I am fully aware that my blog recently has been sparse to say the least. Two weeks since my return home and it is only now that I am beginning to feel settled again. I have lots of books to read and review and also wish to write about those I read in Oz, but seem to have been unable to Get a Grip since I got back and have also had to deal with my post which involved correspondence with the management company who 'manage' my block of flats re costs and expenditure, renewing car insurance, dealing with the Inland Revenue who say they have not received my tax return and they are going to charge me £100 when I have sent my Return in and they owe ME money, and all those other little bits and pieces that can get out of control if you don't keep a regular eye out. I am also wanting to extend the lease on my flat so have had to contact the management company about that as well and am expecting them to come back with a ludicrously high charge for so doing and, in general, I have been feeling a bit frazzled.
My sister has been with me for a few days and we had a lovely day in Cambridge as she wanted to do some shopping, but have to say that in the end I bought more than her and while she ended up with a blouse and a bra, I ended up with a cotton over shirt in jade green, two scarves, bra - ditto and a simply stunning daffodil yellow coat from M&S which caught my eye and which I could not resist. So when I have paid for that and have cleared all my holiday bills, I am broke and as it is the start of the next financial year, will be sitting down and working out a budget in order to enable me to save for my next trip to Australia. As the Inland Revenue owe me money, though that is only in two figures, the previous year one of my pensions was taxed ludicrously high and they think it might be a mistake but they cannot do anything about that until they have received my current tax return which they say, per above, they have not received. And so it goes on.
ENOUGH - moan over.
Went to London again yesterday and all moans and groans just became meaningless when Helen opened the door and said It's Grandma and Florence beamed (showing all eight teeth) and held her arms out to me. Sod the Inland Revenue I thought as I hugged her and she patted my face and nuzzled down into my neck. She is now walking by holding onto furniture but has yet to let go though she did stand on her own for all of two seconds at one stage and then thumped down on top of me, I was lying on the floor at the time and she was climbing over me, and as she crashed down onto my boobs it was a painful landing....
I have lots of lovely books waiting for me to read and review. I went to Felixstowe with my sister on Tuesday and visited the two second hand bookshops they have there and came away with a pile of Evelyn Anthony titles which I am currently re-reading. This is another of the authors I used to love reading in my teens and twenties and they are still excellent. Will be writing about this author soon.
Looking forward to the summer and I intend to spend it at home this year with a trip to the countryside around Tintern Abbey in July with my sister. Last year we went to Hay on Wye and it was good to spend time together and to sit and chat as we have just done this week.
So a lot to look forward to and be grateful for and determined to get Random back on the road, starting tomorrow when I intend to write about a simply wonderful book I read while away. Downloaded for free on my Kindle and such a joy to discover.
Ramble over and cup of tea beckons. Nothing on TV tonight I wish to see but note a performance of Dream of Gerontius is on Radio 3 so may just sit and listen to that wonderful piece.
My thanks to Random Readers for your patience - fear not, the Show will be Back on the Road on 1 April - rather an apt day methinks.
Au reservoir.
