Seal of approval

He came in with a small fishing boat, moving silently through the water. Seemingly well used to being fed tit-bits from daytrippers, he was unperturbed by the human activity and dogs barking on shore. At one point, a lone diver appeared from nowhere, bobbing peacefully with the small waves, pushed in by the tide around the quay wall. The seal paid him no mind, as if he were just another sea creature. Underneath us as we peered into the sandy shallows, his speckled body shimmied easily through the water. Placid and graceful he came and went. Sometimes, nearing the barking dogs on the moss covered rocks, and hanging idly about in the water, he seemed to be engaging in a staring contest with them. He was in his own world, patiently waiting for some tasty fish treats. Dipping below the water's surface, he would disappear from sight only to reappear close by, his long snout breaking the water with a series of small ripples. His long whiskers gave him an air of wisdom and his chocolate eyes seemed knowing, and sad.

(from an outing to the sea, Sunday 13th July, feeling better.)

Hello

Just wanted to pop in and say hello to you all! I am doing a little better friends, and thank you for the lovely comments and kind and encouraging things you have said. Weather here is a right old mixed bag, sunshine and marshmallow clouds one minute, monsoon conditions the next. Still, the garden is happy! Everything is growing wild and lush. Today I discovered a wild pink rose bush trailing itself through the hedge in our front garden, a small strand of which I have plucked and popped into a wineglass and which now is prettying up the living room. I watched an old video favourite yesterday "Out of Africa". Oh my, oh my, I cried a monsoon of tears! Also keeping me company, the beautifully written "Dreams from my Father" by Barack Obama: insightful, fascinating, at times poetic, admirably honest and sparkling with radiant intelligence and integrity - I highly recommend it! For now, farewell everyone, I'll pop in again soon. Wishing you all a wonderfully relaxing weekend. Love, AKR. 

Everybody hurts, sometimes....

Reluctant as I am (in the extreme) to bring a little black rain cloud to my corner of blogland, I fear I must. I have to report a return to ill health and more medical appointments and pills and potions than I am really comfortable with. I hate reading back over the above and am not sure I will post this but I can foresee an enforced period (hopefully not too long) of 'patchy' blogging and it is really with this in mind that I felt I should just be upfront and say what's what, so that you all will not be left wondering what has become of me in the days/weeks ahead. I am feeling so utterly down and depressed and frustrated to be going back into a state of un-wellness but am seeing the consultant again on Monday and hoping for help and, if not resolution, answers and a new plan, as I have worsened over the weekend since first seeing him last Thursday. Oh friends, it is with such a heavy heart and with such dismay and tear streaked cheeks that I write to you tonight. With apologies for such a miserable little post and for any slowness in replies to comments in the coming weeks...your own true blogging pal, AKR.