The View from Here – April to August.  Focusing on the Good Things

The cycles of life don’t change; they continue to turn steadily.

Four months to the day since my last post!  For the past little while it has been exceedingly quiet in my corner of the blogging world.  But just recently, for the first time in weeks, I’ve felt the stirrings of an urge to write and the brainpower to follow it through.  That has to be a good thing.

So what has been happening in our Corner of Cornwall?  We have been out and about just a little bit and I’ve read here and there in a very random manner.  Never before have I started so many books only to have them abandoned or sitting patiently gathering dust waiting for my brain to work again.  I’ve got a lovely new hair colour which I am delighted about – that’s a very good thing.  The garden has had to take care of itself and seems to have coped remarkably well.  And although I’ve had to cancel all planned visits from friends and family, another very good thing was the impromptu visit from Bernie’s sister, Veronica – unexpectedly over from Australia.

But mostly, I have been ill.  I don’t much want to write about being ill; for the most part it has been extremely dull.  Thankfully – another good thing – although a lifelong condition, an underactive thyroid is not life-threatening and can’t be compared to the challenges faced by many others.  I’m not complaining.  Hypothyroidism is surprisingly common yet totally surprised me.  But it makes sense of a lot of things; this has been gathering pace for years and I have blood tests from past years to prove it.  Who knew the importance of a single gland?  Its impact stretches into just about every aspect of the mind, body and spirit!  For the past few months it has had me floored – without the energy, inclination or brain capacity to even contemplate blogging or very much else really – and with a mood not much above floor level either.  Bernie deserves a knighthood but may have to be content with an honourable mention here instead.  And thankfully, an underactive thyroid can be medicated.  It can take a while to get the dosage right, and I’m not there yet, but I’m sure I’ll find a point of equilibrium soon, at which time life may be better healthwise than it has been for some time. Something to aim for!  Meanwhile, I’m on an uneven but definitely upward trajectory.  Also good.

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Another good thing must be that the two weeks of this year so far when I have felt at my best coincided with Veronica’s visit.  It gave us time to put the house to rights and time to enjoy her company and that of her son and his girlfriend.  The last time the siblings were together was in 2014, and then only for one day.  I’m so pleased they had this time to catch up and that we could share the house and a few delights of Cornwall.

 

Most recently, our beloved, beautiful cat has left us.  It’s hard to find any positives in losing Harri. I know there are many things to be thankful for in having had her for thirteen purr-and-furr-filled years but the loss has been hard to bear.  Again, I don’t much want to write about it, although in time, perhaps she will have her moment in the spotlight here.  But – much to my surprise – the need to bring a new feline member into the family has surfaced much more quickly than I expected.  And we are very much hoping to welcome Jackson into our home within the next week – RSPCA home check willing.  I suspect he will bring with him a package of many good things.

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So the View from Here – from April to August – has been, as for most us throughout life, a mixture of good things and bad.  On this occasion there have been more challenges than triumphs and more lows than highs but that won’t always be the case.  This small corner of Cornwall still witnesses the changes in the seasons and the mercurial Cornish weather; the industry of the birds and most recently, the squirrels. There have been buds, blooms and falling petals.  Fields have been harvested and ploughed; calves have grown sturdy and Cornish banks have been shorn of fading summer glory and now offer some brilliant shades of livid green, courtesy of the excess of rain in recent weeks.  The cycles of life don’t change; they continue to turn steadily.

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I’ve dipped a tentative toe back into the blogging pool.  The water feels warm.  Posts may be sporadic, shorter and simpler for a while, but maybe that will turn out to be another good thing.

It’s nice to be back.

And finally….

I can’t resist…..

 

Capture (2)
… a preview of Jackson

69 thoughts on “The View from Here – April to August.  Focusing on the Good Things”

  1. Hi Sandra, wondered where you had been. Hope you are feeling better and so sorry to read about HARRIS, but Jackson looks adorable. Sue Goodman xx

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    1. Lovely to hear from you, Sue 🙂 Yes, Jackson is a stunner. He should be moving in in the next day or so! Hope the wedding plans are going well xx

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    1. Thank you so much 🙂 Yes, Harri was such a special cat to us. Jackson will bring his own brand of cat love and joy: I can’t wait to collect him!

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  4. Oh, welcome back. I’ve missed your posts – you write so well. Despite all the horridness you’ve been through, it looks as though your condition will prove to be manageable – I do hope so. Jackson will inevitably demand attention and energy, and while you won’t forget Harri, perhaps Jackson will bring back happy memories of him and enable you to celebrate him more than you mourn him. I’m hoping for an autumn full of good things for you!

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    1. Thank you for your warm welcome, Margaret. An autumn full of good things sounds perfect! Jackson will carve his own place here and in our hearts and what you describe is already happening: it’s the happy memories of Harri that are resurfacing now, ahead of the more recent sad ones. Animals are wonderful!

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  5. It’s good to see a new post from you, Sandra, though I’m sorry to hear about your illness and your loss. I hope things improve for you soon – I’m sure Jackson will help. 🙂

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    1. Hello Elizabeth, it’s good to have you following. (I’m enjoying your blog too when energy levels permit.) Your words about your friend are encouraging. Doctor’s appointment at the end of the month when hopefully the meds will be tweaked again and we’ll get closer to the ideal. All in good time 🙂

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  7. So sorry to hear about Harri – it’s always hard to lose one of our dear pets. Jackson, though, is gorgeous – and while one cat never replaces another, it’s always fun to have a new little furry friend about the place, being pesky and adorable! Also sorry you’ve been ill – as a fellow thyroid sufferer of several decades, I assure you it will settle and while you may find you have the occasional blip that requires adjusting the meds, for the most part I just take my daily pill and never think about it now. It did take a while to reach that point of equilibrium initially though, so fingers crossed you soon feel back to more or less normal. Welcome back!

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    1. Ooooh Fictionfan – thank you! That’s so encouraging. I’ll get there 🙂 I think Jackson will indeed be both pesky and adorable – his personality is HUGE! But then, we needed a special cat: Harri was such a character, it will take a huge purrsonality to carve a new cat-shaped place in our hearts. Jackson is the one 🙂

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  9. Hallo Sandra. I am among your readers who have missed your posts. So sorry you have been so low with a debilitating illness. I admire your patient resilience and the support of Bernie and hope the meds hit the right balance soon. Being ill makes the sad loss of Harri even harder. I am so sorry. I am certain he would appreciate that you are giving Jackson a home. He looks captivating. Take care.

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    1. Thank you Carole 🙂 Life has its ups and downs of course but I confess it’s nice to feel that mine is looking up again. You’re absolutely right that it was the worst time to lose Harri. And I know it sounds foolish but I really do feel that Harri approves of Jackson’s arrival. He will establish his own place in our hearts 🙂

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  10. D & J > Double and lift-you-off-the-ground hugs from us in the top left Celtic Corner to you in the Lower Left Celtic Cornwall! J > I know what you experience : I had guessed what was up. Always know that it’s like a storm passing through : you’ll appreciate life all the more keenly.

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    1. Awwwww, thank you both so much! Yes, it’s been a rather grim time. But worst things happen and you’re absolutely right: when a good day comes along (and that’s happening more and more often now) I appreciate it all the more. Life is here for the taking! x

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  11. Lovely to have you back Sandra and hope life settles into a benign rhythm for a while. We’ve spoken elsewhere of Harri so won’t repeat- you know my thoughts are with you.
    Jackson looks to be a bit of a character! I hope he decides you and B will be suitable material for training! ( No doubt aided and abetted by secret whispers from Harri, seated on her lofty perch among the cat-gods).
    Do you know ” The Silent Mieow”- Paul Gallico- a mother cat’s instructions to her kitten? Delicious!!
    It’s very Autumnal here- what a topsy-turvy year it is.

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    1. Pat – an email is in the offing 🙂 I have appreciated your support more than you know. I am quite convinced Harri and Jackson have connected – He has a massive purrsonality and will be a worthy successor. Not a replacement; his presence will only augment the years we had with Harri. I shall research ‘The Silent Mieow’ – new to me. Autumnal here too – delicious! xx

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  12. I’ve had a summer of struggles, too, so am very sympathetic to all you’ve been through–and you write beautifully about the yen to get back to equilibrium. I’m sorry about Harri–I look at my older cats every day and worry . . . Harri was a beauty! And Jackson will be a tonic. Here’s to a normal, quiet, content, healthy autumn in your beautiful part of the world.

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    1. A summer of struggles… just the right phrase. Thank you, Kerry, and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had struggles of your own. Let us hope for a quiet, content and healthy autumn for each of us! 🙂

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    1. Essential reading for B if J is his first kitten!
      Translated from the feline by Paul Gallico himself ( I think he had seventeen cats at some time- so fairly experienced!)xx

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      1. I must definitely get this one then. It is B’s first kitten – he’s like an expectant parent (though he won’t thank me for suggesting as much)! x

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  15. I was wondering how you are, so I’m sorry to hear you’ve been ill and hope you’re well on the way to recovery now. Also sorry about Harri – it’s so hard to lose a pet, each one is special and irreplaceable – but Jackson looks special too.

    I’m looking forward to reading whatever you want to write about – I’m glad you’re back!

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  16. The very first part of ” Silent Meiow” involves subjugating the Human Household Male!! I suspect B will be a tad easier!! I suspect he has lost before he begins!!xx

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  17. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Harri, and your ongoing illness, Sandra. As I told my friends in the rehabilitation hospital, “it’s fine to complain”, just find a creative way to do it! You shared with us your bad and good news, and I thank you for trusting us enough to do so. My best to you.

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  18. I’m so glad to see you back, I hope your situation continues to improve and you get your enthusiasm back again. I’m sure that Jackson will help with that!

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  20. There you are! It’s so good to have you back and I’m so sorry about the miserable few months you’ve had. Sometimes life has a way of delivering a series of knocks but I’m glad to see that you’re getting over it all. Take care, enjoy Jackson and keep writing x

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  21. I missed your posts but (wrongly) assumed that you were just busy with your garden and enjoying the summer weather. I’m so sorry to read that you’ve been ill. My condolences on your loss of Harri. I hope that you will be feeling much better soon and that Jackson will be a comfort to you.

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  24. So very sorry, Sandra, to hear what a tough time you have been having in recent months. Thank you for sharing all of this with us – I hope it was helpful to do so in some small way. I look forward to hearing how you are getting on as and when you feel like posting again. In the meantime, take care – sending love and hugs xxx

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    1. Thank you 🙂 And yes, time is powerful in so many ways. (Looking forward to following your adventures; do you have an option to follow by email? By far my favourite choice!)

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  26. I’ve missed you soooooo much! Glad to hear your health is on the up. We make plans and life gets in the way. I’m so sorry to hear about Harri, will miss his stories, but welcome Jackson to your family! Looking forward to reading more of your wonderful stories.

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  27. As the cycles of life keep turning, lemons and lavenders will keep coming to the fore in succession. I am sorry about Harry and your reluctant gland but fortunately, the latter can be addressed. Welcome back to the pool!

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  30. I’m still checking through your back-catalogue, Sandra. I hope the hyper-thyroid problem has now been stabilised. As you say, it’s surprising how many people do suffer, and how much time it takes to sort out the medication.

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    1. Thanks Cath, you’re very kind to ask 🙂 Turned out to be a little more than thyroid problems (and generally accounts for my periods of absence on the blog). Restricting, but manageable. All is well 🙂

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