Z the former saver

 The house isn't falling apart of course, but it's not in its best shape.  Several rooms need redecorating and updating, especially the kitchen.  As soon as my children told me I need a new kitchen - that is, the next day - I went off to the kitchen company that my daughter used some years ago and is still pleased with and talked to Jonathan.  He came along, having made notes, to measure up.  We talked again and a week later I went to discuss his preliminary plans.  After a couple of hours, he had amended his drawings somewhat, I'd listened to him and he'd listened to me.

Since then, Al and family have helped me move furniture, including the dresser out of the kitchen.  Last night, I texted the joiner and the decorator and we're making some progress.  By Monday, I'll have spoken to the flooring company.  I hope to have tracked down the local kitchen fitter too.  Then I need to go back to the wallpaper company that I visited when I still thought I'd do some wallpapering myself.  It's not going to happen, which is a pity as I love wallpapering and do it perfectly.  The decorator has looked round and will send me a quote.

I'll probably use all my cash savings this year, but I'm relaxed about that.  My income is adequate and I've got more savings tied up.  I've never overspent in my life.

When I had my first Saturday job, my wages were less than £1 a day.  But this was 55 years ago and I was still at school and it wasn't unreasonable.  My wages went up by inflation plus an age-related increase every year, I had 2 paid weeks (single days, of course) a year plus all public holidays (the holiday was usually on a Monday but the library closed for the weekend).  I was very lucky, as I loved the job too.  Working with books, what could be better?

Anyway, it was just after my father died unexpectedly and, until the estate was sorted out, my mum was very short of money.  So, when I got my monthly pay cheque, the first thing I did was buy a treat.  It was usually food because, in the circumstances, that was more of a help than anything else.  No one suggested it, least of all my mother, who wouldn't have accepted money either.  I usually bought steak or grapes or something useful and normally unaffordable.  With the rest, I had a rule (I was an odd child).  Obviously, there were some unavoidable everyday expenses (though my mother kept me of course, I was a schoolchild and she paid for what I needed) but, if I wanted to buy clothes, for instance, then I wouldn't spend more than half my money.  If a dress cost £4 then I had to have £8.  In practice, I had to save up for three months for this, by which time I didn't want the dress any more.  So I bought books instead.

This was just my instinct, which I didn't tell anyone about, but it was surprisingly sensible, from a young woman who was quite immature and also in a state of shock.  1970 started dreadfully and just kept getting worse.  I suppose I was keeping myself together by self-control.  Anyway, it's stood me in good stead, because I knew from the start that I had to take responsibility for myself.  I was also a peculiar child and, now, I wish I'd been a bit more relaxed about life.  Poor kid.

Z takes control

 The title is nonsense of course, no control involved to speak of.  However, in relative terms, I'm less out of control.

I watched all 11+ hours of presentations and made notes on every one.  Quite brief ones, sometimes "too far" or "too dear" and once, "oh dear" but otherwise the cost of the lecture and an indication of my interest.  A few, I jotted down on a notepad as fairly definite.  Next, I need to bring them down to a shortlist to share with the committee and then, once they've been chosen, I start writing to ask if they're free when I want them to come.  At least it's all done by email nowadays and not telephone, which would be a trial.

Also, I've texted the local painter and decorator and he's coming over tomorrow afternoon to see what I want done.  A lot is the simple answer.  I've also texted the chap who I hope can do the kitchen window, but he's very busy and I just need to know.  Once I've got going with all that, I need to find another carpenter to do some cupboards and then a builder and a kitchen fitter and someone to do flooring and tiling (that may be the builder)...I can see why I've put off starting.  

I've got so much else on my plate, but all this had better come first.  I also want to fix the date of the blog party, which will be in August and I'm hoping to get away for the last week of this month, but before I decide about that, I have to email a couple of people.

There was a time when I would have just got on with it.  Now, it's enough to make me want to panic.  But it's all about self-control at the Zedery, innit?

Zoë has square eyes

 I probably have said, a while ago - but can't look it up because it's on the blog I can't get at for now - that I arrange the programme for our local branch of Nadfas.  While I was away in Mexico, the annual Directory Day took place.  There are a good many speakers who are registered to the society - they're all independent of it but, if accepted by an auditioning process, they go in the Directory and the programme secretary of each individual branch can book whoever they like for their annual programme.  I'm not sure if I've made that quite clear, but I hope you gather what I mean.

Anyway, it was an online process this time, which meant that they could take many more lecturers, over two days, each with two minutes to speak (the new lecturers get three minutes).  A total of 11 hour-long sessions, plus a few more who were added later.  I'm finally getting around to watching the entire process.  Of course, not all in one go, but I've seen 8 hours worth over two days and made notes on every single one.  In some cases, it's been simply 'too far' or 'too expensive' and never more than a sentence, but I'm doing the whole job conscientiously.  All this for nine lectures (I've already booked one).  In addition to typing the notes, I'm jotting down on paper the ones I think are definites and highlighting in red the typed ones I think I may look at again for my long list.

I'm really late with all this, I should have speakers booked up to Christmas (September to December) and only have the first one, as yet.  So, now I've started, I have to crack on.  I thought I might manage a final hour tonight, but it's nearly half past nine and, well, no.  I can manage another in the morning, maybe two.    It doesn't seem fair, not to watch everyone - there are more than 250 videos altogether.

So, that's what I've mostly been doing today.  I've got two computer monitors in front of me, so that I can watch the videos on one and look up the details of each speaker and make notes about them on the other.  With a pad of paper next to me, of course.  I'll finish watching on Wednesday and then get going with the choices.  It's no wonder I never watch television.

15, 16, maids in the kitchen

 Let's start with the kitchen - or rather, two days earlier.  I'd asked my children to come over without their families, not to leave anyone out but to minimise distraction.  We talked a bit and then the conversation turned to my future.  I'm 71 and I want to stay here until 2028, as that's the 100th anniversary of the Sage's parents buying this house.  After that, perhaps I should finally downsize?  Thing is, if I'm going to, I need to start preparing as there will be a lot to do and, unless there's a dire emergency, it can't be done in a year or so.

I've got a couple of friends now and I've always had friends, for years, whose families have recommended that they should move out, buy something smaller and more sensible and then they can enjoy their remaining years and they won't be a worry to those who love them.  But the families don't ever think it through.  If you've lived in the same house for decades, there's a lot of Stuff to consider.  It's daunting.  So is finding somewhere smaller, if you aren't ready for a retirement complex.  A nice 3 bedroom house with a manageable garden, room for your good (but unsaleable) Victorian furniture, the stairs not too steep, the garden just big enough - that's what the couples moving up from their starter homes want too, less the Victorian furniture.  So it's expensive, with selling your house that needs redecorating, getting house clearance people in because, though it breaks your heart, thousands of books and a good, solid table and chairs that no one wants and you won't have room for, the cost of moving, the stamp duty and so on - "just move' isn't helpful.

To my surprise, though I hadn't expected anyone except possibly Al to say that, I didn't really expect "don't move.'  But what when I die, I asked?  It'll be hell for you to sort out.  It was made fairly clear that their stress about me moving would be greater.  I can put in a lift, buy in help, get contractors to do the garden when Wince retires.  Not that any of this is imminent.  Oh, okay.  And, they all said, start with a new kitchen.

My kitchen has needed an upgrade for a long time.  But I couldn't face the disruption.  However, my children have spoken, so I have listened and acted.  There's an awful lot to do, I am not sure if I'm even capable of blogging the process.  But I've made a start and have got a handle on the basic design (I'm changing a lot.  Not the Aga but almost everything else is relocated or vastly altered).  I hope to have it done by November.

Z, always appreciating an oxymoron, is rigorously lazy

 Of course, mentioning the various things I want to write updates on, this is about none of them.

It's half past eight on Friday evening and I'm sitting in bed with my laptop, a cup of tea and a glass of iced water.  A couple of years ago, I fainted at the top of the stairs and woke up in the hallway.  Since then, I have been rigorously lazy after a blood donation.  I arrived home, went to give some food to the chickens (I had brought leftovers home from lunch, mostly pastry and bread), told the barn cats it was too early and went indoors.  

The tortoises had been living outside, but it's been so chilly and they'd just buried themselves, so they're having a few days of indoor comfort.  So I gave them a bit more food and then I went indoors and sat myself on the sofa with my feet up.  This was at 3pm and I've not done much, physically, since.  I've caught up on some paperwork, though.  And then Wink cooked my dinner and now, as I said, I'm in bed.  Not sleepy, but I'm not risking anything (I have to go and wash and clean my teeth, though).

While I was lounging, I heard a noise from upstairs.  The cat was on my lap and I couldn't tell what it was but, after a while, I suspected a pigeon down the chimney.  Indeed it was, daft thing.  Unhurt, but trapped.  I drew the curtains across every window but one, which I opened, but the tiny-brained creature flapped all over the room, crashing into ceiling and walls, rather than just following the light.  Eventually, by luck, it swooped out.  Last time, I had to trap it into a corner (a different bird, I presume) and pick it up.  I'm really glad I didn't come up and find it now, or else be woken at daybreak by it.  

This is the first time I've ever brought the laptop to bed.  I did bring my iPad occasionally, after Russell died, to watch a programme, but tv in bed has never been my thing.  Bed used to be for three things, now only for one, ie sleep (we won't count the wakeful hours in the night).  Which reminds me, I looked at the sleep app on my phone today, which takes its data from my watch.  My sleeping time has gone up over the past 23 days, to an average of 5 hours, 54 minutes a night.  From 2 hours 45 minutes over the 5 days before that.  However, looking back over the time I've had my watch, since September, some months I've even averaged 7 hours a night and I think that's pretty good.  

Sorry

 I'm here, still alive and well.  It's just busy at the Zedery.

I will have to write some catch-up posts, there's been a lot happening since I was a proper blogger.  Even today, I have to go out in half an hour for a meeting, followed by a drive to Norwich to meet Rose for lunch, then on to take Wink to a hospital appointment.  By the time I come home, it'll be time to catch up with household stuff and animal stuff, then I'll be tired.  

Being tired in the evenings has absolutely scuppered my ability to do anything much.  It's a nuisance.  I seem to be unable to help it. I'm fine in the day.  I won't get into the way of dozing off in front of the tv, though.  I'm not that old.

So, things to write about include:

Tortoises updates

Kitchen news

Lowestoft china news (this is about buying it, which has happened more than I expected)

Visits to London.

It's fine to nag.  It's about the only thing that spurs me to action.

Now, I must plug the computer in for a bit before taking it to the meeting, because I write the minutes.

Mexico Way 6

My final morning here, I'm being picked up to go to the airport in a couple of hours.  I'm the last wedding guest here, the penultimate 8 people left yesterday.  I've packed and am now down in the lounge by the pool.  It's been a really good visit - the wedding, of course, provided many amazing highlights and the trips I took afterwards have been excellent too.  

Chichén Itzá is, of course, incredible.  I wasn't quite prepared for how vast the pyramid is.  If you're thinking of going there, do take on board that the heat is oppressive and the sun is very strong.  Not somewhere to go if you've got any breathing or heart problems.  The city of Tulum is easier, as it's by the ocean, so there's always a sea breeze.  I'll try to write more about the excursions when I'm home and can more easily upload photos.  

I haven't sorted out the other blog yet, I guess I shouldn't have expected to be bothered while I'm on holiday.  Once I've done it, I'll update it with what I've written here - but I'll also talk to Ronan about possibly exporting everything from the past few years to this site, as it's been on my mind for a while, long before the problems.  As it's a paid-for site, everything will be lost completely if the annual fee isn't paid for any reason and it seems a pity.  But that's for another time.

Although everything is very good at this hotel, I'm confirmed in my view that a sunbathing poolside holiday isn't for me in usual circumstances, after a few days.  There's a lot to be said for an all-inclusive holiday if you have children with you and need to know your budget, of course, but I'm very glad I booked the excursions once I was here by myself.  I've had enough of swimming pools and bathing in general and I've even eased off on the alcohol - a waiter coming to offer another drink every half hour is very nice, but I don't need it.  

I also wonder what happens to the leftover food?  The staff are amazing, very good quality food of all varieties - of course, in the restaurants it's cooked to order, but there are a couple of well-packed buffets too and there must be a lot left.  

I was pleased to see an agouti yesterday evening, on my way to dinner.  It was quite small, but I don't know how large they grow.  I'm envious of Charlotte, who saw a humming bird one day, I must walk round where there are trees in flower to see if I can spot one too.  When out and about, I've seen a few dogs but only one cat, which is surprising.  Maybe they sleep in the day and come out at night.  

Miriam and Zach set up a WhatsApp group for all the guests and it's agreed that it'll be kept - a lot if friendships were made and honestly, the warmth and fun of all this will stay with me forever.  Everyone was so lovely!  I've acquired an extra family myself - I'm not related to Miriam at all though, as I've said, our family friendships have gone down the generations for around 120 years.  But having now befriended the Scottish branch, we've arranged to meet over the summer - quite possibly both at home and in Scotland, if I can manage to get up there - and I feel like an extra granny to Kit and her brothers.  Also, Katie is quite interested in the tortoises, but was going to leave it until she got home before broaching the subject with her partner and son.  So we'll see.  I'll send her more information and some pictures.  It won't be until the summer, anyway.  

My flight leaves mid-afternoon and I'm due at Gatwick around 8.30 tomorrow morning, British time (which is 6 hours ahead of Mexico, thanks to Summer Time kicking in last Sunday).  Then I have to drive home, picking up some china for the auction on the way.  See you on the other side, darlings.