Middle-aged, Free and Single

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

Or, more specifically, getting the grass cut before it rains. I haven’t cut the grass since the last week in April. Last year I took part in No Mow May – the idea was to avoid cutting the grass in May, to give wildflowers, and in particular dandelions, time to flower. They provide food for…

Man Cave to Covid Cafe?

It’s 18th May, and more Covid restrictions were lifted yesterday. But from what I’ve been reading, the smart money is on staying cautious. Yes, you can meet indoors – but you don’t have to. Stay outdoors if you can, or if you prefer. Yes, you can hug – but you don’t have to. Stay two…

No Tin Opener Required

I’ve bought a car. The Mini that I bought just after my husband left is 12 years old now. It’s been a grand little car, did exactly what I needed it to do, but the time has come. I’d planned to change it this summer, but the final straw came a month or so ago…

Putting Tights on a Cat

Molly cat had a little scab on her left shoulder, about the size of a 5p piece. It wasn’t really bothering her, but it had been there a while so I made an appointment with the vet. That was last year, during (I think) Lockdown Two. Before the appointment came round, the scab disappeared. Fair…

… And Single

I took my car to the garage the other day, and the guy asked if I was seeing anyone. It’s a garage I go to often enough, and the guy who runs it knows that my husband left a while ago. I know this man, his girlfriend goes to the same gym as me, he…

Quite Giddy

I was wide awake at 4 this morning. Alarm was due to go off at 6 ready for me to get into my gym gear and head to the gym for 6.30. Yes, I was that excited. I got up and made myself a cup of tea and a bowl of cereal and took it…

Full o’ busy

Life is a bit hectic. I work 35 hours a week for a large DIY shed as a kitchen designer – but I rarely do just 35 hours, I normally have a couple of hours overtime at least, so my normal working week is usually about 37 hours. On the plus side, my working day…

Clematis

The hedge round our front garden was higher than I could reach when we first moved into this house. Leylandii. Need I say more… 30 metres long, probably more than 8 feet tall. Nothing grew near it, not even weeds, and some parts of the garden were permanently in shade because of it. It used…

Flagging

The first time I ever visited small-town America, I remember being surprised at how many people were flying flags from their homes. Flags on flag poles, flags on porch doors. It was very odd. It was very American. And now here we are, with a flag debate of our very own. I don’t particularly like…

It Isn’t Over

One year on. Or should I say one year in. I worry that there seems to have been a sea-change in people’s attitudes over the last few days. It feels like it’s over. More and more people are getting their vaccines, the numbers are coming down, the sun is shining. We have the prospect of…

No More Sugar – two months on

Back in January I decided to cut back on the amount of sugar I use. I have osteoarthritis in my finger joints, and although it’s not too painful or unsightly at the moment there is no cure and it will get worse over time. A bit of googling suggested that cutting back on the sugar…