The week that almost wasn't

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(Edited)

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I began the week in the afterglow of having been very spoilt for my first birthday on my own. I had worked hard on not making a fuss - or letting anyone else - make a fuss - for that matter.

I did not succeed. The impromptu celebrations stretched over nearly four days three evenings and last Sunday.

You are not going to make marmalade on Sunday. You are going to have a day off.

Then, I'm sure some more conspiring ensued because on the actual birthday, I was invited to join folk for a braai. Let's just say that at 61, let alone 21, I don't recommend one's birthday supper consist of chocolate cake and Tequila (with the odd glass of wine for good measure). However, that's what it was, and when I got home - not late, let alone legless - because I had kitchen day and market prep, the next day - I poured myself into bed and slept like the dead.

After kitchen day (during which I made Sunday's scheduled marmalade), I joined a friend and client for dinner. Afterwards, I popped into the local for a nightcap and although I wasn't late because - again - Friday's a school night ahead of getting up early to bake bread and finish off the market prep, I was later than usual.

Saturday was hot and long; Sunday was lovely - cooler and lots of fun.

Let's just say that on Monday I took to my desk with not just gratitude for a fun weekend and the work, but for a rest!!

Mondays are Mondays

For some reasons, Mondays are, well, Mondays. Ask most people. No matter how I try to pre-empt and organise my life so that they aren't Mondays, they just are. From having no meetings, I ended up having three. For an emergency and urgent job that it took two days to discover, was neither. The final meeting on Monday, ended after 7pm.

At that point, all I wanted was a face-to-face conversation with a human, so I headed out, had a chat and headed home in the howling wind.

The wind blew for the next day - a gale.

Wednesday woe

Then, on Wednesday, as I was organising my life - around 8am - I get this message:

The south easterly wind yesterday afternoon has tilted your poplar tree (closest to your garage) rather precariously in the direction of our house. I fear that another strong wind may topple it over which would cause extensive damage to the fence and possibly also my house.

Could you please attend to this as a matter of urgency.

My heart sank and my stomach knotted. Let's say that my neighbours are litigious worrywarts.

I went to look. I could see that there was potentially a problem branch. Perhaps two. Not the entire effing tree.

I wanted a second opinion so I messaged farmer T and asked if he'd take a look. He did, but as he was in a rush, didn't come in. So, after work, I headed out to see him and his wife H at the other local (their side hustle and my other safe space) to get his verdict.

Diagnosis

T's diagnosis was much like mine but I still wanted him to do a site inspection. Fortunately, my gardener would be in the following day, and would potentially deal with the crisis situation. And he did. Now, I have two large branches lying, drying out to become firewood come winter (which is rapidly approaching).

The upshot: placated neighbours. For the moment.

Other minor irritants

I am struggling with suppliers. Firstly, for four of the jars for some of my standard products (six at an informal count) have been out of stock for nearly three months. And I order direct - yes, you guessed it - from the manufacturers. I kid you not. And they supply b-i-i-i-g food processors in addition to people like me for whom it's a side-side hustle.

Secondly, an artisan cheese maker took 5 - yes - five - days to tell me that neither of the two cheeses I usually order, will be available for three weeks.

And none of this is my day job.

Out in public

After an uneventful, very hot kitchen day, this Friday, I headed down the road - as usual. The local, happily for my friend, Pixie, it was pumping. It's been a while. Among the patrons were two locals I don't often see, but whom The Husband and I have known since we arrived in the village. One has expressed condolences and asked after me - relatively often. The other, a swallow, has frequented my market stall since their return in September. And. Said. Nothing. Niks. Nada. About the fact - yes - it's a fact - that since they were last in the village, I have become a widow.

The first:

Is your house still standing?

Ahem. Yes. Of course it is.

Well, what I mean is, umm...with division of labour...

I glazed over and excused myself. Why not ask what he was trying ask - in what he thought was a humorous way - whether I was coping with household maintenance? Not, that I think he'd have offered help...perhaps I'm being ungracious...

Then, in my next attempt to get something to drink, The Other:

Good to see you out in public!

Really? What does he think doing the market is? I only missed one and that was the week The Husband died. Where has he been for the last three - let alone nine - months? I've deliberately gone out [in public]. It was very tempting not to, but I knew that if I didn't go out, there was a very strong chance that I never would.

I had a similar rant three months ago. I continue to be angry at how thoughtless people are. And it's the last comment that makes me really angry: how can someone not even acknowledge that The Husband is dead? Yes, I use the "D" word. Those conversations are hard - and they're still happening. But a throw away remark like that? It's not just rude, it's disrespectful (IMO) of The Husband. That's what makes me angry. The negation of fact and reality. Hard though they both are.

It was a rough week

It was a year ago, this week, that The Husband and I went on what was to be our last holiday together. @lizelle, I shall be forever grateful. The memories have "cropped up" every day: I felt particularly low on Saturday when this photograph popped up.

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It was a happy day, and after a series of tummy bugs, The Husband was feeling - and looking - particularly well. This photo shows it. It was also the last time S & A saw him. That day, S had a funny turn in the heat, and she'll always remember his last words to her:

Take care of yourself...

Little did we know that three months and a day later, he'd no longer be with us, and that we'd never share a toast - to life - it's what we always did - again.

Marmalade

Marmalade is one of my best sellers. Cooking is not just a love language for me, I've discovered that it's almost a meditation: I can "do" and "muse" at the same time. Today, I had another marmalade on my cooking menu. A batch of lemonchilli (a successful experiment in which The Husband was instrumental) was today's meditation. It's done, and although not set (yet), it does mean that I accomplished - and successfully finished - at least one thing this week.

Tomorrow's Monday, a new week and another new beginning.

Until next time
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa


Photo: Selma
Post script

If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:

  • re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
  • and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised applications.
  • From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.


Original artwork: @artywink
  • lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.


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28 comments
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Time passes quickly, making a weekly summary of our days is a good mental exercise, especially for me who can no longer remember what I did yesterday.

Most of the neighbors are annoying, some of them are a real pain in the ass.

Bad intentions and hurtful comments, knowing how to handle them is to have emotional intelligence.

Beautiful memories of a year ago. @fionasfavourites 🥹🥺🤗

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(Edited)

Ag nee Fiona, I forgot your birthday!
Why am I crying now?
Seeing that happy photo, seeing your Tom looking so alive!!! and then it all changed.
Just sucks!

how can someone not even acknowledge that The Husband is dead?

That happens to me as well, and makes me so angry, and then they make a stupid remark like that!

I just walk away and find someone else to speak to.
Stupid brainless people!

But, I am glad you have such good friends in McGregor, and that you had a good birthday and day of celebration.
A day that a very special little baby called Fiona was born, and brought so much to the world, and that you still continue to make the world around you a better place.
My wishes is that you find peace and comfort in your heart, and remember the good memories, they will be with you forever❤❤❤

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Ag, Lizelle - that was the plan - to forget my birthday!

That happens to me as well, and makes me so angry

I am glad - if you know what I mean - that it's not just me. I get it that folk don't know how to deal with it. I've never been one for euphemisms and in the last 10 or so months, I've become more direct than I've been in my whole life. That's a mixed blessing.

a very special little baby called Fiona was born, and brought so much to the world, and that you still continue to make the world around you a better place.

Now you've made me cry.

My wishes is that you find peace and comfort in your heart, and remember the good memories, they will be with you forever

And this is my wish for you. I am beginning to find some balance and part of that is thanks to the posse of people I have surrounding me - in McGregor and beyond. I could not be more grateful.

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I'm starting to do things around the house again, stuff Arthur wanted to sort out, but did not have the energy to do. I now realize just how long he wasn't well, he always blamed it on his glucose levels!

Bongikosi has been an absolute star, Cynthia as well, and of course friends and family. I don't know how people deal with a loss like this without a support system.

I also am truly thankful for having angels around me!

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A happy belated birthday to a very precious soul. We are happy that you had so many celebrations and support. Nowadays people don't care or listen anymore, you have to forgive them for saying stupid things. Their focus is just on themselves and how important they are without thinking of others. But at least you made it through your first birthday alone and we hope that you will have many more birthdays milady.

!PIZZA and !LUV

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Thank you for your kind wishes, Zac!

you have to forgive them for saying stupid things

Ag, ja. They don't understand. I get that. However, it was good to have a rant and get it off my chest!

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That jam looks great and must be delicious. Happy birthday, as we say here late but we sure give you many congratulations. And remember that we can't forget our birthday and go on living. Grief is always carried in the heart. Your friends were great to be by your side. Thanks for sharing. Here comes a new week, successes. 🥰🤗

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You are very kind. It was just this year that I wanted to "give it a miss". The firsts are really hard.

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First of all happy belated birthday Fiona. Time flies and what a wonderful picture of you and Tom. Oh how life can kick us in the proverbial arse.

People can be arses the world over. Those neighbours of yours, oh dear me.

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Thank you, Ed. Life can be a bit of a b*tch. Working on dealing with that. And the less said about the neighbours, the better. Commiserations much appreciated! 😀

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Birthday, belated wishes, good you let your hair down a wee bit!

Big trees and neighbours of late, yup mine 'asked' permission to cut level with the wall having a guy swinging a chainsaw standing next to her, waiting ready to get 'stuck in'. Well good fences make good neighbours, my curt retort, law allows you to cut flush to the barrier, go ahead! Light pruning for the large tree not a problem leaves still blow on the wind 🙃 everywhere.

Stocking up for weekly market is time consuming, also an outlet to chat to folks regularly, it's a wonderful way of being part of small village life. Rewarding when you cash in on a good day, knowing finance is coming in.

Weeks come and go, treasured memories linger forever !LUV

!LADY

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Thanks, Joan.

And in this instance, I'd have welcomed the neighbours actually doing the job - as is their right. Instead they whinged to me. Anyway, it's done. Until next time.

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Perhaps a case they don't understand property rights, or act ignorant not wishing to pay for the work to be done, one never knows of late, people are not forthcoming as they once were.

Well have yourself a great weekend, may Saturday morning market be fruitful!

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Perhaps a case they don't understand

Trust me, they do. They choose, in this instance, not to. We'll leave it right there.

Good weekend to you, too!

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😅know the feeling, best not become exasperated.

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Fiona!!! Happy belated birthday. I'm glad that even though it was your first birthday without Tom, the people close to you managed to make it a fun day.

It's a relief that your tree is still standing and you only had to get rid of a couple of branches.

And about people and the comments or lack thereof. I don't think it will ever cease to amaze me how tactless some people can be.

You all looked so happy in that pic. Life is so unpredictable, but what can I tell you about it. Big hugs😘

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