Time

I am still somewhat disorientated  by the changing of the clocks. I would prefer that we stayed with summer time. I don't like the long dark evenings.  I know the Scots and the Islanders don't agree but I can't see why they can't have their own time changing at the border.  We manage quite well with an hour's difference with France which from the south of England is only 21 miles away.   Time zones work in the U.S.A. and in Russia. Perhaps if the Scots get independence that's what they will do. When I worked shift duties during the war I always seemed to be on night duty when the clocks went back which meant working another hour.  When the clocks went forward I always seemed to be in my bed thereby missing an hour's sleep.  Ah well! Such is life.

Hurricane ?

25 years ago on October 16th Don and I spent several very early hours sitting downstairs in our living room  trying to shut out the noise of falling tiles, banging gates and rolling dustbins as we sat out the Great Storm of 1987.  It had been an evening of torrential rain and high winds which grew steadily worse and woke us in the early hours of the morning with a noise like a hundred banshees howling and banging.  The rattle of tiles coming off the roof made us decide it would be prudent and safer to spend the rest of the night downstairs.   There was a danger that the chimney stack might come crashing through the roof. It was pitch dark as the electricity had failed so we sat there by candlelight praying for the storm to pass.
Daylight showed scenes of desolation.  Trees were leaning over at odd angles though because we were sheltered none had fallen in our garden. Cars had been blown over. Shocked neighbours were surveying the damage.
We found out that whole swathes of woodland round about had been flattened.  Shop windows had been blown in and goods ruined.  Worst hit in the storm was the south east, Kent and Sussex.  A large Sealink ferry was driven on to the beach at Folkestone.  Caravan parks were wrecked and caravans reduced to matchwood.  Buses and lorries were overturned.  roads and railways were blocked by fallen trees.  Because of this people struggled to get to work and many businesses were closed while the staff who had managed to get there spent the day clearing up
Our local builder found a tarpaulin to put on our roof to keep out the rain until repairs could be done.  Everyone was in need of a builder. Our man sent his very elderly father to replace our tiles and mend the gutters which had fallen off.  I was really worried to see this tottery old chap up a ladder but he made a good job of it.
I believe about 20 people lost their lives.  Looking afterwards at the terrible damage the storm had wrought I am  surprised it was not more.  We can do nothing when faced with the forces of nature..

Random Thoughts

My computer has had a fit of the sulks for a couple of days.  It would not do anything we asked it to.  We had to send for the computer doctor.  I remember my neighbour way back in the 1980s receiving a computerised bill for one thousand pounds instead of  ten pounds and saying "computers don't have a soul to be damned or a backside to be kicked".  (Only he did use a more vernacular word than backside.)

I am still being amused by TV subtitles.  Yesterday  a lady said she spent her time pulling the heads off  chrysanthemums.  The subtitler said pulling the heads off flowers.  I suppose he couldn't spell chrysanthemums!

Today has been another lovely autumn day and I sat in the sunshine enjoying my lunch.  I walked, rather slowly, to the shops and came back , even more slowly, after sitting down in the Co-op.  There are three seats for weary customers to recuperate after trailing round the shelves, and in my case, peering at the labels where the writing seems to get smaller each time I shop.  However, the assistants are very nice and helpful and will scour the shelves looking for what I want.  To return to the seats - they are made of metal and most welcome but rather cold.  I think they should provide cushions.

Pain

I discovered some time ago that I can only deal with one acute pain at a time.  When my children were small I was up half of one night suffering from raging toothache.  In the morning I cooked breakfast for my husband, my mother and the little ones.  Then I got my five year old  son ready for  school.  This  involved shorts, tie, blazer and cap.  (Oh that cap !  Over the years I must have spent hours searching for it.  The day we bought it my son insisted on wearing it all day and finally went to bed wearing it.)  I put my daughter in her push chair and put on my shoes.   In one shoe was a wasp which stung me on my big toe.  The pain was excruciating.  I wrapped a rag soaked in vinegar round my toe.  (Bicarbonate of soda for bees but "winegar for wasps"   easy to remember.) I  took the children to school, came back with my daughter and realised that though I had a sore toe I no longer had toothache. I also found out why my husband, who spent nearly 5 years in the Far East, always banged his shoes on the floor before putting them on.

For the last few months I have had at frequent intervals a very painful arthritic ankle.  Since my accident , when i nearly knocked myself out and did sundry damage to my poor old body I have not, touch wood, noticed my ankle.  QED

First Aid

Man greeting lady covered in bandages  " Hello,  have an accident?
Lady replies " No thanks.  I've had one".