River Mersey seen from our bedroom window

The river a sliver of silver 

slashed by the trees 

soon to green up 

and hide our view of the ships

the sandbanks and the high tides.

Bounded on the far shore by a skein of amber lights.

Proof of roads and people over there.

Further away the hills of Deeside,

And further still the wilds of Snowdonia.

At our old home I could see Snowdon from my bed.

Here I see a river and hills 

but not a mighty mountain.

Book cull!

Spent afternoons yesterday and today at our old home sorting stuff to a limited extent.

After spending most of the time there yesterday sitting by a nice open fire in the living room with me feeling "carp" we decided to take a look at the books that John had brought down in 5 boxes from the bookcases in our bedroom.  After some time going through them all, we filled 2 boxes to go off to Oxfam, so now only have 3 of those boxes to come back to new home.  I kept a load of stuff that maybe I should have let go?  Neville Shute for one.  Will I ever read them again?  Doubtful.  But I don't quite feel ready to let them go yet.  Rather like my Mum's china ornaments.  Elizabeth Goudge books too.  And a few more random books!

Today those 2 book boxes went off to our local Oxfam shop, along with a box of stuff from new home too - trousers that don't fit John any more, and a couple of DVDs.  I washed the lower side windows in old home living room so I could see the sunsets better.  John will have to wash the top ones, as I can't clamber onto a ladder (or the back of the settee) these days to do them due to dizziness - apparently "mild left vestibular disorder" according to the very nice lady neurologist I saw some years ago now.

Progress is very slow!  But anything is better than nothing!

Meanwhile in a pot just outside our new home front door the lilies that we bought at the Chelsea Flower Show last year are beginning to sprout despite the cold weather.

My ME/CFS comes of age...

Well, yesterday it was 21 years to the day that I had the virus (?) that preceded me getting ME/CFS.  Difficult time, but also joyous in that a few days later (we thought I was recovered) we went to Birmingham to a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert (Into the Great Wide Open).  I think when I really noticed things were getting strange was when we went to the wonderful Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and in the hot house I was crying to think of how the Palm House in Sefton Park was not open any more.  I mean, why cry over something like that, sad though it may be!  The Palm House is back with us again now, but I still haven't been back to see it again since it re-opened.

I spent most of the day back at old home re-acquainting myself with various parasols I bought in the run up to my parents' deaths.  While my Mum was getting more and more demented (but we didn't know that at the time) I tended to hit eBay and buy stuff.  At least there was a reason to buy parasols, I did a course run by my friend Penny's website on renovating parasols.  I have some silk ready to work with the parasols I have.  I hope that I can actually get down to it and renovate some of the lovely parasol skeletons that I have!

Red Double Amaryllis

Sarah and Mark gave me an Amaryllis bulb for Christmas.  It was a bit of a laugh at the time as it had completely white shoots coming off it!  So I planted it up immediately and put it in the utility room to get some good light.  Now it's in our porch, which can be a bit chilly, so every day I light night lights in lamp and "chandelier" thing...  Good to keep the flower cool, but best to not let it get frozen!