Fed up most likely … I have hot water … now my landlady is flying in from Kenya to see what's happened … so I guess everything will be tipped upside down again … I am fractious … stressed out with the irritations and inroads into my life …
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| Wonderful scented roses |
I buried my head in all five Kingsbridge series books – covering the dark ages of England 997 AD to ten years after Battle of Waterloo in 1824 … which gave an insight into life through the ages.
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| Four of his novels, the fifth was recently published |
I think it probably helped otherwise I'd have been fretting more than usual … and I have various references to use when our History subject changes in 2026 … we're doing the Medieval period now – but I'm not sure what our 'leader' and her humble subjects (us – the members) will select/choose next.
I was happy that AJ Sterkel (Read all the Things! Blog) chose Follett's masterpiece 'The Pillars of the Earth' … as one of her books to pull you out of a reading slump.
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| AJ Sterkel's header for her blog |
Life as it continues has different perspectives on who one is in life … being single, as are my brothers, so no reason to be overly enthusiastic about family life ahead – yes, and yea, for other friends and family … but for me – I just do my thing.
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| Wiki's logo |
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| Carstian Luyckx - art work of 1650 |
So this little brain is full of jigsaw pieces of life through the ages … and grateful that essentially I'm just getting older – not mentally deteriorating, thankfully.
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| AJ Sterkel's image ... 'How to Reignite Your Love of Reading' |
I hope I can be left in peace to get on with my life … but as the year progresses we'll see … for now – my head is above water, screaming silently, and just wishing this period was away …
AJ Sterkel's link to her latest post ... I also suggest you read the previous one on the saddest books ... I really enjoy her lists ...
Cheers to you all and thanks for your comments and thoughts …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Hilary, you are bravely swimming and keeping your head above water.
ReplyDeleteYou have every reason to feel downhearted and deflated, wondering what the universe will throw at you next. Somehow, you manage to cheer up everyone else.
I know I'm not alone in wishing you well and wishing we could do something to help.
Chin up, and keep on keeping on.
Janice x
Hopefully you get a break from the chaos and uncertainty.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you are grumpy / fed up - hope your issues all get resolved soon.
ReplyDeleteBless you, I do hope life will start treating you better! (Here's a joke... "Do you ever wake up grumpy? "No, I usually let her sleep".
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I think that is usually said as "I let HIM sleep" but if you knew me and my husband, you would know I can't tell it that way. LOL!
Oh! And I meant to tell you, years ago I met a man who told me that he met Ken Follett on a trip in the Caribbean. He said he was simply WONDERFUL. It's just something that I was so glad to know and I wanted you to know this too! x
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteLife just needs to keep rolling and we need to keep up with it! YAM xx
Sometimes the escape that fiction offers us is very, very necessary.
ReplyDeleteFollett told a good story and wrote beautifully. I am not sure if The Pillars of the Earth can pull a reader out of depression but his devout monk was driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known .
ReplyDeleteAt least for me (suffering from anxiety not depression), I was excited by the serious struggle between good and wickedness, between church Vs state.
@ Janice - yes ... I feel like that - frustrating to say the least ... my head in Follett's books has been a release, except when it came out of each reading and came back to this earth. I am positive by nature - thankfully. Chin up ...as you say - life goes on .. appreciate your comment.
ReplyDelete@ Alex - thank you ... I sure hope so too ...
@ Anabel - life goes on doesn't it and not much keeps me down ... but really at the moment it's a bit much - still this week will bring change of some sort.
@ Kay - thanks Kay. No I don't wake up grumpy ... but enjoy your joke ...having had a hubby who would sleep on! - mine went out the door!
Oh - how interesting you met someone who'd met Follett on a trip the Caribbean - thanks ... it's alway nice to know that he was down to earth, despite his success with his books ...
@ Yam - yup ... I'm keeping up with life - it's the flat connection I'm struggling with ... but as you say life always goes on - which does keep us swimming, as Janice says.
@ LIz - I was very glad to have such lengthy books to travel through in these circumstances - and I learnt a lot too about our English history ...
@ Hels - I'm not sure I'm depressed per se - just frustrated that people who should be sorting things out for me, in fact should have done after a few days, not 8 weeks later, have not realised their responsibilities. I've enjoyed the stories through the various eras.
Thanks so much for all your thoughts - another hiccup has occurred ... the landlady has decided to come over from Kenya to see what's going on - so I have that to deal with this week ... I'm not a happy bunny - but life goes on - cheers Hilary
That’s a long way to come to check on the plumbing, Hilary! Sorry to hear that you are in a bit of a funk and I hope that the path is upwards with nary a hint of a further downward slide. Life’s niggly problems can sometimes be a source of great frustration and surprisingly difficult to shuck off. We are all rooting for you and longing for the bright, energetic, quirky Hilary we all know and love. Set yourself a challenge to research some truly obscure bit of history and I am sure that will help! And we’ll get an interesting blog post from it, so we’ll all win. Thinking of you - David
ReplyDeleteIt's frustrating when your life gets hijacked like that. I really dislike feeling out of control, so I can empathize with you. You do a great job of delving into things that bring you joy!
ReplyDeleteYou've had a rough time, Hilary. Don't blame you for being fed-up and grumpy! At least you have hot water again (hopefully that won't be disrupted) and lots of interesting reading material. One day at a time... Hang in there! ☺
ReplyDelete@ David - I know ... it has been fixed now - but the landlady will want to look - so not sure what she's going to do ... take everything out once again - who knows! I hope this week is it ... but just might last into September - frustratingly. Yup - I'm really grateful for everyone's support and thoughts etc ... I needed those books to fall into and hide away ... but I do have things I want to post about ... just hope by then I'm feeling easier - the GP must come soon too.
ReplyDelete@ Elizabeth - oh crumbs ... such a pain when things go bananas as they've done recently ... the leaks are just stupid - and have just caused me extra stress. I am unimpressed - as you can gather. Yes - I'm lucky that I can let my brain take over and give myself something educational to think about ...
@ Debbie - yes ... and my health aspect is making me ultra tired - so stress added in ... definitely makes me feel weary. Ne-er mind - it'll be over soon (I hope!) ... as you say one day at a time ...
Thanks you three ... really appreciate your care ... cheers Hilary
Were I Chinese, I would probably say: You live in interesting times.
ReplyDeleteDon't let it get you down, Hilary!
The peace of the night.
@ Sean - life is really life ... so frustrating and as long as the Chinese don't come call I'll get through!!. Thanks, I'm off out today - bother the landlady and tomorrow. Cheers and great to see you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Hilary. Sorry to read that you're having troubles at home. I do hope they all get sorted soon. I hate having to have work done on the house. Keep reading and, as my friend always says to me, deep breaths!
ReplyDeleteHeath does come first so let them get the flat issues in order and don't worry about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Hils, Thank goodness for books, hey. I do hope things get squared away for you soon. Wishing you a peaceful day. Cheers,
ReplyDelete@ Ros - great to see you - yes ... it's a problem and I sincerely hope I get through it soon ... today, if I'm lucky! Yup - deep breaths, head in sand reading ... and with luck I'll be back to posting normally, if there's a normal in my life!!
ReplyDelete@ Diane - you're right health does come first ... and if it was essential and 'that worrying' I'd have pushed on with that ... but I'm coping - now I can move on with the medics, which I'll do. Unfortunately I can't leave the flat issues to others as the issues impact me all the time - I hope that'll be eased today.
@ Sandra - thanks ... and yes thank goodness for books - me too .. I hope things get squared up soon.
Cheers to the three of you ... thanks for the support - Hilary
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Oh so sorry to hear of all troubles. You have been brave surviving all with diving into books about history. Amazing You must have an enormous knowledge. I have a friend like that She loves it and is especially very knowledgeable about the English history. I find it fun as well but I am a slow reader with a bad memory
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary - Sorry to read about all the chaos in life. We all pass through these bad patches, don't we? Glad to see that you are looking at the brighter sides and engaging yourself in activities to keep yourself going.
ReplyDelete(My latest post: Real-world lessons from younger folks)
@ Marja - thankfully the flat aspect was resolved yesterday. Yes - I've enjoyed jumping into the books ... and by giving the odd talk - it's given me an opportunity to explore so much ... and thus the puzzles of history are starting to slot into place. I'm lucky that I do retain information ... at least I can find it again on the blog, or via a talk ...
ReplyDelete@ Pradeep - yes ... thankfully the flat chaos has near enough disappeared ... and I've been able to disappear into lots of written words!
Cheers to you both - great to see you here - Hilary