Thursday 4th August 11, Day 6 of Cornish Holiday

A very quiet and fairly relaxing day with a whole lot of not very much happening.

Gill went to St Austell mid afternoon and I took the boys to the 'World of Model Railways' exhibition in the village.  After maybe 45 minutes here, we walked down to the little bay just on the North side of the harbour, and skimmed stones, and I had some devilsticking practice which attracted a bit of attention and I let several people have goes with the second devilstick and my diabolo.

Gill texted me to say she was on the bus so we walked back and whilst waiting for her to arrive, I got the boys an ice cream.  I carried the bags of shopping back to the cottage and Gill made a simple but effective meal of rice and veg.

An altogether relaxing day, marred only by news of Gill's sister Linda having to have her dog put down, as it has been suffering from Cushings disease.  Very sad.

Thursday 22nd July 10

Another fairly quiet day during the day, but a most enjoyable evening.

Gill and Linda went out to meet their older sister Jane, so the three of them had lunch together, which is the first time they've all been out together for as long as any of them could remember.

I did some stuff on the computer, did the washing up, watered the plants in the conservatory, visited Woodlands with my volunteering application, and then at 1.30, Melody rang me and asked me if I'd help put up the gazebo she'd got out of a skip (which they call the 'special shop') on the playing field at the Outgang in Heslington. The Lord Deramore's year 6 had their last day today and there was a bit of a party fun time planned on the Outgang, so Melody wanted to put up the gazebo and couldn't do it with just Natalie, so asked me!

I got down there at 2.10 and we spent over half an hour having fun putting it up. I picked up lots of beer bottles and cans and almost filled my trailer, but on the way home i found a butchered tree so put logs on top, which stopped the bottles and cans rattling so much.

I had a short time in the garden at around tea time, and then went out to The Duchess for an interesting gig with four acts all wanting to impress the BBC.
tbc

Wednesday 21st July 10

I had a lot of tidying to do and spent the whole day sorting through a very large mountain of paperwork and creating a number of paperwork molehills..... some went for recycling, some got replied to by letter, some by email, some went to the compost heap, some for the stove, and others put in a 'to do' list and I started to do them too! Awesome! (but deadly boring...)

Linda, one of Gill's sisters, arrived at about 3pm, whilst Gill was at school picking up our youngest. It was lovely to see Linda and we had a good chat before Gill got home, followed by our eldest and eventually our youngest. They are both looking forward to the end of term.

I had a bit of time in the garden as I needed to do something active. I came in after 6pm to have tea, and at 7.15 I headed into town on my bike to attend a York in Transition meeting at the Hansom Cab. I ended up sort of chairing AND taking notes (how did I allow that to happen?) but it did allow me to get it sorted relatively quickly. The main thing that happened at this meeting was that I asked at the bar for a pear cider. They had no pear cider, but the barman offered me a cherry cider, which I said I'd try. It was DISGUSTING and I tried valiantly to drink it.... but then gave up and took it back to the bar and asked them if they thought it was 'off'. The barman said he'd talk to the landlord.... and 10 minutes later she came over and told me that the barman had sold me a bottle of cherry beer not cherry cider, which is why I found it undrinkable. I was offered a draught cider instead, which was quite nice.

The other good thing which happened was we discussed possible formats for the Carfree York meeting. I have a much better idea of how this might work.

Home just in time to say goodnight to Linda and see my friend Justin Rowlatt on Newsnight talking about there now being 500 million people on facebook.

Saturday 11th April 09

Woke feeling achy. The bed we slept on wasn't the same as ours, and I was reminded of our previous bed, which led to me having backache lots. But it soon wore off.

A slow start to the day, but then walked into town to go to a museum or two. We first went to one with lots of animal skeletons, but it was closed. However, there was a huge whale skeleton displayed outside, and this was fascinating. We would have loved to go round this museum as it looked brilliant... through the windows! There was even a narwhal skeleton with two tusks... they usually only have one!

So we moved on to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences which was stuffed with fossils and rocks, I could have spent much more time there but some of the group needed to move on. So, in the same building was the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology which was excellent. Again, I could have spent quite a bit more time here but my concentration span is considerably longer than the children's. I do really recommend visiting these museums.

We walked back to Elissa and George's house, and then George drove us to the station where we got the train to Norwich, where Gill's sister (and George's mum) Linda lives. We are all very fond of Linda as she is very like Gill, and it was lovely to see her. She collected us in her tiny car... quite a squeeze. One of Linda's other offspring, Sophie, and her husband Dankie, and their three children were already there, so it was quite a houseful. Fortunately, there are a selection of futons and extra beds, and a converted loft-space. But this didn't mean a settled night for me as the excitement with all the children charging round meant that their bedtime was late... too late, and this meant a case of 'musical beds'/bed hopping to try to get people settled and I therefore I slept on the sofa downstairs. I had a quite uncomfortable night.

Sunday 18th January 09

Woke late and didn't feel that comfortable with such a lot of cleaning activity going on so I went outside to take cardboard down to the current compost heap, then cycled to Hazel Court to take drinks cartons, batteries, and some scrap iron for recycling. On the way out I was gently accosted by one of the operatives who explained that bicycles were not allowed up to the area where cars go, and that I should leave my stuff down at the pedestrians area. However, this area does not cater for drinks cartons or scrap metal, so I told him that I intended to continue using the normal area. There does not seem to be any sensible reason why cyclists should be singled out as not allowed... as when drivers get out of their cars to take stuff to different receptacles, they too become pedestrians. I will send in my application for a permit to use my trailer and see what happens. In the meantime, every now and then, I'll take in my tetrapaks for recycling, and use the correct 'bring bank'. Grrrr.. I hate stupid regulations!

Anyway, came back feeling refreshed and invigorated, having done my recycling and had a good-natured discussion where I stated my case clearly and politely.

Or kitchen was immaculate! Thank you Linda!!

Had lunch, said goodbye to Linda and got the stove going whilst listening to Gardeners Question Time on the radio and doing emails. Then I went and did some more tidying in the garden... mainly cutting back last year's blackberries and putting the chopped bits on the compost.

Listened to a little bit of York's best radio station, Equinox 107, which broadcasts on Sunday afternoons. Also popped down to Country Fresh to pick up a bag of resources, and cycled it down to put most of it on the new compost heap.

Tea was mainly reheated stuff from the previous day, but also broccoli and butternut squash. Lovely as usual. Gill is feeling much better and is up and about, keeping active and is eating well.

A fairly quiet evening, warm and cosy, watched an amusing documentary on the work of Health and Safety Inspectors, called 'The Fun Police'. Tried to do some writing. (other than this!)

Saturday 17th January 09

Not a bad day really. Linda took our eldest into town and they had a lovely time... bought a book with a Waterstones gift token, had tea and scones in Little Betty's, and Linda bought the boys a DVD of 'The Incredibles'. Our youngest had a visit from one of his classmates which kept him busy and happy.

I didn't do that much... just a bit of dried fruit preparation, some work in the garden, a quick visit to Freshways, plus lots of attending to Gill's needs. I got tea ready... but it was easy as Aunty Jane had brought a veg crumble over, although Gill couldn't have it as it had cheese in it. Bovine dairy products give Gill IBS... although this might subside with the misbehaving gall bladder gone...

More good and frank conversations with Linda, much appreciated.

I tried to get some writing done but still feel a bit low. So nothing flowed. Not enough space to concentrate either.

Friday 16th January 09

Like her sister Gill, Linda is an early riser so last night we agreed that she'd supervise our eldest getting up, as he needs a long time to get going in the morning. Our youngest gets going more quickly and has a longer time in bed... I'm even quicker and therefore don't have to get up until 8, and I'm ready by 8.30. However, this morning, Linda didn't wake me up til 8.15... so I got washed and dressed and took the boyo to school before I had my cereal and coffee.

When I got back from school, Linda was washing up. Grrrrrrr! I much prefer to do the washing up as I'm so pernickety about how it's done... I have higher standards than many people, and won't let Gill do it as her eyesight means she misses bits and I am much more thorough, although not perfect! Gill takes great delight at pointing out when she finds dirt on something I've washed up... but as I haven't experienced Linda's washing-up I cannot comment. I expect it's fine. However, it's times like these when my Aspergery traits become obvious to me, as I really like my routines and like things to stay the same, ie I do the dishes in this house.

I did thank her, though, and gave her a hug, and she kind of understands my mental situation, at least as much as any non-aspie would. Not that I'm a total aspie myself... just on the same spectrum....

I had a meeting at St Nicks at 10, and just before I left, Gilly's other sister Jane arrived, as they are both going to visit Gill today. Jane had come over from West Yorkshire by train and then got the bus here.

The York Rotters meeting was good and I have some actions I need to get on with to see if we can do another round of publicity. More on this later.

Home for lunch to find that the two sisters were still out, either visiting Gill or perhaps in town together. I got a phone call from Gill saying they were all together and enjoying each others company.

I went to get our youngest. Gill and Linda came back just as I was putting tea out for the boys... leek and tomato soup, quiche, salad. They didn't like the soup as it was too strongly flavoured. Linda's pot washing wasn't brilliant, found three items with old food on... but we had a laugh about it and I told her that I was completely anal about clean crockery and cutlery... she admitted being equally so about untidy worktops... which means in theory, we'd make a brilliant couple (except I'm married to her sister!!!)

Gill was on good form and ate a little bit, and everybody was happy to see her.

We had a relatively quiet evening and I enjoyed chatting to Linda who talks a lot of sense!

I spent some time doing Facebook Pages for the forthcoming George Marshall's Carbon Detox Show which York in Transition is putting on at the Theatre Royal on 3rd March.

Thursday 15th January 09

For the boys it was a normal morning... I took our youngest to school... he's a brilliant cyclist, very confident on the road, great signaling etc, albeit a bit slow... and our eldest got himself out of the house in good time to walk to school with his friend.

I got back and Gill was getting the house ready for her to leave and go into hospital, and her sister coming to stay. She's only in overnight but still wanted a tidy house and food for the children ready! I did some cooking too, including making a veggie fruit jelly using some frozen loganberries, dried mango strips (which absorbed some moisture, re hydrating) and fresh apple. This proved to be a big success later on in the day, when we had it with dairy-free 'Swedish Glace' ice cream.

Anyway, we got everything ready for Gill to go away overnight, and just before midday, she got a taxi over to the hospital. I did a little bit more tidying up and went to get our little un at 3. When we got home, Gill's sister Linda was already here... it was lovely to see her, having come all the way from Norwich. We three lads were all glad to see her!

I went to the Co-op to get marmalade and bran flakes, and came back to heat up the stew with dumplings and cook some baking potatoes and peas. This eventually went down well!

I had a phone call from some media students who are coming to film next week about my attempts to live a low carbon life. Their results will end up on YouTube as well as help them get their degree.

At 8 I hopped om my bike again and shot off down the cycle track all the way to Haxby Road where Gill was lucky enough to have a room of her own at the Nuffield, although her gall bladder removal was on the NHS. She'd had the op and was very groggy but happy to see me. She'd done a lovely sketch of the Minster out of her window before the operation whilst she was waiting, and kept on making jokes about 'losing her gorm' and such like! What a darling! She had a coffee and a tomato sandwich, and I stayed with her for about an hour.

I picked up some logs on the way home and when in, had a really good chat with Linda who had had a lovely time with the boys.

Later, I did some work on the York in Transition website, uploading info about a meeting next week. I'm slowly getting better at this kind of thing, and am learning a few tricks, shortcuts and codes. Useful stuff, and fun too. Late to bed though...