At the weekend, Caz from Wigan came to visit. We were great friends at Crewe and Alsager College back in the 1990's and haven't seen each other for a very long time. I met her at the train station on Saturday and we spent the day reminiscing and catching up. We visited The Charles Rennie MacIntosh house at 78 Derngate, and after, The Filmhouse which is a lovely little cinema next to The Royal and Derngate, where we watched The 'White Crow', a beautiful and marvellous film about Rudolf Nureyev, focussing on the lead up to his defection in Paris in 1961. The cinema is small with reclining seats and serves proper drinks in proper glasses. The seats were so comfortable that I did feel my eyelids drooping once or twice, although that is no reflection on the film. On Sunday morning, we took Mr C and the dogs to Abington Park for a run around, and then all too soon it was time to head back to the train station. We had a few minutes to spare before the train was due, so Caz went to the loo and I went to Starbucks to get her a coffee for the journey home. I was the only customer, and the barista looked a little confused when I asked if she would write a name on the cup 'for a friend'. When she nodded, I said "can you just write Wigan please".
When Caz came back, I handed her the cup, with the name facing away from her, and off she went to catch her train. I kept giggling to myself, but an hour passed and I heard nothing. Eventually I had to text her to prompt her to check her cup. The reply - 'joker!' I love her...
I am having quite a sociable week. Yesterday I met up for lunch with two friends I used to work with at The Nursery. We have started to arrange a monthly lunch, and it is always a pleasure to catch up with them. On Friday, I am meeting a new friend for the first time. She is the founder of The Fiction Cafe, which is an online book club and writers' group. I am spreading my wings and, and finding that writers are generous people, happy to share their time and experiences and offer advice. I am also learning to embrace Twitter, and during the last week I have acquired more than 200 new followers via #writingcommunity. Writing is a solitary business, but it is reassuring to discover that there is a whole community of people just like me, facing the same challenges and frustrations, who are willing to help and advise and sympathise, and give hope and encouragement to keep going.
My Slimming World group provide the same benefits. Communities of people united by a common goal, all encouraging and offering support and reassurance when it's needed, and consoling when things don't go according to plan. It's thanks to our group that I am no longer obese - just 'unhealthy' now according to the NHS BMI calculator. I am however, in the 'healthy' range for a person of 6'6" and wonder whether maybe I don't need to lose weight, but just grow a few inches taller. I am 4 stone lighter than I was in August 2018. Whether it's the support of friends and family, or virtual or actual communities, life is much happier and dreams are more achievable with the right people around me.
Sadly L does not always fall into this category and this week has observed that I am developing old lady neck skin. She has also expressed concern that wrinkled or loose skin will be more exposed as the weather warms up and the old lady sundresses are brought out of the wardrobe. I have promised that if I wear a bikini, it will be one big enough to tuck any loose skin out of sight. She is going to research plastic surgery and botox for me. There's no danger of me ever becoming bigheaded about how I look with her around.
The Couch To 5K is going quite well, and I have just completed week 2 of the programme. This was 5 minutes walking, (90 seconds running, 2 minutes walking) 6 times, and then another 5 minute walk. It is definitely getting harder and I have made the mistake of reading ahead to see what is coming next week. The running to walking ratio increases quite rapidly and I am not sure if I am up to it, but will keep trying. I am thinking that I might have to do it more gradually, but maybe I will surprise myself. I never thought I would last the first week! Mr C is doing well and is much faster than me, even with his old knees. People have started talking to us on our runs, although I have no idea what they are saying as I tend to shut down and concentrate on the music in my headphones until it's all over. Mr C said a man mowing his lawn called 'go on girl, you can do it' to me on Sunday, so God only knows what I must look like. On my last legs???
On Saturday my sister and I are going to the Isle of Man to visit my brother, who moved there in 1983 ish. Four years ago, my sister and I went with T and L to stay with him and my nephew. We caught the train to Liverpool and had a rough ferry crossing to Douglas. It was a long old journey, and I am happy that this time we will be flying from Birmingham. The trip is my 50th birthday present from my sister and I can't wait. We have to catch a very early train (not sure exactly HOW early as she always gives me the wrong time to make sure that I am not late.) Time dyslexia is a curse but people who know me well often use this strategy to guard against my tardiness.
I have been early once or twice in my life, but I didn't enjoy it. I am with EV Lucas who said 'I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.' And also with the unknown author of this gem-
'It's better to be late than to arrive ugly.'
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