I've got the whirlies

Not so much of the brain as of the body. Too much to sort out, too much to do. Had cancelled my lesson with S because of  ill health, but Steve and I went to the Trinity rooms for lunch. I like the vibe there. We had parsnip and apple soup and salads. 

This we followed by loading the car for the tip. Do I need to tell you that this is a horrid job, and that our car is smaller then the previous model? We got there, though, and it was a glorious drive over the common and down the W/elbow into Nailsworth, then up to Horsley and beyond. Offloaded and came home. On our return, the neighbour was out mowing his lawn with a black surgical boot on his foot, and wearing some kind of monitor. Poor guy recently had two toes amputated owing to Sepsis. It's real! I cannot imagine mowing our own lawn under such circumstances (or perhaps any). The neighbour next to him is also in a bad way, we'd seen him earlier, walking with a stick and not at all like his usual sweary self. 

Found some rubber car mats that needed cleaning. Relocated many woodlice to a new piece of rotting cardboard in the garden, and scrubbed off the leaf mould. Hung the mats up to dry. None of this was pleasant. At least it wasn't vomit...

Made some applesauce out of an apple that wasn't totally rotten. Steve offered me a lift to town. Sold some books to the second hand dealer (only got 7 pounds) and took the rest to Oxfam. Got TWO HUNDRED POUNDS  out of our old people's group account because our usual transport provider to the concert has gone underground, and I have no idea how much we'll need for another outfit. Bought some books for a friend's course because I want to support our local independent bookstore. I will take them to him in Cheltenham next week. Went to the hairdresser's and discussed an amazing Margaret Atwood book with H, the hairdresser ( Alias Grace, perhaps)?

Met V in a cafe. I had made her an aromatherapy lotion for her neck which is stiff, and I also lent her a book about the Bach flower remedies, and a couple of bottles from my collection. She bought me a hot chocolate. We went on to a bar. I had a half of cider. Then we walked back to her car, and she drove me home. Asked if we could go for a walk tomorrow, after her work. Said yes.

Heated up soup (again) for Steve and I. Ate soup Emptied the dishwasher. Put the new stuff in. Looked at a Waitrose magazine about food for Christmas. Found it vaguely obscene. Gold-dusted Buche de Noel, anyone? 

Went to bed. Read two book catalogues I  picked up earlier. Ordered a few more books from the library, and one that I'd had in my shopping basket at A..... For approximately three years. 

Bed was invaded by cat. I now have to keep my knees permanently bent while lying down. Have noticed that my knees are MUCH better now that I've been taking Hyaluronic Acid Complex for four days. They only ached once today, and that might have been because of a sudden temperature change. Last week they ached all of the time I was walking anywhere. 

I have realized that I play many important roles and am frequently context-switching between them. No wonder I am tired! For relaxation, I read catalogues and chat online to my sisters about festivals, Catholic Saints, and the moral code implicit in Rev E. Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine (cf The Sad Story of Henry).