The last few days have been incredibly busy, packing up and getting ready to leave Oklahoma after eight years. It has been a big job, and it is entirely down to the massive amount of help from son Tim that I'll be in a position to do so.
I have also been very blessed with all the kind friends who have helped and supported me here whom I will miss.
I'll be back with another blog called, probably, 'A Brit Back Home'. I'll circulate e-mails when it is available.
Much love and all the best,
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Thursday
I've been a bit lethargic today. Lethargy usually afflicts me when I feel overwhelmed at all that I have to do.
Going through all the 'last things I will do" and yesterday was the last Wednesday meal. I wasn't required to make a dessert as it was team Mexican, who provide their Mexican dessert - a sort of pastry.
My friend Jack had put aside a non-spicy portion for me - everyone else, even children in their high chairs have the spicy portions. Kevin said he would come and cut my grass. I do appreciate all these kind friends I have made here, and will miss them all.
Today, Thursday I went to Communion, and the last Thursday lunch, there was nine of us altogether. We went to a Mexican restaurant - Mexican restaurants here are as ubiquitous as the Chinese at home. It was all very pleasant in spite of being a little sad at the fact that it was my last. When I stepped up to pay my bill I found a friend had settled it for me - people are all so generous.
And tomorrow, Friday, I am off to my last chaplaincy round.
Going through all the 'last things I will do" and yesterday was the last Wednesday meal. I wasn't required to make a dessert as it was team Mexican, who provide their Mexican dessert - a sort of pastry.
My friend Jack had put aside a non-spicy portion for me - everyone else, even children in their high chairs have the spicy portions. Kevin said he would come and cut my grass. I do appreciate all these kind friends I have made here, and will miss them all.
Today, Thursday I went to Communion, and the last Thursday lunch, there was nine of us altogether. We went to a Mexican restaurant - Mexican restaurants here are as ubiquitous as the Chinese at home. It was all very pleasant in spite of being a little sad at the fact that it was my last. When I stepped up to pay my bill I found a friend had settled it for me - people are all so generous.
And tomorrow, Friday, I am off to my last chaplaincy round.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Tuesday 26th
The last few days have been mainly, with Phyllis's help, sorting through stuff ready to start packing.
Looking around me now it all looks a bit chaotic, although we have cleared out a massive amount of stuff. Phyllis helps two families particularly who will benefit from things I have turned out. As well as some other things I am donating my reclining chair to her, and she is very grateful for that.
I took a pile of office and stationery supplies to Kate at the Senior Centre, so things are finding good homes.
Although I am sorry to be saying goodbye to good friends I have made here, I am so happy to be coming home and living near Tim and family in Oxford, and Jeremy who is not too far away in Surrey.
Just realized - I hadn't published yesterday's blog, so here it is, it was entitled "I'm 77".
Now I am really pushing 80, and this is no longer a laughing matter.
Been engaged with frustrating banking issues - like not being able to access my Lloyds account. I hope they are dusting off the welcome mat at the Summertown branch. The only thing that can be said for banks here is that they have realistic opening hours - they don't shut at 3.30.
Just did a little shopping. Needed some milk which over here is all healthy, fat reduced 2%, and I don't do healthy eating. I am just so looking forward to the full fat, full cream, unhealthy Channel Island milk. That's going on the shopping list along with the Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Ambrosia creamed rice.
Looking around me now it all looks a bit chaotic, although we have cleared out a massive amount of stuff. Phyllis helps two families particularly who will benefit from things I have turned out. As well as some other things I am donating my reclining chair to her, and she is very grateful for that.
I took a pile of office and stationery supplies to Kate at the Senior Centre, so things are finding good homes.
Although I am sorry to be saying goodbye to good friends I have made here, I am so happy to be coming home and living near Tim and family in Oxford, and Jeremy who is not too far away in Surrey.
Just realized - I hadn't published yesterday's blog, so here it is, it was entitled "I'm 77".
Now I am really pushing 80, and this is no longer a laughing matter.
Been engaged with frustrating banking issues - like not being able to access my Lloyds account. I hope they are dusting off the welcome mat at the Summertown branch. The only thing that can be said for banks here is that they have realistic opening hours - they don't shut at 3.30.
Just did a little shopping. Needed some milk which over here is all healthy, fat reduced 2%, and I don't do healthy eating. I am just so looking forward to the full fat, full cream, unhealthy Channel Island milk. That's going on the shopping list along with the Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Ambrosia creamed rice.
Friday, April 22, 2016
postscript to Thursday
Although I knew it was the Queen's 90th birthday it really rather passed me by until I reflected on the fact that I was a child - well 13 - when she came to the throne, and now she is 90!!! Remembering her when she was young, dark haired and glamorous, I can't tell you how incredibly OLD that made me feel.
If it is not too late to ask, could someone please save me a newspaper, I expect there are some souvenir editions with pictures of her.
I read somewhere that she has stopped breeding corgis because she doesn't want to leave any behind.
If it is not too late to ask, could someone please save me a newspaper, I expect there are some souvenir editions with pictures of her.
I read somewhere that she has stopped breeding corgis because she doesn't want to leave any behind.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Thursday
Today I have had both trial and blessing. The trial has been my desktop pc which I fear has died, instead of having icons on my screen I had blank pages, so I took it yesterday to Staples, went back for it today and the bottom line is that they couldn't fix it.
They first of all wanted $159 to fix it, which I gave them yesterday (because I have a lot of photos and data I wouldn't like to lose) then today they wanted more money to fix it....and I balked at the more money, so requested a refund of the $159, and left the store with the defunct pc. The manageress was not happy and flounced off scowling, the young man attending to me did his best and I thanked him.
There is a computer place downtown, I might just ask them to look at it tomorrow - see how they handle it.
That was the trial - the blessing was my friend Phyllis, who came round, rolled her sleeves up and set to work helping with the turning out and sorting. There are still things to go through and she said she'd be back on Monday.
So that has been my day. Going back to my book which is a biography of Queen Mary (the mother of George V) it is fascinating.
They first of all wanted $159 to fix it, which I gave them yesterday (because I have a lot of photos and data I wouldn't like to lose) then today they wanted more money to fix it....and I balked at the more money, so requested a refund of the $159, and left the store with the defunct pc. The manageress was not happy and flounced off scowling, the young man attending to me did his best and I thanked him.
There is a computer place downtown, I might just ask them to look at it tomorrow - see how they handle it.
That was the trial - the blessing was my friend Phyllis, who came round, rolled her sleeves up and set to work helping with the turning out and sorting. There are still things to go through and she said she'd be back on Monday.
So that has been my day. Going back to my book which is a biography of Queen Mary (the mother of George V) it is fascinating.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Tuesday
Driving along my road I caught a wing mirror on a wheelie bin (dustbin, but they're taller than ours) and it sheered right off. So I rang Terry this morning - Tuesday - and he put a new one on, which meant I didn't get to the hospital because I had to wait in for him to get the mirror, then call me to say he was ready to fit it.
It didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I went along to the Gospel Singing at the Senior Centre and was pleased to catch up with my friend Faye there. Her son Wayne is a member of the Kiwanis group I belonged to for quite a few years, and Faye was telling me the family are excited because her grandson in Britain is getting married in July and Wayne and family are going over for the wedding.
.........................this is how far I got writing up my blog yesterday, Tuesday, on my desktop pc but when I went back to it I found I had serious problems with the computer, which went from bad to much worse, and has now totally crashed. I will have to take it to Staples in the morning to be fixed, because even if I leave it behind here I have got photos and data on it I need to retrieve.
There is a message at the top of this page which says....
"The browser we detected is unsupported and may result in unexpected behavior.
Please choose from our list of supported browsers for the best experience".
I am not sure I know what a supported browser is, but I wanted to send this before I started tinkering with the lap top, looking for supported browsers - whatever they are.
.........................this is how far I got writing up my blog yesterday, Tuesday, on my desktop pc but when I went back to it I found I had serious problems with the computer, which went from bad to much worse, and has now totally crashed. I will have to take it to Staples in the morning to be fixed, because even if I leave it behind here I have got photos and data on it I need to retrieve.
There is a message at the top of this page which says....
"The browser we detected is unsupported and may result in unexpected behavior.
Please choose from our list of supported browsers for the best experience".
I am not sure I know what a supported browser is, but I wanted to send this before I started tinkering with the lap top, looking for supported browsers - whatever they are.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Saturday/Sunday
Was out and about yesterday, Saturday. I went to the AARP meeting in the morning, it doesn't really interest me, I went because Phyllis and Joe were there. The speaker was the publisher of the local paper, I took my knitting and just half listened. I passed up the dreary cafeteria style lunch (the meeting is held in a school hall, imagine what the food is like), Phyllis got me a slice of cheesecake though which was quite nice.
In the afternoon Bruce and Rosalyn invited me to a meal at the China Buffet and that was very pleasant, and I was pleased to spend time with them, commenting that our days together are numbered.
This morning Sunday, I went to the eight o'clock at Emmanuel. It was a BIG DAY with the Bishop and baptisms and confirmations, which is why I didn't go to the main service at ten thirty, I'm getting too fidgety for a very long service, and the eight o'clock was actually very good because it was conducted entirely by the Bishop, which was a refreshing change. For the most part he usually sits in his bishop's chair.
I went back after the ten thirty for the free meal and more importantly, the chance to sit and have lunch with other people. The church provided the beef, pulled pork, drinks and cake, and people took side dishes and dessert. I think it must be the first time though that there wasn't any red or white wine, the drinks were cold tea and lemonade. I'll be glad when (or if) I am eating out back home and able to order tea and know (or at least expect) that it will be made with boiling water - oh joy, oh rapture. I never could get on with the cold tea they drink here.
I went back after the ten thirty for the free meal and more importantly, the chance to sit and have lunch with other people. The church provided the beef, pulled pork, drinks and cake, and people took side dishes and dessert. I think it must be the first time though that there wasn't any red or white wine, the drinks were cold tea and lemonade. I'll be glad when (or if) I am eating out back home and able to order tea and know (or at least expect) that it will be made with boiling water - oh joy, oh rapture. I never could get on with the cold tea they drink here.
I took some photographs of the cake etc. and although I have two card readers I can't get either of them to work. I blame the very tiny film card in the latest camera, I didn't used to have a problem. I think I might need a trip to Staples tomorrow.
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