For those who've been enquiring after my well-being during recent months - something for which I'm eternally grateful and very touched indeed - overall, my health continues fine, all thing considered. As I often say, it's far better than a lot of folk of my advanced age (and yet older) have, if they have even ever reached it, which now just about all of my one-time small handful of friends failed to do.
Previous eye difficulties are more or less gone now. Sight in both eyes is very good in one and quite acceptable in the other. Not needing spectacles at all, with contact lenses, after 50 years wear, also now being firmly relegated to the past. Lingering slight regret that there remains a discernible disparity between both eyes' visions but I appreciate how lucky I am having come through the sometimes dramatic difficulties with the result I have. So I've positively no complaints!
Couple of months ago I managed to resume reading again, both newspapers and books - and to prove to myself that I can, a week ago started re-reading that readers' Everest, (or should we now be calling it 'Sagarmatha'?) of 'War and Peace', my ninth (and possibly last?) 'ascent' of it - and in a fifth translation. (Very curiously, this 'Penguin Popular Classics' edition, which I picked up for £1 some years back, doesn't give this particular translator's name, and which my Internet search has also failed to uncover. Most odd.) But it's a great relief to get back to what has been for me, viz. reading generally, one of the greatest pleasures in all my life since infancy.
I must poignantly mention in passing that today would also have been the b/day of Arteejee (RTG), hubby of our late, dear Anne-Marie of Philly - both much missed, and will continue to be so.
Now it's disappointing that I can't show, as I always have done for every birthday, up-to-date photos of myself and my three furry flat-mates. Yesterday I took what I thought were good photos on my digital camera, but when I came to try to upload them onto this p.c. it seems that things have moved on and the old procedure doesn't work as before. The simplest way is now via a smartphone, which I still don't have, and to do it with a digital camera requires me to follow instructions which I just can't understand. Terms are used which are gobbledygook to me. So, until I can find some way to achieve it, unfortunately at present there are no new photos are to be seen.
So, until the next time something happens in my life which deserves blogging about, I wish well to any remaining followers and readers of my sparse and rare posts.
Very best wishes to y'all!
Wishing you a healthy, happy year!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much indeed, Mitch. All wishes gratefully accepted in the hope they will turn into actuality. Keep well yourself.
DeleteWell happy 76 years Young! I hope you have a happy birthday and your day was lovely. You're right about the age my mother is 2 years older than you and still works part-time. But like you said she is in far better shape than most of her friends if they're still around. She's in excellent Health like yourself so one must be lucky for that. I was overly tickled when I came to my blog the one day and saw your comment. Here's to your continuing health, enjoying life, continued reading and good days ahead.
ReplyDeleteGrateful thanks, M.M. Yes, at my age one just has to draw comparisons to realise how lucky one is - and although I do have some problems they are as nothing to what some people are going through.
DeleteDoing nothing at all 'special' today. Just me and three pussies, quietly contented.
Happy Birthday for yesterday as I have only just seen this post. Glad to hear all is well with you and that you are reading again. I too love reading and would miss it greatly if I couldn't read. Wishing you have a happy and healthy year.
ReplyDelete'Ta' very much, Carol - and it's still today, my birthday, here, the date on my blog going by, I presume, American time (Eastern?).
DeleteYes, it's great to get back to reading again. I'd been lost without it - and I've got scores of re-reads to catch up on before it's 'too late'. ;-)
I'm Happy Happy for your Happy Happy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteNice that the eyes are up and running again!
Cheers, sir, and cheers to many more!
Many thanks, Bob. Yes, back to 'normal' now, or as near to what it was like before as I could have hoped, and am very satisfied with that.
DeleteHave a very Happy Birthday with your lovely cats. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks ever so, Simone. I'm still waiting for just one of the pussies to wish me but I reckon they've either forgotten or couldn't care a fig. Their expressions suggest the latter.:-)
DeleteSo glad to hear that the sight situation is so much better! I'm such an avid reader, the thought of not being able to scares the bejimmy out of me. And happy belated birthday! It's always good to be able to celebrate another year.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sadie. It still feels odd being able to watch TV without putting on my specs, or to go out without first reaching for my contact lenses. I dare say I'll get used to it, bur I don't want to go back to those days and am genuinely grateful I don't have to.
DeleteHappy Birthday! Glad to hear about the eyes too. As for pics, you know, I just email them to myself and upload them that way. ....if that helps at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you too, B.
DeleteI take my photos with a digital camera bought some 15 years ago, and which has now been superseded many times over. There's no way I can load them on to the laptop like I used to, or at least none that I can understand. Frankly, I'm now just far behind the times, and only wish I had someone right here to get me up to date. But thanks for your suggestion.
Happy belated birthday, my friend. I am happy to hear your vision is much improved. Please stay well and give those adorable furry friends a pet and kiss from Uncle Sassybear from me.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
https://idleeyesandadormy.com/
'Ta' muchly, S/b. Always delighted to have a missive from you. Each year b/day greetings become more sparse than the previous year, and I'm accordingly ever more grateful as the years advance.
DeleteI'll tell my furry trio of your message, with pets and kisses as instructed. Do likewise for me to your own little H. will you please?
A very cheery birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Walt.
DeleteI realise not having been much in evidence on your own blogs of late, for which much regrets. I'll make an effort to rectify that forthwith.
Happy belated birthday, Ray! Glad you are feeling better. Being able to read is my lifeline, I think; keeps me sane. That and my pets. Take care!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elle. We are absolutely of one mind when it comes to what preserves our mental well-being - and I just know that we are not alone.
DeleteStay healthy yourself - please.
I am always glad to see you posting, and even more so to see you have a birthday and well-wishers. I join the conga-line of congratulations hoping these next twelve months are good ones for you. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dr Spo. Regretfully, your blog is yet another of several which I have lately been remiss in following. I'll now make an effort to put that right.
DeleteHappy Birthday Rayb! Been wondering how you were getting along. Well wishes to you and the 3 kits for this next year! -AK Coldweather
ReplyDeleteMuch gratitude for your kind wishes, AKC - and thanx too for dropping by.
DeleteHappy BD, belated, my dear. Every year added is a good one. Glad you're reading again. Trombones make me think of The Music Man, of course. And miss Anne Marie and Arteejee. The internet is a bit lonelier without them. Take care. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteYour b/day wishes well received and gratefully appreciated, U. - and with a trombone fanfare!
ReplyDeleteBelatedly wishing you a very Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteIt’s great to find a new post from you!!
I’ve been feeling concerned about you since the previous one, about the traumatic eye surgery - I’m so pleased to see you’re much improved and able to enjoy your love of reading.
Much love.
Julie B
Enormous thanks to you for your wishes and your concern, Julie. I must admit to having been far too remiss in not posting about my condition, particularly after such a dramatically negative post on my operation. I'll try to be more aware of that in future - and try to post more regularly. Trouble is there's rarely have anything going on in my life worth posting about. Maybe I should look harder. :-)
DeleteI have just realised that I have not commented
ReplyDelete( I honestly thought I had)
My apologies dearest Raymondo
I have valued your comments and friendships for many years…
Take care deArheart x
Not to worry at all, JayGee. Since a long time ago I've been aware of what a massive following you get - totally justifiably - and that it's just not humanly possible for you to follow them all, let alone to write comments on them. Accordingly, I've regarded any time you HAVE remarked in writing as a HUGE bonus, just as I do now, so there are no problems here on that front. I'll carry on reading your highly entertaining/thought-provoking blogs, and comment where appropriate. If I didn't I'd only be spiting myself. :-)
DeleteGo well, my friend XX.
Good to hear your eyesight has settled. Mine is also doing fine after that slight mishap with a scratched cornea on my second surgery. That's all history now. I'm with you on reading being perhaps the greatest pleasure of my life since childhood. That's the one thing I don't have to read complicated instructions on how to do. I just settle down in either a comfortable seat or my bed and open my book and read.
ReplyDeleteKeep blogging!
Ron
Thanks, Ron. Good to know that your own ocular problems have also been consigned to the past.
DeleteBtw: I could never read in bed. Tried it several times (though the last time must have been around 20 years ago) and I've just never been able to get comfortable. Besides, the topic or story being read about I was always afraid of it invading my dreams, which could be unpleasant, and being something of a lifelong insomniac (moderately, not severely) I'd rather let my mind go where it wants rather than have a pathway suggested. Maybe it doesn't work like that with you. But yes, overall, reading has GOT to be one of life's ultimate pleasures, and I sorely missed it when I couldn't.
Best wishes - and keep well.