Wednesday 20 January 2021

Just waiting.



I see my life at present as being securely in 'Limbo', that mythical place where Catholic children dwell before their baptism; somewhere in Hell's suburbia.

My life consists of being either awake or asleep, eating or in between eating, dog walking, sawing wood, lighting fires, cooking, listening to music, and laptopping. Frankly, not much else.

It's often quite cold, often rainy, and mostly very quiet. I seem to be constantly waiting for something, but I'm not sure exactly what.

Wills, Kellogg, and the boys, are at present en route for Mexico, so we don't even have the pleasure of their company. After a short holiday in Cancun, they'll go on to Miami where Boo Boo has already been enrolled in a nice private school.

On their final day in France (for a while anyway), we invited Boo Boo and The Cherub to a rather posh pre-departure dinner party, which they absolutely loved (parents were in Toulouse), as did we. Unfortunately, since then it's been very quiet.

There are a few workmen around to give instructions to, or remonstrate with, but my only other human interaction is my once a week, masked, brief, Tuesday morning shopping trip to Leclerc (other, of course, than chatting with Lady M).

I complained last year that I find myself constantly 'waiting'; I desperately want that waiting to be over as soon as possible.

59 comments:

  1. I spend my time cooking and working up pictures I took this and previous years for entry to competitions.... some digital painting on my tablet.... that's really great fun, but I used too much "water" yesterday and the paint ran toooo much.... but, like digital photography.... there's always the erase button!
    And, at six score and ten, I have rediscovered synthetic music... including a synthisiser that I last used the real version of in '75!! I doubt whether I'll release records.... but I am making some nice, relaxing, ambient vibes, Man!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My youngest has a complete 'home recording studio' that he's just shipped out to Miami. I haven't heard much of his music, but I'm sure it's there somewhere.

      We all need something to occupy us at the moments, and hobbies are important.

      Delete
    2. Vital is the word, Cro.... vital. One of the best maths teachers at school was "married" to his job.... he died two years after retiring!!

      Delete
    3. My headmaster retired at the same time as I left. He had bought a home in Dorset for his retirement, and his wife and children had left a few days before him. He then died of a heart attack in the train on his way down to join them; on Day 1 of his retirement.

      Delete
    4. Oh Cro, that was so sad for his family!
      Terrible thing to have happened.

      Delete
  2. You described in exact words the situation of all of us, more or less, waiting and it is not clear what we are waiting for.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We are all waiting for something. I'm waiting for Sheryl Crowe.
    The amount of flitting about your son does I' wondering if he is waiting for an alibi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to look-up Sheryl Crowe; I knew the name but not the face. Naughty boy!

      Delete
  4. Waiting for Godot perhaps?
    Alphie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Godot is very popular, I think we're all waiting for him.

      Delete
  5. I would not want to go to either Mexico or the U.S.A at present. What are your workmen doing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nor would I. There is one man tiling the upstairs bathroom, another doing the plumbing, and another replacing the exterior boarding (all at the barn).

      Delete
  6. If you enjoy Opera the Met is love streamline an opera a day. Not the same as being there but some wonderful performances. This weeks offerings include Carmen, Norma, Tosca and Die Walkure. We have seen some fantastic performances.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Replies
    1. I will certainly try that. I love good opera!

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    7. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    9. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    11. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    12. I have removed all the above comments because people were purposely misconstruing my attitude towards the current Covid restrictions. If certain people wish to ignore the government's advice, that's their business, but I will never do so, and would recommend that others do likewise.

      Delete
    13. No need to say 'purposely'. I will leave you in peace.

      Delete
  9. Marking time but keeping busy.
    I think most of us are doing that

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly manage to keep busy, but what with, I'm not sure.

      Delete
  10. It makes quite startling reading that you (and some of your commentators so far) find yourself "waiting". It's a state of mind not to be recommended. Not least because I believe it to have a paralyzing and dispiriting effect. I feel so very lucky that one of the gifts bestowed to me by the fairies at my cradle that I never feel in a state of waiting (not even in a doctor's waiting room or at the bus stop when one does indeed, technically, "wait"). It's difficult to explain. I suppose a state of mind that lives in the present and occupies itself with thought and wonderment, observing the tiniest detail and, largely, just being content.

    I wish I could say something wise and profound to you to help you live (and enjoy) the moment rather than live in anticipation of the future and, as you say, "what" exactly.

    I hope you understand that I feel for you and all others so afflicted. May I quote Blaise Pascal (not that that'll make you feel better): "All men's misery stems from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone". To which I'd add - "and happy to do so". In the meantime enjoy just being alive, Cro. The natural end of "waiting" will come soon enough.

    U

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never suffered from Pascal's 'misery', in fact I'm very happy by myself and being quiet. It's just that this wretched virus seems to have no end.

      Delete
  11. You certainly bred a world family. Do any of them feel like they have roots anywhere? I am waiting for death, but I have a good bit of time to fill in before then, I hope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We often talk of buying some big old country house where we could re-assemble all the 'children'. Whether or not they would be willing to live like that is debateable.

      Delete
    2. I think a “world family” is a natural consequence of growing up in a “foreign” country (ie not someone who is a second generation immigrant. This is my experience. After growing up in foreign countries, as an adult I made four international moves.

      Delete
  12. Sums up our life here in Italy too. I could say we have the distraction of battling for residency, health care and biometric cards but I’d happily do without that. After the last debacle at the police HQ I slept solidly for 11 hours, that passed some time. Keep warm and take care, spring will come it’s just a matter as you say of waiting,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that most people who abide by their government's advice, probably feel the same. Those who simply travel around willy-nilly, would probably disagree.

      Delete
  13. 'waiting' more or less sums up life for us all at present I think Cro. My life consists of getting up, breakfasting and showering and dresing with the help of my carer rhen filling the day with Times Mind Games, reading, watching good arts programmes on i player and doing the crossword. A few phone calls give me some human contact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose it's those who refuse to 'wait' who are causing the problems for everyone else. There's only one way this virus spreads, and that's by irresponsible contact.

      Delete
  14. I think the whole world is waiting at this point. Waiting for the virus to be over, waiting for tRUMP to leave the White House one last time, waiting for the schools to reopen, waiting for winter to be over. Et seems like almost everything has been on hold for a while. That weariness you describe? You a surely not alone in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only a few more hours before the new POTUS is installed. Whether the old one will go away is another question.

      Delete
  15. Yes, I think we're all waiting, but as Ursula says, you have to enjoy just being. The only thing I'm waiting for is spring so that I can get out and play with my plants...but that's the same for me every year. Oh, and a dentist - luckily I don't need one right now but it frightens me to think that I might never see one ever again, I really don't relish the thought of getting the pliers out....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a pretty positive person, and an eternal optimist, but even so, this waiting business is beginning to get on my nerves.

      Delete
  16. Stop it Cro. Why waiting, for what? Your life is ok. It will change, sooner or later.
    I look forward to go to, for instance Cancun or Miami (both nice places, been there, got the Tshirt). Not at the moment though. But I am not in a waiting state of mind.
    Mind you, I come to think of it, haven't got the Tshirt from Brighton yet, so I just added the place to my bucketlist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd like Brighton, it's a very vibrant town; not for fuddy-duddies. It's young, artistic, gay-friendly, eccentric, and a great place to live.

      Delete
  17. Saying good by to family is so very hard. This year has taught us much and one of them is to cherish the moment. You have been fortunate to have had many beautiful moments these past months and those memories will stay with you and your family forever.I am sure there will be many more to make.

    Spring and garden time is just around the corner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son has 'itchy feet' he can't stay in one place for long. It takes all sorts. We'll miss the boys.

      Delete
  18. We feel in limbo too. Waiting for our old way of life to continue. These last few days with freezing weather have seemed very strange. I enjoyed them but we have been completely isolated, not able to move far even if we wanted.
    Everyday routine fills most days but there's no respite. No hope of a coffee on the waterfront or a glass of wine and a meze at a taverna.
    We are crossing our fingers for a family Easter, unlike last year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we too are hoping that Easter will be better. We're even hoping that my oldest, Kimbo, may come down for a week or so. We'll see.

      Delete
  19. While I am in no way just waiting (lots to do) I AM waiting for everyone to get their vaccination so that I can see my family again. I have a 6th month old great grandchild that I have held just twice , a daughter marooned in Jersey and a daughter holed up in South Yorkshire. Not Miami I know but might as well be 100s of miles away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a great traveller, but it's the prohibition that affects me as much as anything. It's horrible knowing that one is simply not allowed to quite ordinary things.

      Delete
  20. Learn a new skill. Suggestions (feel free to reject or/and tell me to piss off): download MuseScore and learn to use it, or take a leaf out of Adrian's book and download Blender 3D modelling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am learning not to dislike Scrabble as much as I did; does that count?

      Delete
    2. Probably. I'm not sure - it's something I still have to learn.

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. I suppose I could design them; someone has to!

      Delete
  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...