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Post by oh oooh on May 6, 2024 10:09:42 GMT
the absolute highlight of the trip so far is that NORMA - the most jaw-droppingly desolate shop - is still standing in the middle of the Haje suburbs where I used to live
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rayge
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Post by rayge on May 6, 2024 11:15:42 GMT
A guy I knew called Terry Pizzey, who was born just before World War I, had a saying about feeling low - 'I could slide under a snake's belly with a top hat on.' That's me, right now. I've been living with major stress for years now, at least since I moved to Taunton in 2019, and then Covid hit. I can't go into why here without talking about things that I've been asked not to share.
To top this off, four weeks ago I ruptured the Achilles tendon in my left leg while doing something as quotidian and unremarkable as crossing the street at walking pace. It's not particularly painful any more, just uncomfortable, but it's not healing, and I'm increasingly having to get used to the idea that I'm going to be lame, to some extent, for the rest of my life. OK, I'm 75 years old, so 'rest of my life' isn't as dramatic as it might be, and many of my contemporaries are having to deal with far worse existential assaults on their well-being – the death of a child, cancers, shattered hips, ruined respiratory systems, early onset dementia, multiple sclerosis - but I've had a charmed life healthwise and to some subconscious extent have thought of myself as indestructible. My whole self image as a healthy person is caught up in my physical fitness, my ability to get out and about in the world (away from people, I'm not talking about socialising), in nature, being an animal rejoicing in animal things, the feeling of being alive and in my body, senses prickling. Walking is in my soul: I often refer to myself as a confirmed pedestrian. Various old people I've known through the last 70 years have had their health collapse after a physical injury, a cascade of malfunctions in other parts of the system that have led eventually to their death. It's not death I fear, so much as this period of decay and breakdown. And while I've pushed that thought away easily enough in the past, this injury has shoved it in my face. I'm genuinely scared, sometimes find myself weeping uncontrollably for no obvious reason. Just this morning I was reading that it was 70 years ago to the day that Roger Bannister broke the world mile record, and that set me off. I feel so very vulnerable. It's not just my body. Last week, on discogs, I nearly fell victim to a phishing scam, mixed up two orders and sent them to the wrong people, and sent the wrong album by the right artist to another buyer. I keep fucking up in small ways around the house, too, leaving taps on, not turning off the gas stove or the grill after using them (I've been prone to absentmindedness all my life, but not to this extent). I'm not gardening or taking photos either: everything's sliding. Two weeks from today, Em is driving us to France, to stay for a fortnight in an uncomfortable house with no running water, two flights of stairs and no internet access. Well, Em will have her phone, but I find that difficult to use, because of the Raynauds syndrome that started not long after Chip died in 2012: the inflammation and arthritis that come with it every winter have badly affected my sense of touch in my fingers. There are more rabbitholes in this warren of misery, but I've gone down enough for today. This is just to say, really, that I've not posted much recently, won't post much for another fortnight, then, as things stand, going to disappear completely until the end of the first week in June at the earliest. Sorry to moan. Ach, just press post
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Post by oh oooh on May 6, 2024 11:44:42 GMT
I'm sorry to hear this, Ray. I don't want to post anything in the way of advice, really - partly because you're your own best friend when it comes to self-help - but I hope at least you continue to find pleasure in the things that always did just that.
Post when you can, anyway. I think it's fair to say we all love to hear from you.
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Post by osgood on May 6, 2024 12:30:48 GMT
What JC said. Sincerely hope things improve somehow, or at least you manage to deal with all this in the best possible way.
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Post by Charlie O. on May 6, 2024 15:53:52 GMT
To top this off, four weeks ago I ruptured the Achilles tendon in my left leg while doing something as quotidian and unremarkable as crossing the street at walking pace. It's not particularly painful any more, just uncomfortable, but it's not healing, and I'm increasingly having to get used to the idea that I'm going to be lame, to some extent, for the rest of my life. Have you seen a doctor about this, Ray? Even if they can't properly fix it (and I'm not saying they can't - I wouldn't know), they might have some helpful advice on how to better live with it.
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 14:00:15 GMT
Got back a few hours ago. Didn't want to leave Prague.
Just had my first POPEYES. It wasn't very good. Jogged through Manchester, called at WING YIP, and then got on the train to Whitehaven after the aforementioned food stop. This isn't actually my train, as mine was cancelled. This one is so full I don't think anyone else can physically fit inside - all standing room is taken.
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rayge
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Post by rayge on May 7, 2024 14:27:59 GMT
Just had my first POPEYES. It wasn't very good. NOT VEGAN
Seriously, though, John, have you ever had an exceptional or even good fried chicken? Too late for me now of course, since I embraced vegetarianism, but I never did. Isn't this place just a KFC with a different 'secret formula'? Not that I ever in my life ate anything from a KFC.
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Post by Charlie O. on May 7, 2024 18:20:04 GMT
Just had my first POPEYES. It wasn't very good. Isn't this place just a KFC with a different 'secret formula'? More or less. Their stuff tends to be kinda sorta "cajun spicy". Personally I prefer KFC (not that that's as good as it once was). A few years back, Popeye's came out with a "new" chicken sandwich, and people lost their minds - I mean, it was on the news for about a week, people lining up for blocks to get this amazing NEW POPEYE'S CHICKEN SANDWICH, the restaurants unable to meet the demand, etc. Once the fever had inevitably abated, I tried one. It was okay.
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:18:52 GMT
In Prague for the long weekend. Saw some very beautiful Czech glassware at the Museum of Decorative Arts this morning. If I'd known, I'd have requested some photos.
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:21:14 GMT
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:23:22 GMT
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:24:24 GMT
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:24:39 GMT
(last three not mine)
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:25:38 GMT
Isn't this place just a KFC with a different 'secret formula'? More or less. Their stuff tends to be kinda sorta "cajun spicy". Personally I prefer KFC (not that that's as good as it once was). A few years back, Popeye's came out with a "new" chicken sandwich, and people lost their minds - I mean, it was on the news for about a week, people lining up for blocks to get this amazing NEW POPEYE'S CHICKEN SANDWICH, the restaurants unable to meet the demand, etc. Once the fever had inevitably abated, I tried one. It was okay. The dill pickle slices were overpowering. It really spoiled the sandwich.
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Post by oh oooh on May 7, 2024 22:27:08 GMT
the absolute highlight of the trip so far is that NORMA - the most jaw-droppingly desolate shop - is still standing in the middle of the Haje suburbs where I used to live
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