You’ll enjoy coming to visit today. The weather has been just glorious for the last week or so with beautifully warm days and barely cool nights. Just perfect weather for doing anything you want to do from swimming to working hard in the garden to reading or sitting having coffee. Just what we are doing today. Coffee or tea?
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that my brother and his children have returned to Switzerland. We had a great visit with sickness being the only thing to marr our enjoyment. The older nephew came down first with flu like symptoms and vomiting. He was sick for almost a week before we took him to the doctor worried about his ears for flying. Antibiotics cleared that up and no sooner was he better than the younger one came down with identical symptoms. Unfortunately he had to fly with painful ears that led to him screaming at times I’m told. Luckily he doesn’t appear to have burst an ear drum and is now on the mend. Despite the illness we still managed to get out and about including a couple of lunches. The one down on the river was special. My mother enjoyed their visit immensely but fears she won’t be here for another. Whilst they were here she suffered another bout of chest pain which put her in hospital but it was only an overnight stay. She is learning to sweet talk the doctors. Despite this I personally think she may become more fragile but she’ll outlive me.
© irene waters 2016
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that during the week the decision was made by my doctor that I need to have both my feet repaired surgically and as soon as possible. Once she told me no buts I am prepared to go ahead with it but what a logistic nightmare that will be. We are trying to prepare our house for sale. We have to sell as soon as possible as we have signed up on another house and need the money to buy it. Packing boxes if we do sell will be difficult from a mobility point of view. Six weeks lying around. No dancing for 2 months. It has to be done so that 2 months will be over before the cruise we have booked at Xmas. On the plus side it will give me oodles of time for my book and blogging. Roger says he can cope. I have my doubts.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I am in a total creative slump at the moment. Apart from photo posts I have written nothing. It makes me want to cry but I just can’t seem to pull myself out of it. Even the challenges leave me unable to generate a single idea. Perhaps now that we will be back to normal (although we are busily working on the house) I might start to get some thoughts flowing. Perhaps it will start with the new Times Past prompt that will go out on Monday. You still have a day if you want to add your experiences to the current prompt about toys you still have or wish you had.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that Muffin has been promoted to the advanced class. She makes me so proud at training at her obedience and so despairing at home at her disobedience. Below, both Bundy and Muffin relaxed whilst waiting patiently.
© irene waters 2016
I have started reading a book called Shoe Dog by Phil Knight about starting up Nike. I have to say I started with trepidation. I could imagine nothing further from my interest than a book about running shoes but this memoir has well and truly hooked me and although I’m only 30% of the way through it I would at this point thoroughly recommend it.
If we were having coffee I’d thank you for dropping in and tell you that it is your turn to tell me about your week. I’m looking forward to hearing what you’ve been up to, what books you’ve read and films you’ve seen. How is your weather? I certainly hope it is better than ours. Thanks to Diana for hosting our coffee mornings. To visit others for coffee
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Your nephews are adorable but I’m sorry to hear that illness marred their visit.
The pups are so beautiful – the view really shows off their fur.
And I’m so sorry to hear about your foot surgery – there is never a good time for surgery. Let’s hope this cures the problems forever.
As for me, I’ve written a bit about my past weeks on my blog. In a slump as well, and climbing out of it now. You’ve probably got too much going on to concentrate on writing. But it will end and you will write. Best wishes on everything.
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I look forward to reading your posts. I know I’m way behind. Glad to hear that you are climbing out of your slump. Hopefully we can do that together.
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No worries. My own blog reading has been stymied by a mouse that wouldn’t roar. New mouse is working just fine, and I also have a ton of blogs to catch up reading. Thanks for the support.
I’m hoping to hear about your masters program. 😀
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I too will eventually catch up and then you will hear more than you want to. I too am keen to hear but I think I have a few months yet to wait.
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I’m in a creative slump as well. Maybe it’s in the stars!
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I hope it is in the stars Helen as that means we will both come out of it when the alignment changes. Hope you pick up soon. 🙂
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I am so happy that Muffin is do g so good in obedience. Sorry your family visit had illness but happy they recover and everything is back. Rally srry to hear about you neding surgery. Prayers for a fast recovery.
Kato is sick again we are waiting to take him to the vet.I am afraid he might be dying.
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I’m sorry to hear about Kato. It is such a hard thing to lose a member of the family. I hope your fears are unfounded. Sending lots of love and best wishes.
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You have a great deal going on front of mind, but don’t worry, behind all that the creative threads will knit together in their own time. Just because you feel it’s not in evidence, doesn’t mean your creative spirit isn’t isn’t working quietly. If you wait, the words will come when they’re ready. And I was vexed to read about your foot problems. I do hope they will be healed in good time. xx
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Thanks Angie. It will come back but like you there are other things taking precedence. My feet I hope will come back otherwise I will hate myself for not waiting until I am totally crippled and then I don’t lose anything. Time will tell.
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I hope that your surgery and the sale of your house goes well. My best to you.
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Thanks for your wishes. Hope you have a good week.
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Thanks for inviting me, Irene! You didn’t elaborate about your foot surgery, but it sounds quite serious if you are to stay off of your feet for six weeks. The doctor seems to have recommended that you have them both done at once. Is it possible to re-visit that and have one done at a time? I had bunions removed from both feet at once several years ago. There is something about foot surgery that makes life difficult. If I was to have it done again, it would be one foot at a time—that way, you can still get around, and life is a bit more manageable. It does drag it out, but worth it, I think.
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Thanks Diane. How did your surgery go? I have been putting it off but they now tell me that I will have a better chance of it being successful if I get it done earlier rather than later and I already have deformity with bunions and hammer toes. I had thought to wait until I was crippled anyway and then I wouldn’t lose anything if it didn’t work. I chose to have both done at once as I don’t think I could bear immobility for four months although I know I could then hop around on my other foot.
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Irene, it was very successful. But since I had both done at once, it was very difficult at first. So glad I had it done…my toes were all slanting to one side, and it was impossible to find shoes.All is good now. I was teaching at the time, and remember that it took me months before mu feet felt 100%.
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I am so pleased to hear it was successful Diane. Your feet sound like mine. As my feet don’t feel 100% now I guess I can wait a few months after surgery for them to come good. Good to have the warning though.
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Sorry to hear about your surgery, Irene. You can be sure these things crop up at an inconvenient time. I don’t have a creative slump but have the opposite problem of creative over-stimulation, which can end up in the same place…not much finished! I am currently working on a short story which is a piece of historical fiction. I’ve written about it in my coffee post. Perhaps, you could do a bit of “fishing” on Trove to find some inspiration. That’s where I stumbled across my story and a few others waiting in the wings.
I can relate to a few dog troubles. Lady has been getting out and Geoff has undertaken some extensive barrier building to turn our yard into Alcatraz. Funny how Bilbo the full Border Collie has never escaped. Our son had left the side gate open and Lady was off but Bilbo was still still behind where the gate should have been with his paws stretched out in front. He’s a great dog!
Hope you have a great week!
xx Rowena
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Pass some of that glut in creativity this way Rowena. It’s not so much the ideas but just general lack of words. Trove might be a good idea though to look at a different tangent altogether. I’ll look forward to reading about your no longer work in progress. I will get there.
Some dogs just have to go exploring whilst others are happy at home. Have a good rest of week. Cheers Irene xx
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Hi Irene. I’ve found Trove great but it is also a never-ending pit of distractions. I also find live shows and art quite stimulating. I am very visual.
I liked what you said about “Some dogs just have to go exploring whilst others are happy at home”. Lady came from a farm at Tenterfield and every afternoon, she went out exploring (and hunting) with her dog family. So, I was forewarned that she could be a wanderer and it’s my own fault for not walking them as much as I was. I’ve gone into a bit of a physical slump, which I’m slowly getting out of.
BTW, you should see Bilbo curled up in front of the heater lying on the Pooh Bear blanket. He’s so cute!
Hope you have a great weekend!
xx Ro
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Sorry to hear about your physical slump Rowena but glad to hear you are slowly getting out of it. I can imagine Bilbow curled up on Pooh. Judging from what we hear of your weather it is just the place to be. Have a good weekend.
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We went out for dinner at The Entrance tonight and it was so cold. I think the only other people out were the Pokemon hunters.Hope you have a great weekend too! xx Ro
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LOL
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Every time I hear a baby or child crying or screaming on a flight, I think of their poor ears! I’m so sorry your nephew had to endure that pain. Good luck with all your logistics of packing and surgery. Why is it that life serves up such circumstances all at once? You look great and happy as does your family!
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We’ll get through it no matter what happens. When you know it is for a short time and not forever you know you’ll survive.
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I am in a creative slump also. Sorry to hear about your nephews’ illness and hope both are feeling better. Best wishes for your surgery, recovery and home sale.
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Thanks. I hope your creative slump goes quickly. Let me know whether you do anything to get yourself out of it.
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Sorry to hear about your much needed surgery. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thanks. Appreciate it.
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