I have to be really quick because internet keeps cutting out. Apparently there is a phone line fault in the area. So it’s not the rats in the ceiling. I won’t post again until all is fixed – too frustrating and every time I go to comment on a post it cuts out.
The rats
All afternoon the phone and Internet have been behaving badly – doing that on/off thing. I am on my IPad now but we are still mere acquaintances, and Zelda is a little nervous since she did witness me destroying her virus-ridden predecessor, a mini-Toshiba laptop. (I threw it on the cement outside and jumped on it a few times – very satisfying.)
My main computer is back having a new keyboard installed to match its new hard drive and CD drive. According to the man fixing it, it will be as good as new in a few days. Good, because Zelda is difficult to type on.
Anyway the purpose of this post is to tell you my hypothesis as to why the phone and Internet have become dodgy. The rats that frolic all night long in the ceiling have eaten the wiring.
If you don’t hear from me for a few days, that is why. And if you never hear from me again, it may be because the rats have eaten me too.
It’s okay – I’ll be back.
Keyboard and wordpress problems now …
I thought I was back on board with computer problems, so I posted a photo of Gutsy9 yesterday, but I don’t think it worked!
Lovely evening reading blogposts, despite glitches. I’m a bit frustrated not be able to comment and/or reply to comments in my usual witty, eloquent way – ha!
Many thanks for the moral + IT support – let’s hope this post works!
Computer problems
I had intended to reply to comments today, and continue re-connecting with bloggers I lost touch with during May, but my computer is doing weird virusy stuff … So I might be out of action for a few days whilst the problem is fixed.
One-liners
Anthony has always been really good at encapsulating what would take me paragraphs to describe. And, in between the worsening mumblingishness of his speech, he comes out with extraordinary witticisms.
This afternoon, for instance, we were drinking red wine and watching an appallingly good soap opera on TV when the guy in the next room (I’ll call him John for anonymity) accidentally walked in.
I see Anthony’s eyes, usually expressionless, harden. So I get up and gently steer John back into the hallway where a nurse takes his arm and tells him she has made a cup of tea. He looks back at me and says, Tomorrow we gistust this potatoes worry, okay?
Leaping back into Anthony’s room (before he drinks my wine!) I ask him about John.
What do you do when he comes into your room and disturbs you? I ask.
He looks at me really seriously and quietly says, PANIC!
I laugh so loud that a nurse comes in, worried that I am upset about the John incident. I tell her what Ants said and she guffaws too.
As I am leaving, I hug my husband and he whispers in my ear, I am making people laugh again, Jules!
So you’ve stopped the grumpy thing? I ask, hopefully (knowing that my gentle man has become uncharacteristically cantankerous lately).
But in just these few minutes of saying goodbye, he has gone somewhere and there is no point trying to follow him.
So I go to where my sobs won’t be heard – the disabled toilet near the exit from the nursing lodge – then I wash my face, put my lipstick back on, and go back to say seeya to Ants.
Panic.
Gutsy9 update in the form of a haiku
Atop my shoulder
This beautiful little friend
My teenage peacock
[Many thanks to Samantha for this photo of G9 yesterday].
June 1st
Well I had my month off blogging, and only kept up with other people’s blogs haphazardly, and I have to say it was a refreshingly silent month. It has given me the time needed to reassess a few things, turn some corners, contemplate the future, and come to terms better with Anthony’s deterioration.
Gutsy 9, the not-so-baby peacock, is thriving and now sleeps in the wattle trees at night with the other peacocks, and is quick enough to get away from our two dogs now. He still does madly joyful pirouettes whenever he hears my voice and loves to fly up onto my shoulder for a kiss. (I don’t have a new picture of this so have included one from when he was little. He is now twice this size, so rather heavy).
Ming is still happily milking for our dairy farmer neighbours, and creating music in the evenings. He gave me 4 nights at a luxury resort for Mothers’Day – not a bad gift!
I still battle bouts of volcanic grief about what is happening to Anthony, but have learned a few more ways of bringing joy back into our little family.
It’s good to back and thanks for the many comments. This is a lovely community.
Thanks!
Just checking in halfway through my blogbreak. Thanks to all for comments on last few posts – I really appreciate it and had intended to reply, sorry!
I’ve temporarily unsubscribed from most blogs to give myself a break, but will get back eventually I hope.
It’s just that I am so sad at the moment, about Anthony, because of how fast the dementia is happening now.
Ming, Gutsy9 and I are all fine which somehow seems wrong. I miss Anthony so much.
Blogbreak
I’ve been finding it increasingly difficult lately to keep up with all-things-blog, due to this and that, so I will be taking a blog sabbatical for the month of May and will see you in June. I will still visit blogs, and try to answer comments but, yeah, I need a blogbreak!
Grateful
When I got an email from doudou (my blog friend), I went to her blog and saw this! I’m a bit emotional at the moment so I cried and laughed at the same time.
Thank you so much, doudou, for upside-downing my frown into a great big grin.
jmgoyder 