perspective

We have had a bit of a stressful time of it lately – having builders in, nice that they were, is always difficult. Next doors scaffolders were really difficult ignoring our request to keep the gate shut (and it is our gate and our garden dammit!), and now the roofers are working. Although the roofers are nice, we have to walk the long way around to visit the animals etc, for fear of having a slate dropped on our heads.. our son has not been able to ride his bike or go cart..

Also the neighbours have submitted a planning application we are not entirely happy with.. feeling obliged to write about some points (you know.. boundaries being built over etc!!), upsetting them, trying to stay friends…

yes. stressful. I’ve been cutting a lot of wood lately. Sawing wood with my bowsaw is therapeutic and the wood pile grows too!

Mostly how I handle stressful times is to try and get some physical exercise (always better for your health ) and to get things into perspective.

It is armistice day today. We observed the two minute silence, then afterwards, as part of home ed, we talked about the personal effect WWI had on our relatives.  I only know about two of my great grandfathers and their time in the war. One was gassed and although survived the war, died as a young man as a consequence. Another, volunteered even though he did not have to, as he only had one lung anyway, due to illness. He died at the Somme, leaving his wife, my great grandmother, and kids in poverty. She made a living all of her life sewing working men’s shirts on a treadle machine in her home.  The two minute silence always makes me dwell on the pointless loss of life, the waste, and the terrible knock on effect. and I think I’m having a difficult week?

But to really get things into perspective, on a much more personal level – my little toddler niece came through her open heart surgery and is doing well. So that makes it a good week.