Ah, those best laid plans. I keep going on about house things that need doing this year and needing to save for a Europe trip in 2026.
But life always changes, doesn’t it, even in small ways.
The dog had his teeth cleaned a few weeks ago. The vet has told me a number of times that it’s likely he’d need perhaps a couple of teeth out at some point. He’s an older dude, closing in on 11 1/2. Late last Saturday afternoon (ie, more than a week ago now), I looked at his face and noticed the right side was swollen. Off we went to the emergency vet. She looked, poked a bit, got a second dogter opinion. Yeah, looking like time.
That visit was £xxx. He’s got anti-inflammatories to help him feel better. Then, X-ray and surgery (one tooth out I think but it’s hard to see as he won’t open his mouth wide and the nurse was unclear – he’s got follow up visit this week when I’ll find out definitively). That was an additional £xxx. Home and I slept downstairs with him for several nights. He seems mostly back on even keel. My lower back is going to take some stretching and heat to return to normal.
We joke a lot here about needing a pet NHS (national health service, like we have for humans).
In any case, some stress clearly. I’ve been wearing Guerlain Shalimar EdT which is a different animal vs the parfum (the other Shalimar iteration I own). The extraordinary lemon floor wax note is amped up in this version, making the fragrance less plush and much less unsweet uber vanilla-y but weirdly compelling in a totally different way. Lemon floor wax. I still can’t get over how great that smells in a perfume.
It’s actually sort of astringent, but I think that is the wrong word and not really what I mean. Why it works for a stressful period is beyond me. It’s not comforting. Rather, maybe, it’s so structured without feeling like it’s trying at all hard. My bottle is around 20 years old. Only getting better with age.
So, this all means some fiscal rewiring: X which was supposed to happen in April probably still will, but Y I had planned for June may be pushed out to September.
In between all this are other, lighter plans. And I’m determined to make these happen. I have some sessions booked with a local potter to learn how to throw pots. Not dumping that. Be good for my brain to learn a new physical skill. I wonder what clay smells like? Haven’t been near a potter’s studio on 40 years.
I want to properly learn to speak French. Years of crap school lessons and I can be polite. So, I’m going to make sure that slots in. I’ve been reviewing stuff myself and will do lessons from spring.
The point of this? I’m one of those people who makes plans – the list sits, by month, at the bottom of my budget Excel spreadsheet (years of working freelance mean I need to see incomings and outgoings eight months to a year ahead – and I like the habit so keeping it).
Somehow, it sort of keeps me spry having to change around those lists. Like nothing is ever fixed, all is mutable.
So, are you a planner or more spontaneous? Does this post have you shaking your head in agreement as you read? Did it make you want to run for the proverbial hills?
Pics: Pexels, Wiki
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