February 20th...."Are you sitting comfortably...then I'll begin.'

These words came to mind this week as I lay in my tube waiting to be zapped. This is how the BBC radio storytime, 'Listen with Mother' programme used to start when I was little. It came just before 'Women's Hour and it was probably the highlight of my day [I can't really remember] before we had TV ....  'God I'm that old!' Well actually the radiation technician says, "Are you comfortable.... we'll begin. "It's a good thing to get comfy as I have to stay perfectly and completely still once she has said that. Actually the whole process only takes minutes but you can be sure that that's exactly when you get a frantic itch on your big toe or the end of your nose! It's deceptive really as nothing much appears to be happening, but in a few days no doubt my skin will tell me it is.

So this week I am falling into another new routine. Breakfast, lunch and supper made for me at rigid hours and eaten with mostly older and frailer people. And yes..... the jigsaws and craft sales and bingo and hockey on huge TVs [ for the men] are there......  but I'm not sitting there very much in the common area. So far I've been to an art galllery, joined the local library, played tennis in glorious Beacon Park, walked and walked, found a Spanish conversation partner, watched the ferries come and go, looked for blossoms and explored the graceful neighbourhood full of Victorian era houses. All this has been around my one appointment every day and I'm doing as many things as I can now as I know in a couple of weeks I won't be feeling up to it.

Victoria in spring is a treat and this week the warmth and sunshine has lured me into a perhaps false sense that winter's gone. Again I'm concentrating on myself but there is a sense of proportion when you see so many others worse off. There is still a lot of fun and laughter and already I can see that those who carry anger or negativity aren't the ones I need to be around. There is talk of special clothing?... creams and salves and bras amongst the women and I'm sure other things amongst the men! The Lodge is a wonderful place ...a home as much as it possibly can be. It seems to run perfectly with almost anything you can think of having already been thought of! I'm sure I'll be just fine here.

The photo is of my new home from home.

Comments

[jenny]

What a big house you have!!Speaking of houses, I have exchanged contracts on dad's place and complete on Tuesday so that will be a change. Glad to hear you have embarked on the next leg of your journey!Love as always jx

[Brigid Watson]

Hi Liz - just been speaking to you on Skype, SO great to see you looking so well and exactly as I remember you - brilliant!
Thinking of you as you continue on 'your journey'. Much love, Biddy xx

[coach factory store]

was struck by the dismissive way that you and your guests treated the subject of under the topical aegis of "citizenship." You and I boasdfth know that citizenship is not the question; the question is: "Does Obama qualify under the provisions of Article II Section 1?”