Saturday 21 September 2013

This poem is tired...


I am sorry that I have been away.

I was so tired.

Not depressed, stressed or ill...

 just plain, old fashioned tired.

Not the sort of tired that needs a good nights sleep.

Not the sort of tired that needs a holiday in the sunshine.

This was run-out-of-steam, hit-the-buffers tired.

I knew what the problem was,

I knew what needed to be done,

and I have done those things

although it has taken a while.

Now I will pick up where I left off.

There are things to tell you

so let's get busy.

*****

Thank you, my friends,
for your gentle and concerned emails.
Every one of them meant
a great deal to me.

*****
Credit to Murray Lachlan Young
for the title of this post
from his brilliant performance poem
on Radio 6 this morning (9.06)

54 comments:

  1. Hooray! welcome back, and I am so glad you are doing what needs to be done to take care of yourself. I enjoy your observations and photos so much, but not at the cost of stressing out over stewed tea. I promised myself that when you returned I would no longer lurk in silence but finally say hello and great job. - Laura from Virginia

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    1. Hello right back Laura! Welcome to the comment crew and thank you for your message. You are right - life is too short to drink cold tea.

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  2. So nice to see a post from you in my reader, Alice! Glad you knew what you needed to do for yourself - and did it.

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    1. Dear Quinn - you have been reading for such a long time. Thank you for being so patient.

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  3. It's lovely to have you back and I'm very pleased that you took the time to recharge your batteries.

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  4. Welcome back, you have been sorely missed - however, remember that your well-being is the priority. Hope you are now drinking the tea whilst it is still hot!

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    1. I am - thank you! - and I have a very cute new mug which is just the right size for a perfect cup of tea.

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  5. Lovely to hear from you again x

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  6. Oh I was worried about you, but you are ok and I am very relieved. It has surprised me how much I have missed your blog. Your way with words and thoughts really cheer me up, sometimes make me laugh out loud and are always a welcome addition to my inbox. I love the cat picture, says it all really Welcome back Alice xx Ali whale

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    1. Hello Ali - thank you for your kind words andlet me introduce the visiting cat who was delighted with our new garden furniture.

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  7. so glad to hear that you are in a better place now after taking time out for just you. Lovely to see a different picture float into view this morning and read your blog once again!!! xx

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    1. Hello and thank you. It has been a busy few weeks but that means there is lots to talk about and lovely new photos to share.

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  8. Hope the steam levels are refilling and the buffers are sliding out of view... Curling up beside the moggy cat sounds like a lovely thing to do, lovely to see you back, Jen x

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    1. The buffers are sliding out of view but I have beautiful flowers to look at instead...mmmmm...might post a photo...

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  9. Hope you're recharged now. I was thinking of your gentle advice about not trying to do everything this week when we were all rushing to get to yet another after school activity. We are scaling back before we burn out too.

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    1. If there is ONE thing I have learned in my adult life it is : Do Not Try To Do Everything AT THE SAME TIME.

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  10. Well it was about time to come back, you are very missed.
    I don't think I even wrote you an email but I have been thinkign of you and wondering what you were. I guess I knew you needed a rest? Who knows, sometimes weird feelings talk to peopel and I felt everything was OK albeit the lack of posts. But I am OH SO HAPPY to have you back!

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    1. Dearest Paola - please believe me when I tell you that I have thought of you often over the last few weeks so perhaps that is why you knew you didn't need to write. And now I am back!

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  11. So good to have you back.

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  12. I know just how you feel - wonder what you have done to feel uplifted again do pass it on.

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    1. You would be surprised how effective a cure a week of Italian ice cream can be!

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  13. There you are! It is so good to see you back here Alice, be very gentle with yourself.

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    1. Dear Toffeeapple - thank you! I will be careful but in return I want to hear about your holiday in Cornwall. Deal?

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  14. well, hello there - I was just beginning to wonder...

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    1. Don't be angry - I needed some time to plan my fall wardrobe.

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    1. Yes - and I have a lot of people who I owe emails to. Better make a list.

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  16. Really, really, really glad you are back. I love your way with words - your blog is a comfort!!

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  17. Its good to have you back, Mrs M. I have missed your way with words and images. I have also been a silent lurker but I would just like to tell you that you inspired me to write my own blog and it is so much fun!

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    1. Hello and welcome to Blogland. I hope that you enjoy writing your blog as much as I have done but more importantly I hope that you meet wonderful friends as I have done.

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  18. I thought you might not want to have to explain your absence and so kept a quiet eye open for your return. How strange that I should look today.

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    1. Hello Lucille - I hope that you appreciate this photo of the visiting cat. As you can see she takes full advantage of the facilities.

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  19. Hehe, love the kitty. So glad you are rested, we all get tired from time to time! Enjoy your posts, but not at the expense of your well being - post at your own pace.

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    1. Hello Leslie - this is the visiting cat who we enjoy very much. She doesn't ask for much - just the chance to stretch out on our comfortable garden furniture while we sit on the hard chairs.

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  20. Like Lucille I have been keeping a quiet watch, not wishing to intrude with messages of concern, hoping there was nothing to be concerned about, and waiting for your return. So glad you're back :)

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    1. Hello Annie - thank you! I think that you might be interested in my post tomorrow - it was all terrifyingly authentic.

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  21. hello there. missed you. I saw some gorgeous blue and white plates recently and thought of you.

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    1. Hello right back at you but you really shouldn't have mentioned the plates - I can feel myself being sucked into the Tunnel of the Wanties.

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  22. So glad to have you back.

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    1. Thank you Henrietta - it is good to be back - there are photos to share and friends to catch up with.

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  23. So glad to see you back. Hope you had a wonderful time. :-)

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    1. Lots of ice cream and a new handbag. Is there anything else you need to know?

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  24. hello... thank you for so many smiles and laughs...
    I kept peeking at my blog list and was worried for you when the white teapot kept appearing... lovely to have you back and rested
    cheers from Deby (in Canada)

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    1. Hello Deby - welcome to the Comment Crew! I think I might have discovered a new therapy - Italian ice cream - perhaps I should patent it.

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  25. Very glad you're back. Now DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

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  26. yay ... you're back. I've missed your updates. Do hope your batteries are feeling recharged :-)

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    1. It turns out that I need ice cream and chianti to operate at full capacity but I think I have had enough of both to keep me going through the winter.

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  27. Ite so admire and appreciate your intelligence and outlook on life. I have been reading your blog for a couple of years but assumed you would just keep writing for my personal amusement. Thought I would tell you how much I missed your musings and how refreshing your words are as some kind of insurance against you ever leaving us to our own boring lives ever again...

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  28. What a lovely comment - thank you! And I do write for your personal amusement - each of the posts is designed for you to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

    Except the ones about ironing which are my cry of pain to the universe.

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Thank you! I love reading your comments and even though I don't always have time to reply I am really grateful to every one who joins in the conversation.