me afloat, for which I'm ever thankful..

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  14. Happy Birthday, my friend. I've missed hearing from you, so this was a real treat to read. I hope your health woes resolve soon and your apartment is back in top top shape lickety split.

    Sassybear
    www.idleeyesandadormy.com

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    1. Massive thanks to you, S/b. I hope to be more in evidence from now on, though it always depends on circs, as you well know yourself.
      Biggest worry by far is if I'm told to get rid of my furry friends, something which will lay me low like virtually northing else. It's a fear in the background daily, though all the rest of my troubles are hard enough to live with too. Now if I could only win a lorra cash.......

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  15. I stop by regularly hoping to see you posting again. I was on the verge to write hoping you were OK.
    Today my eyes widened with the radiance of a brilliant sunrise ! Good to see you posting - and it's your birthday! Many happy returns my friend. OXOXO

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