No TV, Just Life: 23 June 2017

Yay! I’ve earned a comment! Doing a little happy dance here, well, not literally, just jigging in my chair – which, incidentally, is creaking in protest!

I woke up from a rather disturbing nightmare this morning, something about two paths leading to our future, but people are disappearing from the one. Some of us belittle those of us raising concern over the disappearances ... until we discover half-way down the path is blocked by an altar decorated with baboon statues and human skulls. Carefully moving in closer we see some black, inky smoke threateningly coming towards us – and realise it’s a deadly trap. Yet too many still insist it’s ‘nothing! Don’t be foolish!’ ridiculing those of us who turned back to warn everybody. Representative of the ‘debate’ regarding climate change with so many people ridiculing scientific data as ‘fear mongering propaganda’ whilst at the same time complaining about the extreme weather conditions. I’m not stating my opinion on this hot topic here, the representative link was part of the dream – I don’t want this blog to be a platform for heated debates. It was just such a vivid dream.

Since I was snug and warm under my duvet and outside was cold – it could just as well have been my brain overruling my ears (hearing the alarm) to keep me snug and comfortable.

The weather has been decidedly abnormal – summer temperatures one day, dropping to winter climate the next. South African homes (whether house or flat) do not have built-in heating. Nor are windows double-glazed or insulated against the outside weather in any form. So when the temperatures drop, our homes get cold as well. For myself, I’m not fond of heaters – portable oil radiators don’t provide enough heat to make much difference anyway, and the gas-powered heaters which do make a difference ... well ... you can only use them on tiled floors. If I tried one on my carpets I’d have a roaring fire in no time, I’m sure. Some people have electric blankets – I don’t. What I tend to do in winter is quite simple: when it gets too cold in the flat, I take a hot bath or shower, and then go snuggle under my feather-duvet! So, ok, in winter I end up going to bed quite early some days – but that’s what books are for!

Funny thing about my lovely feather-duvet: I bought it a few years ago in East London. No problems. Then, a short while ago, I would wake up with a horrid migraine every morning! After some experimentation I discovered the cause: the feather duvet! Remove that – no migraine. So, now what? I NEED that in winter ... well, happily I found a solution: Don’t use the feather pillows, and pull the feather-duvet no further than about to my elbows; put on a warm pullover and: Viola! Snug and warm all round and no migraine! Funny how one’s body changes as we get older – and develops these funny aversions or allergies just to entertain us! A colleague of mine told me how he’s lately become allergic to cheese of all things! Oh, and nuts, too. Loved them all his life – and now he can’t enjoy them.

So, what are my plans for this weekend? HeHe – I placed that burden firmly on my neighbour’s shoulders! Tomorrow I’ll be fifty! Would you believe I’ve been around half a century already? I’ve had some people insist that for my fiftieth I MUST have a big party ... Hello? What? MUST? I? Pull the other one, it’s got bells on! For MY birthday, I will do what I want! It’s not about YOU, after all! So, what am I going to do, and how does my neighbour fit into this? Simple: I’d like to spend time with one person who’s company I enjoy – no stress, no crowds, no pressure. And no preparations! Since she knows Port Elizabeth – and I don’t – I asked her to pick somewhere interesting where we could walk and see some sights (which could be flowers, or scenery or a museum) and when we’ve had enough go to some restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal! The weather promises to be sunny, albeit cold, so that should be fine. We both have some errands to run in the morning, so we’ll meet up at leisure and off we go. No expectations. So, tomorrows post might be short – but I’m sure I’ll have plenty pictures!

One thing about birthdays that always bugs me though: What is it with this new thing of companies sending birthday cards to clients? I mean: WTF? I just received one from the rental agency ... utterly inappropriate! Usually they open with some blather about ‘good to have you as our customer’ – translation: We enjoy taking your money. Thanks. Rub it in. And then close something like they hope I spend time with my loved ones! Like, hello? You know I’m the sole occupant with no pets. Do you mean family? Like, my parents? They are both dead – so you hope I die on my birthday? Nice! So much for this ‘thoughtful gesture’. Backfired, didn’t it?

Had a laugh at some colleagues on the way home – as I drove past them, I offered them a lift. Guy looks down on his phone then starts with “We still need steps …” WHAT? You need an app to tell you whether to accept or decline my offer? No wonder you can’t understand how I manage without a TV! I mean, how DO I know when it’s time to sit down to relax, eh? I’m just shaking my head, here.

Back home I took another walk through my garden, my patch of joy is sprouting more and more flowers – each one unique!