I slept like a log last night - waking up for the first time almost exactly eight hours after my head had hit the pillow. Next to our bed there's a Sony radio alarm clock that has served us faithfully for thirty three years. I pressed the button and caught the last of BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme.
As the Evil COVID army marauds from the left bringing death and destruction, the forces of righteousness gather on the higher ground bringing precious vials of vaccine to save the planet. It's like a battle from "The Game of Thrones" though I must admit that I have never seen a single episode of that show.
Last night we watched the excellent "Green Book" - such an uplifting film. I last saw it at "The Showroom" in March 2019 but my memory of it had become blurred. I am not in the habit of watching films a second time but there's so much trash to pick from in the film sections of Netflix and Amazon Prime. "Green Book" was a good choice and Shirley put down her knitting and smartphone to enjoy it.
Frances is pretty uncomfortable now. The baby will arrive any day. We are glad that he/she was not born in The Year of the Coronavirus or The Dark Trump Era but sad that he/she will now certainly be born in The Time of The Mad Brexit.
Both Ian and Frances were born two weeks after their "due dates" so maybe our grandbaby will follow those tardy examples.
Speaking of our Ian, he has recently been tested twice for COVID-19 and both results have been negative. He has spent the last few days staying in Chiswick with his girlfriend of three months - Sarah. Hell, they are not even married! Maybe one day we will meet her. She sounds lovely but these are early days.
At last, I am reading "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith. It's a light-hearted but very observant romp of a novel and so far I am very much enjoying it. Not at all what I was expecting. Perhaps I will get through another couple of chapters today.
The January sun is beaming down outside but there's still frost on the grass. Time to "get off my fat ass" as North Americans are wont to say though probably not Mexicans who speak Spanish behind the impenetrable wall that Donald Duck built right across the continent as he promised. And the Mexicans are going to pay for it... aren't they?
Zadie Smith has a holiday home near me. I have yet to meet her and her husband. My son's met them though.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. The success of "White Teeth" must have paid for that holiday home Dave.
DeleteYes. It was an old shop. But now it's a beautiful modern looking building with sea views. At least we have the seaviews and the countryside.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you wait at her gateway to get her autograph for me? "To Yorkshire Pudding with much love, Zadie Smith x"...Mind you with this ****ing pandemic, you might be waiting a long time.
DeleteFeel for Frances. All four of mine were born well past their due date. With my short legs, it was hard to get behind the wheel of a car to drive in the last month before the births. Thinking good thoughts for her. May she have a safe, happy delivery.
ReplyDeleteFour? Good heavens Mary - you were a waddling baby factory! I trust that all four grew up to become good citizens, making you and your husband so proud.
DeleteI hope Frances doesn't have to wait too much longer, especially if she is feeling uncomfortable. Will you be called Grumps?
ReplyDeleteI shall be called God.
DeleteI'm glad your grandchild didn't arrive early in the cursed year of 2020! Poor Frances, I hope that the baby arrives quickly and easily and soon. I can imagine how uncomfortable she is at the moment. All that will be forgotten as soon as she lays eyes on that beautiful little infant.
ReplyDeleteI think she will make an excellent mother. This baby is very much wanted. They have bought a cuddly giraffe for the nursery room. It is as tall as me!
DeleteMy SIL has a friend who is a district nurse and has been doing covid vaccinations in care homes. Yesterday she did 198 vaccines in three care homes, taking 11 hours instead of the allocated 8 hour shift. She then used up spare vaccine on people in the car park as once opened it has to be used within two hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of lurking in the car park of the next home she visits!
I hope the imminent arrival of your granddaughter goes smoothly for all.
Be careful about lurking in the car park Jean. Despite your protests the staff might think you are an escaped albeit young looking resident. They could buckle you up in a straitjacket and drag you inside forever.
DeleteAll the best for Frances and the baby! It must be quite exciting, you and Shirley so close now to becoming grandparents. Also, very good news about Ian.
ReplyDeleteWe have just returned from our last walk together for a week. It always feels strange being on my own again when we have had more than just a weekend together.
OK should pop the question or perhaps you are both happy with the current arrangement? Maybe he is frightened that you will say "Nein danke!"
DeleteI can SO relate to poor Frances. As Tom Petty said, "The waiting is the hardest part." My babies were always "late" too but they knew when they wanted to be born. So will your grandchild. I hope they are not doing over there what they are doing here which is to induce so many labors, believing somehow that suddenly, women's terms are supposed to be this many days and no more. It makes for a rougher birth for both mama and baby.
ReplyDeleteKeep us informed. I know you will.
And excellent news for Ian!
Here they are not so quick to go for induction or Caesarean births. They much prefer to let nature take its course.
DeleteWhatever the country's ills are, the new born child will bring happiness to the family. Wake up, its the new age, marriage is old fashioned to the young!
ReplyDeleteSound of snoring...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Eh? Did somebody say something?
DeleteThe law is still old fashioned I believe, as my friend found out last year after her partner to whom she wasn't married, died suddenly after thirty years together and had left no will. The house was in his name alone. It was all rather a shock on top of everything else.
DeleteIt's a good reason for long term partners to get hitched even if they do not really believe in marriage.
DeleteI hope things go well for Frances and you and Shirley will get to meet your grandchild.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take a look at that book. I've decided to read David Copperfield and wonder if it will hold me attention for that many pages. Apparently Charles Dickens had no editor:)
As for the wall, I imagine that pretty much all of Donny's promises fall far short of reality. I'm so thankful he is no relation.
Well I never knew that your surname was Trump Lily! Nurse Trump - that name has a daunting feel to it.
DeleteHmmmm...I don't know "Green Book." I'll have to look that one up. Thanks for the family updates! I'm glad Ian's tests have been negative and I hope Frances doesn't have to stay too uncomfortable for too long.
ReplyDeleteSurprised you haven't seen "Green Book" Steve. I suspect that both you and Dave would enjoy it.
DeleteGreen Book is a good recommendation YP - we recently saw that film on DVD too and enjoyed it - based on a true story I believe.
DeleteGood to hear that Ian is OK.. and soon a baby in the family - such a joyous time - is Frances having her babe in hospital or at home?
Lets hope those vials of vaccine are provided & delivered within the proper time frame as recommended by the scientists who developed it - bit of a concern to be stretching out the delivery of the 2nd injections to 3 months & sounds like Pfizer were not in favour of this development. Stay safe YP & everyone xx
Unless the babe things otherwise, he/she will be born in hospital. I am also puzzled about the stretched gap between injections but it is said that having just one injection massively reduces the possibility of serious COVID effects.
DeleteCarry on Rambling YP - an interesting range of topics for us all to ponder upon.
ReplyDeleteI don't have Netflix or Amazon Prime, so miss quite a few films that everyone seems to be talking about. I'll probably catch them eventually, when they're shown repeatedly on some obscure TV channel.
Poor Frances . she must be so fed up by now, but as a friend of mine was told when her baby was three weeks overdue -"It will come when it's ready - and not before"! Who can blame the little one if it decides to stay in such a warm and safe place for a while longer? Not the most inviting world to be born into at the moment.
I just spoke to her on the phone. She is feeling more comfortable now. The baby's position seems to have changed. I agree with you that at present this world seems like an uninviting place to be born into. Do you watch Spanish language channels on TV CG?
DeleteNo, YP. I don't watch much TV, so just have English language providers. I have watched Spanish TV, but not regularly.
DeleteI wonder why "spanish" was another name for liquorice.
DeleteNine miles of wall built. Did #45 achieve anything while in office?
ReplyDeleteHe almost made par on one of his many golf outings. That's got to count for something Andrew.
DeleteYes, Andrew, he did. He galvanized a nation. In a way, he has given us a clear view of the people who need to go. If the democrats can take Georgia, McConnell will not be the majority leader, and there will be a major stumbling block gone. He has brought us to the precipice, and I think that the good fight has just begun.
DeleteLet us pray that Georgia swings the right way to bring clarity to decision making in Washington.
DeleteWe recently dashed down to Sydney as soon as the border between our states opened in order to see our second grandchild for the first time. She is already six months old and doesn't know us at all .....time that we will never get back. Such a shame. The borders have closed again so the next proposed visit in February will be very unlikely to happen. These quarantines seem to be the way to stop this illness. We are missing out but at least we are all healthy.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you got to see her and I hope that her name is also Helen. This kind of separation is one of the most cruel things about the pandemic. At least Shirley and I will be able to see our grandchild very regularly as we will then be in a "support bubble". Happy New Year to you and your personal protection officer!
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