ABSTRACT THURSDAY - PATTERNS

We weren’t going to rush to go out this morning as it was drizzling when we got up, but after a while, Mr. HCB said that he thought we could venture out, but that it was much colder today.  We got ourselves kitted up (having made sure we went to “the little room” just before we left - because there are no toilets on our walk) and off we went.  

Having found out that the theme for today’s AT challenge was “patterns”, we were both on the look-out and found several as we walked.  I often think that if people see us they must think we are mad (well me, anyway) for taking photographs on a grey and miserable day - but if they do, they obviously don’t know about Blip!  From the various shots, I chose this feather, that not only has abstract patterns, but also magnified ones, through the water droplets.

As we continued our walk, several people passed us but they were all the requisite two metres away and then a large furniture van stopped and the passenger asked us where Chiseldon was - he was going in completely the wrong way, so Mr. HCB gave him directions and as they drove off, he said “Stay healthy” - obviously the new phrase when leaving someone now.

We walked on and as we passed a bungalow on a side road, near the new estate of Badbury Park, an older lady came to the door with a letter in her hand and asked if we were going anywhere near a post box.  We both did a quick think and realised we didn’t pass one at all on our way home, but she told us not to worry, because she had a good neighbour who would call later.  We had a little chat with her and told her we were in the Three Score and Ten Plus age group, so were just out for some exercise, when she noticed a parcel in her porch - and said that her daughter had left her two jigsaw puzzles.  I asked if she enjoyed doing them and she said she did, so we have promised the next time we are out walking, we will leave her a couple.  I told her our names and she told us hers was Barbara, so I will make sure that I also leave a card with the puzzles and also a little heart.  It was lovely to speak to her and we were well over two metres away, so felt quite safe.  

As we passed the local BP garage, which also has an M & S shop, I decided to approach the window that they obviously use at night to ask whether we could purchase anything through this, without coming into the shop, if we needed to.  The young lady said there was only one person in the shop, but I said the point was that we did not want to have personal communication with anyone, including the assistants, so she asked her Manager who said that would be fine - so there are ways and means of doing things - without going to a huge supermarket, even if they do set aside a time for the older people to go between 7 and 8 in the morning.  

I took the selfie I’ve put in as an extra as we walked through the nearby Holiday Inn - where there were only four cars in the car park - another hotel that is obviously going to suffer from the effects of CV.

I started my online iPhone Photography Course yesterday afternoon and enjoyed learning new things - today I may start watching Downton Abbey from the beginning - we have a room upstairs that is warm and comfortable, so while Mr. HCB does his jigsaw in the conservatory, I can be upstairs - we are both keeping our spirits up! 

Our Church has its first Skype Prayer Meeting tonight, so that should be interesting - we are all having to be more inventive and as long as we can include everyone, maybe our new “normal” will change.  Take care everyone and stay safe.  

“Do not be dismayed 
     by the brokenness of the world. 
All things break,  
     and all things can be mended. 
Not with time, as they say, 
     but with intention. 
So go - love intentionally, 
     extravagantly, 
          unconditionally. 
The broken world waits 
      in darkness 
          for the light that is you.”
L.R. Knost

P.S.  This song came into my mind last night - the words are so true.