Two Years On...

  Well, look at that, you wait six years for an entry and then two come along almost at once!

  This is petty much a continuation of my last entry but that was becoming a bit long winded so I figured I'd split it...

  Okay, In the September after Reet's death, I had a replacement knee op. When I had my right knee replaced back in 2008 the recovery period was about eighteen months. It would have been quicker but I returned to work and figured I didn't need to do the physio anymore. After all, I thought, as a postman my knee was getting a workout every day, even though I'd moved to an indoor job by then. I was still on my feet all day but at least I wasn't humping bags of mail around with me so it was better. The thing is though, it wasn't necessarily the right exrcise and it took eighteen months before I felt the op had been worthwhile. This time round, being retired, I needed to keep up the physio. Which I did. And I have to say, the recovery period was amazingly quick. I'd say I was walking without sticks and in no pain within two months. Once I'd ditched the stick I never looked back. So much better than the last time.  

  So anyway, after Reet died I fumbled and stumbled around for a while and then, in September, I had my knee op and that gave me something else to occupy my mind. I didn't stop missing Reet, of course, but it kind of made me move on a little. Suddenly, life was kicking back in and I had to go with it. As well as my knee, I also had prostate problems and hospital appointments were cropping up here and there, but I'm so lucky that I have some good friends (Liz and Andy), who helped me (they still do), drivng me to the hospital,  accompanying me on apointments etc. Andy was a constant companion on those hospital visits. And Liz, kept me organised at home, making sure I wrote appointments on my calender. and made sure I wasn't slacking. It's so easy when you're on your own to be lax with the dusting and hoovering, changing bed sheets, doing the washing. All that kind of stuff. When I was working, Reet used to do all that stuff and I probably took it for granted. And although I took over a lot of it when Reet was ill, I was never really organised about it. 

Enter Liz:

  When Reet died I lost a lot of weight and many of my clothes didn't fit. So Liz - and Andy, of course, but mainly Liz, took me shopping for a new wardrobe. She'd get me to try stuff on and tell me 'No, too baggy, No, too tight, or yes, just right!' She made sure I bought things that didn't need ironing Good job too because I had no idea about such things, and I'm absolutely useless at ironing. She helped me go through Reet's clothes and sort them out for charity shops. (How many handbags does a woman need for gawd's sake!?) She makes official phone calls for me pretending she's my sister and changes my electricity tariff if needed or keeps an eye on my tesco clubcard points. All the stuff I would never think to do or even bother with.

  Just a few lines about Andy and Liz then. We've known each other for fifty years or more. Liz lived in the same street as me and we went to the same school, as did Reet. Later on I worked in the same factory as Liz and this is where she, and I, met Andy. When they eventually got married I was his best man. That was way back in the seventies. We knocked around together for a good while, drinking and holidaying together. Then, when they had kids we drifted apart a little. differemt priorities ruled our lives I guess. We didn't lose touch but just didn't go out together as much. 

  Jump ahead many years later and we somehow reconnected. I don't even know how it came about but the early frendship we carved out remained and we began socialising together again. We've not looked back since If anything we've become even closer than we were back then. They were with Reet and I through the rough times and I'm so grateful for their constant care and concern. 

  That's Liz and Andy in a nutshell. As I said, they are a large part of my life. Andy and I share an allotment together. We started it about six years ago and haven't looked back since. Liz still helps to keep me organised when I need it, which is more often than I'd care to admit, but it's nice to have someone you can trust when you need them.

  But back to the plot...

  In November 2023 We lost Honey, our golden labrador. It was a sad time and we both missed her immensely. I still do, of course. But whilst I was recovering from my knee op, I had decided that I might like to get another dog. I was fine on my own but I found the evenings really quiet. I'm not one for watching too much TV, I'd much sooner play my music. I have a very wide and, some say, weird taste in music and it's always been a huge part of my life. Even so, I don't feel the need to play music every night. Sometimes it's nice to sit and read or maybe write. But again, you have to be in the mood to do those things and that isn't always the case. my knee was improving every day so I thought it was maybe time to get another dog. And I did. Her name is Coco and she rules my life (even more than Liz).

  Here she is. Apparently, she's part beagle, part spaniel and part poodle. (Her mum was obviously popular!) She's a mongrel, in other words. She's three years old as I write and she's as cute as a button and feisty as hell.  She was two when I got her and for a while I thought she was way to energetic for me but, as my knee improved I began to get the measure of her and now we're bosom buddies and she's a real daddie's girl. Before she came to me she was living on a small holding with two other dogs and a few kids so she had the life of Reilly for her time there. She was trained in the basics thankfully, because I don't have the patience to take that on. She sits on command and walks to heel after a fashion and that's a good start. 

  So that's how my life is going at the moment. I walk the dog, I play my ukuele(s) and I share an allotment. I'm also finding time to cook, which is something I like to do. but more on at that at a later date.

More soon, if you can stand the excitement.

B x