Reasons to be Cheeful - Photo links included

Odd title I know:-)

Especially as I am almost at the end of my second week off work since falling down four stairs bumpity, bump, bump, bump and landing in a heap at the bottom. And still being in pain...though today it is more discomfort than pain and I think that is harder to deal with.

Nothing broken thankfully but left with severe bruising and the most god awful pain. Honestly people, how do bodies survive major trauma???

Or maybe it is my age making me suffer more...lol

Well anyway...the first week I did little...trying to control the pain with tablets from the Dr and moving about the place little by little. Sitting a while, standing a while, walking about the house a while

The weather had been glorious and there was me stuck indoors feeling sorry for myself.

This week...having changed the painkillers for plain and simple good old-fashioned ibuprofen...I am a different person.

Still in pain at the very base of my coccyx and still not able to sit for long periods of time which is going to be a bitch when I go back to work on Monday...but...this week...the weather hasn't been as good. Still sunshine but not as warm.

Instead it has been proper fresh springlike weather. The very weather that makes the British Isles the temperate place it is.

I have been baking all week, with the doors open letting in sunshine and fresh air. Sunday saw me making fresh lemon curd which has gone down a treat at home with Kevin. Monday was shortcrust pastry into which went a healthy spoonfull of said lemon curd. Tuesday saw me making a red Thai curry from scratch...although the Thai chicken soup, onion bharjis and bakouras weren't handmade and neither were the naans but the dinner was delightful. Wednesday was homemade lasagne and trifle for sweet and now today on Thursday...I am thinking more trifle for sweet with chicken pastries and new potatoes for dinner.

I might even make shortbread later today and finally get round to making bread over the weekend.

I am loving being at home. Just loving it. But...would this life be enough for me on the long term?

Would I lose the art of conversation and just spend time online talking to people I don't know?

Would I be happy with just my own company?

Well at the moment I'd say yes.

I have taken a great deal of pleasure from cleaning my house properly.

From shaking out the bed and making it each morning rather than just shaking the quilt out before climbing into it each night.

I have taken the time each day to walk to the newsagents to pick up the paper. To walk up to the local veg shop and buy the veg I need for that day so nothing is wasted. I have called by the local butchers and bought the meat for the dinner I am cooking that day. I have bought bread fresh when needed. I have spent an hour an day in the garden and can actually see the results of my work - even if it is just to tidy up the refuse bags ready for collection.

I have followed my Drs orders and walked twice a day and my back feels so much better for it. I'm not sure how work is going to go next week but for now I am enjoying my new found freedom in being a woman at home...lol.

I am loving watching my garden grow. Each day I see a little more has changed. I love watching Spring bring new life to the world. My garden has been planted to allow me to have colour all year round. This last month has seen my garden full of bright brilliant yellow as my daffodils have bloomed. Now I have red tulips and stunning midnight purple - almost black ones in bloom.

My roses have all been hard pruned and are already flourishing in the sunshine daily. My vine is again beginning to bud and my purple bedding plants are attracting honey bees.

My garden has become home to the local Kitty Kat Klub and my own kitty Humphrey has clearly become the ruler of the roost.

I will post some photos here as soon as I have worked out how to do a proper photo album again instead of just taking up bandwidth on the site.

I have two sites I post on and you can see a selection of shots here:

http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/Community-Landing/My-Profile/

http://www.dphotographer.co.uk/show_profile.php

Several shots are repeated as I am slowly moving shots over from the first one to the second one.

I have found myself spending time working on macro shots and editing which has given me hours of enjoyment but it is hours and hours that I won't get back...lol.

I hope you will find some of the shots as enjoyable as I do.

I love the Kitty Kat ones and take such pleasure from watching them all play in my garden.

As I type I have my own cat asleep in a printer paper box under my desk and two more sunning themselves out in my garden.

The weather is glorious and I have walked out and about in the docks today. Spring in the UK is a beautiful season as I'm sure it is in many other countries but Britain has the most amazing weather spread over miles and months.

My garden is becoming a thing of beauty and I am resisting the requests and pleadings of my sister to grow vegetables...lol

I have spent time baking. Making home made lemon curd and putting it into home made shortcrust pastry. I have invested in an icing kit and have played with butter cream and cake decorations and all in all, although I am ready to be back in work now, I am still of the opinion that my place is in the home.

I would be able to look after my house. I would be able to take care of some of the small DIY work around the place. I would be able to take the time to cook proper meals daily and shop for just the ingrediants I need rather than stuff my fridge full of rubbish and throw it all away each week.

I would be able to keep my garden clean and tidy.

I would be able to walk out each day and enjoy my world about me.

I would be able to knit and sew.

In short...a return the halcyon days when women were really women and didn't feel the need to compete with men in the workplace.

If Kevin was able to earn enough to keep us both without me having to work and make a two hour commute each day then I'm sure I would be a much happier person in myself.

Till then, I fear I must continue to work most of the time and play for a small amount of time. So I make hay while the sun shines because next week I shall be back in work:-(