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Saturday, 17 February 2018

CITY LIVING BY FIONA CUMMINGS


Good afternoon Bloggets. It’s Saturday and this is the first time I have had chance to be on my laptop for a few days. We have had a busy time. Off we went to our city. Really, I’m getting rather tired of city life. The bus was so very full. I think we got the last few seats at the back of the bus. As always, the driver was so lovely. They are so much friendlier here than they were where I used to live. Friendlier people, or fresh air, that’s the question! And the air around here is so bad.

 

It was so lovely to see our friend again, and bless her she had such a long journey to get to us. We bounced and bashed our way around our city. There is everything there as far as eateries, bars/pubs and the odd specialist’s shops. So, many different kinds of smells, from the sweet cakes and the savoury pastries coming from the bakers to the leather from the shoe shops! It was just nice to know exactly what we were passing, as our friend Julie told us the shops. Normally we just get to where we know and the smells tease us as we pass, wondering just what delights could welcome us.

 

Oh, we went for lunch and the noise in there was terrible. We sat, and tried to listen to what was on the menu our friend talks in such a tiny voice and with all the voices, it was impossible but, in the end, we got there and Hub went with Julie to the place to order where they were told that it would be at least an hour before they would be able to serve our lunch. So, coats on and battled our way out again onto the streets.

 

Passing the musicians singers, people playing guitars and a colour piece from someone playing a saxophone! Suitcases being dragged along the cobbled streets and street sellers from the local market. So, many voices, music from shops as we passed their open doors. People standing in the way, new plant pots being put there since last time Hub and I ventured out there. And traffic. Oh, gosh. We went into another kind of café/restaurant. Oh, boy, the noise was even louder. On top of the voices, was such loud music. How on earth do the staff work there all day? It felt dark too.

 

My sample, sorry, portion came. Should have saved space and put it on a tea plate, I did wonder what on earth our American Cousins would think of such a serving. It was what I called a child’s portion. Don’t get me wrong it was very tasty, I enjoyed it. The staff were lovely but the sounds were far from pleasant.

 

Where we live, everything is very expensive and the meal didn’t let us down with that knowledge. Basically, I had a tiny vegetarian burger in a bun. My friend had in her words, flat cauliflower with some kind of herbs… Hub had fish pie he said that was delicious. It’s all kinds of fish in a sauce and mash potatoes on the top. His portion was huge, it’s vegetarians who don’t bare well.

 

Out of there as fast as we could say Jack Robinson. Back through the busy streets passing sirens of the emergency vehicles, trucks, tourist busses, motorbikes and cars. We waited in the queue for our bus. It came quite quickly. Again, it’s impossible to hear the bus coming, difficult to differentiate between busses stopping and passing. Sometimes the tourist busses do stop there for people to look at the architecture of the buildings next to us, or, is it us they gape at? Hahaha.

 

On the bus, Julie said to us we would have to stand. Again, so many people offered their seats, bless them, but we said we were fine, I never take liberties just because I’m blind. Nor does Hub. Having said that, to stand would have been awful, as people would want to pass whilst the bus was moving, so, we would have to leave go of what we were holding. Fifi un attached isn’t a good look.

 

But a seat was found not only for us but Julie. Julie hit it off with a man 83… haha. How do I know that is how old he was? He told her. He also told her he went to the swimming pool three times per week… Just letting her know how fit he was… and if all of that didn’t work, he told her he had a very good pension.  We did tease her about him. When he got off the bus of course. Bless him.

 

Julie is ten years older than me but many more years younger than this old man. He wasn’t bothered…

 

Back home through the bitter cold streets passing the sounds of the geese on the lake and the swishing from the cars in the distance going through puddles on the roads, the naked trees bowed to us as the promise of early spring blooms filled the air with sweet smells.

 

Back home Julie kindly gave me some beautiful birthday gifts and I gave her a book I bought that my friend Nancy, wrote.

 

We had a good catch up and a curry that was delicious. And now time sadly for her to leave.

 

It was so good to see her and I always feel sorry for her as her life isn’t easy nor ever has been. But she adores her daughters and has many reasons to carry on. She loves her Grandchildren and sees them all the time. All her kids are married to people Julie likes. She’s blessed. Very lucky in that respect.

 

She’s back in London now. that I don’t envy her for. I need to be deep into my homeland of Northumberland. Somehow, I can’t see myself getting there soon.

 

Back to normal now, me cooking cleaning and Hub has already started again his fitness program which took a battering when Julie was here. He had a well-deserved wrest.

 

Our Son has worked three days in a row where he started at 6 a.m. two days and seven the third. He’s working another two days then it’s time for his break of a couple of days.

 

Hubs back at work on Monday. After a week, off. And then the fun begins, at last we are getting our shower room fixed! More workmen. God help me.

 

On Thursday, Hub and I fought the bitter morning and took our dogs to the vet for a check-up. They are all fine Wagga needed to lose a Kilo/2.2lbs.

Gosh, I wish that was all I needed to lose. Well, she’s lost that no problem. In just a couple of days. It was her food, it puts a lot of weight on them, so, we went back to lamb rather than duck. Just walking to the vet and back would help and she did so well. Finding the right door. It’s in a shopping area where there are loads of doors and low glass windows. But my girl did me proud.

 

Going to wash our clothing now and iron later. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. X

 

 

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