Musings and more musings.

Some people like to live by the sea. Some people like to live in the country. I'm lucky as I have both in my area.

This week I've not been at work, and it's been bliss. It's been a week of getting blood tests for both Neil and I, and also getting all the preparation for his bowel operation next week, but it's still been bliss. We've managed to do the two things I wanted to do. One was go to the forest and have a picnic, and the other was go to the beach. I don't have many goals in my week off!

We were lazy and didn't actually make a picnic to take! Tesco does a fine range of that sort of stuff at a decent price to entice you in, and we took advantage of that. The only thing that went wrong was when I bit in to a scotch egg in the forest and the middle shot out in to a bush. The birds got a nice treat though! It was amazing to listen to the silence. Sometimes the high up drone of a plane could be heard, and sometimes the muted sounds of people talking and walking through the trees were in the background, but apart from that it was so peaceful. The school holidays haven't started yet so there were no screaming shouting children racing on the paths. It is quite simply amazing what a difference that makes. The joy of children running around freely isn't something I dislike, but to be honest I just wanted to relax and listen to the sounds of the forest and river next to us. It's very soothing to the soul, and I think both Neil and I needed it. The only thing we didn't do was paddle in the river, but forget about children screaming in the forest because you would have heard my shrieks from a mile away. That water was icy even though the sun was shining. We whiled away a couple of hours, and almost went to sleep in the calmness around us. I even managed a decent walk. Amazing what not being at work does to your body.

Yesterday, after a haul of blood tests for Neil and his telephone consultations for the operation, we went to the beach and had some lunch. It was blazing sunshine, perfect blue skies and a gentle spring breeze, and the gentle waves falling on the sandy beach made me close my eyes and will away all the things I have to think about normally. I picked a fabulous macaroni cheese with a salad and crusty bread and yummy it was too. I know it's a bit weird food for a lovely spring lunch time but It was what I fancied. Total comfort food in a totally comfortable setting outside. What more could I want? Well a longer time there actually, but Neil wanted to get home as he wasn't feeling 100%. As we left I just felt like my week off has been wasted away, and I haven't had enough time away from everything. It's the nature of someone being ill in a family I suppose. I really could have stayed there for hours and just sat and listened to the seagulls, the muted conversation around us, the sea whooshing gently in and out, and just gone to sleep.

It seems to be a the theme of this week that I have wanted to have peace and quiet? My life has always been a manic bumbling stagger, and yet I aspire to the life of 'ladies that lunch'. It's never going to happen but I can dream! Today it's a sort of Mother's Day for me at the request of the boys. We're having a meal at the eldest son's house this evening, and the youngest is visiting this afternoon. It's not that they visit their mother-in-law on Mothering Sunday, it's that they find it hard to see me when I want to spend time with my own mother, particularly on that day. The benefit of it all is that I get to have a weekend of Mother type specials and not just a day. More about that tomorrow!!

So the sun is shining again. It's set to be a lovely day, so I hope everyone is going to relax and enjoy it in amongst the bustle of their lives. Make time for yourself, and make time for your loved ones. Get to the beach or the countryside if you can. Relax. Make memories. Times flies past so quickly and we will it away sometimes. Speaking of, that we lose an hour tonight too. The clocks go forward. One less hour to sleep. One less hour to spend your life doing what you want! What rubbish! The government are talking about getting rid of daylight saving time or British Summer time as some call it, and here in the South I think that would be a good idea. Not sure those in Scotland would agree but we shall see what happens. Every year it gets talked about and every year nothing changes. Still at least my head will think it's six o'clock not five o'clock when the cats demand their breakfast. They have no idea the clocks have changed! Good job too.