I managed to wiggle a mention on national radio. I asked Ryan Tubridy (Virgin Radio) for a book suggestion. I need a book to make me laugh for my book club but I want it in the crime genre. Luckily, he came up with the author Bella Mackie and I have both of his suggestions on my shelf. ‘How to Kill My Family’ has already been devoured – it is more of a reference book for me – but ‘What a Way to Go’ is on my TBR list. That’s it then. I have until the 29th January to devour it.
It being a Wednesday, it was Book Club at the gym this evening. What a wonderful discussion we had about ‘Whale Fall’ by Elizabeth O’Connor. I hadn’t intended on being there and it hadn’t grabbed me, so, I had chosen not to read this one. At the last minute, I decided to go (I needed the swim afterwards for me ‘elf) and I was so glad I did. There was a great turn out and enough folks who had read it for the rest of us to get a flavour. I still don’t think it is for me but we had a wonderful discussion about living in isolated communities like the island on which this was set or indeed in the village that I still reside in.
The discussion in the sauna (after my outside swim) was equally stimulating – not. It was at the level of”:
“That Joe Biden is just trying to get a ceasefire in Palestine before he goes Bro.”
“Who’s Biden Bro?”
This question was not answered by the collective, but apparently “you got to keep up on politics like Bro.”
I should say, I quote word for word here and I know ‘Palestine, Gaza, The West Bank’ are all used by various commentators so ‘don’t beat up on me Bro!” for the wrong term. It wasn’t my discussion, I was just eavesdropping.
Earlier in the day, as a favour for a mate (Bro), on a voluntary basis and as I reclined on my sofa being fed grapes by my long suffering Border Terrier, I was reading through a portfolio for someone trying to get a teaching qualification. Please take me out and impale me on an orb spike in a lake (see ‘What a Way to Go’ referenced above) if I ever agree to do something like this again. This exercise is showing me why I am listening to the conversations like the one in the sauna recounted above. Sadly, I think this person will pass and become a teacher, even though they can’t give an answer without endless trypos! And they wonder why I am ill! The Stress – Bro. Good teachers out there – you have to rise up against the machine for the sake of humanity.
Oh my, I am becoming Grumpy, although not so much when I am swimming now (keep up and read back diary entries). It explains why I jump for joy (in my head, as my joints can’t actually take leaving or returning to the ground) when a copy of ‘The Oldie’ magazine lands in my letter box – well flower garden underneath the letter box. It is clearly too much trouble to actually push the mail all the way in! I am, at last, becoming not only a Nobody but a Grumpy Old Nobody. My life’s work is done. No, perhaps not. I need to become more relaxed about ‘Idling’. I will be complete when I am a ‘Grumpy Old Idle Nobody’. Now, where is my latest copy of The Idler?
Just a quick note to say, my Health Care Providers (and I use that term loosely) were hunting me down for my weight today. Not sure why, as no one has been interested for the past five years or more. Call me suspicious, but I am thinking more drugs to upset my system are about to be suggested – by text of course. My GP’s only seem to communicate this way. I am increasingly sure Robbie the Robot is in charge at the surgery.