Uri Geller-Style Accident while Exercising, Bailey’s & a Lot Less Drama (thank goodness)

Fortunately, this week proved less eventful than last week. Mind you, it turns out that if you are able to promote your blog by mentioning you went to A&E with a suspected heart attack, you do end up with a lot more visitors to your website. Desirous as I am to increase traffic, I have nonetheless refrained this week from trying to do anything of a similar nature.

However, I did manage to bend my glasses while out for a walk. (Don’t ask). The arm is so bent on one side that I am unable to wear them unless I stick one of the arms inside my ear. (It’s not a great look). I am beginning to suspect exercise, in whatever form it takes, is just not for me.

Mind you, going for my daily walk, I have noticed there are loads more people about than before. I tend to walk on the nearby marshes. In the past, I was often the only person about. I remember my mother warning me once about possible axe murderers lying in wait. (My mother always had a flair for the dramatic). I assured her that given the dearth of people who passed that way I doubted anyone, however murderous, could be that patient. Now it seems as if people have decided that the worst is over, and are out in force. At times, social distancing was nigh impossible. However, it is nice to be out and about, enjoy the sunshine and a bit of nature. I even spotted a nesting swan on my travels. I’m currently trying to do 8,000 + steps a day in a bid to get fitter than I was. I suppose the advantage of not being fit in the slightest means that you have a very low bar to surpass.

As for actual socialising, an ad hoc party took place around my front garden – fear not, social distancing was adhered to at all times. Two of my neighbours had passed by leaving me a massive bar of chocolate on one of my bins. (Like all houses in my street, there are so many bins on my path, it kind of resembles a ‘It’s a Knock Out’ obstacle course. (Young people may need to Google that reference).

As I stood at one end of the garden path, they stood at the other. We started chatting, somehow a bottle of Bailey’s became involved in the proceedings, a mutual friend cycled past, parked up his bike at a suitable distance and, before we knew it, it was two hours later and we had finished off several bottles. For someone who is on lockdown on their own, it was a welcome change to the daily routine. On the downside, the several empty bottles of alcohol were placed in my bin so presumably the dustmen now assume I’ve become an alcoholic with a penchant for Bailey’s and gin.

In medical news, my wound is finally healed and I haven’t had a stye in over a week. Maybe it’s all the vegetables I am eating! Heart-felt thanks to the NHS and the district nurses who looked after me. I’d love to do something more positive to show my support for the NHS rather than stand outside my house and clap once a week. Anyone have any ideas? As someone who has relied on the NHS quite a bit these last few months, it is more than worrying that the government is using the present crisis to privatise it further and only today has dropped ‘Save the NHS’ from their latest slogan.

Workwise, I finished my latest short story and I am in the process of putting an online MY Comedy night together. More news to follow. (In other words, I haven’t finalised the details yet). I also managed to catch up with Jen Brister and in a fit of productivity we recorded a podcast AND a vlog via Zoom. Unfortunately, Zoom tends to cut me off every time I laugh which, needless to say, is quite often.

I did also have a particular eggy Zoom moment this week when, desperate to get out of a group chat, I texted Jen to call me so I could pretend I had to take an urgent call. As a tactic it worked; just let’s hope they don’t read my blog! (I think it’ll be fine).

As for my viewing habits, they are rather eclectic as always. I am enjoying Killing Eve while the first episode of The Ministry of Time’s fourth season premiered last week. I’ve been waiting for this for months! It’s one of the best things on telly I’ve ever seen. Sadly, it is no longer on Netflix but if you’re Spanish is good enough (there are subtitles) I would recommend you head over to the RTVE website and have a watch. I’ve also been watching Machair, a Gaelic soap (niche I know) just so I can prove to myself on a weekly basis that my comprehension of the Gaelic language is still non-existent.

Otherwise, I’ve been reading a lot. I enjoyed the latest edition of Her Edit featuring my mate, Emma-Jane otherwise known as The Inspirational Mentor on the front cover. This week has also seen me just start a Toni Morrison novel, Sula, read Transcription, the latest novel from Kate Atkinson as well as finish reading a novel by Swedish writer, Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove. As a piece of comedy fiction I would totally recommend it. It’s definitely not what you expect when you first start reading it, but, believe me, you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

So, all in all, a less dramatic week. It may mean fewer visitors to my website but, it would seem my flair for the dramatic is clearly not as keen as that of my mother’s.

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