Tag: rest

Day 24

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Writing 2026

We had a slightly longer walk again, Lydia and I, and a quiet one apart from when a man on a motorized scooter passed by with his dog running ahead of him.

I spotted them in time to be able to take Lydia to a reasonable distance and he made sure that the dog didn’t come our way, which I appreciated.

Lydia did bark and lunge a bit but also sat when I asked her to, which I promptly rewarded.

I’ve had another day of rest with my cold, unable to meet up with friends for lunch and I’ll miss the Buddhist class tonight.

I do think the resting is paying off though, while still not recovered I do feel a bit better.

Day 22

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Writing 2026

It was a short walk for Lydia and me this morning as I have a cold coming on and it is a very grey rainy day here.

Lydia didn’t seem to mind, though she resisted when I tried to put on her raincoat before we left the house. Luckily, the rain held off a bit for a while.

Back to bed now, both of us having had our breakfasts and I’ve had a few cups of tea.

‘Feed a cold and starve the flu’ is a saying I’ve heard. I also think it’s good just to keep warm and drink plenty of fluids which is what I’ve been doing.

Day 21

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Writing 2026

After a short walk this morning- it was grey and raining and I gave Lydia a ‘rub-a-dub-dub’ with a towel before she went back into her crate, in the car – I did some shopping, at Aldi.

It was busy – very busy – but I got a parking space, and did my shopping, dropping it off at the front door when I got home before taking Lydia round the back way as usual.

I now have the beginnings of a casserole on the go, and food in the fridge.

Lydia is fast asleep on the carpet. I’ve been resting too although deep sleep eludes me at the moment. Still, I’ve done what I need to do for now and can relax a bit.

Day 19

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Writing 2026

I took Lydia with me to the Buddhist Centre, having first been for a walk in the morning.

She was fine in her crate in the car while I worked for an hour – sweeping up leaves around the accommodation blocks – and then I took her out to stretch her legs and sniff around. She seemed to like it, and spontaneously sat when a man walked by – not a hint of a bark at all.

I worked for about another hour, took her out for another short walk and then we headed for home.

I felt so much better after my afternoon exertions than before and worked up an appetite for a lovely – and quite spicy – lamb curry this evening.

We’re both quite tired now – ready for a bit of relaxation followed by ‘sleepy time’.

Day 12

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Writing 2026

My afternoon at the Buddhist Centre left me slightly damp – It was raining and I was working outside, doing my usual Friday afternoon job of sweeping up leaves around the accommodation blocks. I do, however, feel invigorated by the fresh air and exercise and most of all by a chance meeting with the Spiritual Director of the Centre, Gen-la Kelsang Kunsang. Her warmth, words of encouragement and kind hugs meant more than I can say.

I was also offered some biscuits with the cup of tea I sat down to when the job was done. The offer – and provision – of these by the Reception Manager at the Centre were much appreciated.

Home to a cup of cocoa and a hot shower, I can now rest. Though still struggling with some aspects of my mental health, I know how fortunate I am to have my physical health, and try not to take it for granted. I also know how lucky I am to be able to put meditation techniques into practise and benefit from the teachings of Buddha, as well as taking my daily dose of anti-depressant medication.

Lydia is having a bit of fresh air outside at the moment, having been in the house all afternoon.

Our walk this morning using the new bridle was easy. This may be a one-off but I’ll take it for now. She doesn’t seem in any way as averse to it as the previous one, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ve finally got a workable solution.

Day 11

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Writing 2026

Last night I went to bed around 6pm. I slept most of the time until around 8am, apart from getting up once to get a drink of water and another time to let Lydia out for a ‘peepie’. I do feel better for having had a good rest.

This morning, after meditating and reciting the Liberating Prayer*, I took Lydia out using the new K9 bridle I’ve bought for her. We did OK with it, and though she did try to take it off a couple of times, she wasn’t able to. So we had quite a good walk.

I used the carpet cleaner to clean the carpet in the bedroom we’ve been sorting and, with the addition of a couple of mats, it’s now done.

I went to a yoga class at 5pm and bought fish and chips for me and Trev on the way home.

Lydia enjoyed her tea as well – cooked chicken, some dried food and a raw chicken wing. I also gave her a dental stick.

After she’d finished that she started licking Trev’s feet for some reason. Rather her than me!!!

*Composed by the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Rinpoche and recited at Kadampa Meditation centres throughout the world.

Day 5

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Writing 2026

I picked Lydia up from the kennels where she’s boarded over the last couple of nights, taking her for a short walk before heading for home and breakfast.

After a rest I headed off to the Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre – that I’ve decided now to call ‘Magic Maka’ Buddhist Centre, as much as anything by virtue of it being there. That in itself is quite a remarkable piece of magic as far I’m concerned.

I did my usual job of sweeping up around the accommodation blocks. It was a bit chilly but I had plenty of layers on and quickly warmed up. The sun came out for a while and I steadily worked away until the job was done. After a mug of decaff tea I drove home.

More resting tonight, a bit of telly, some more of the corn chowder that Trev made for tea yesterday, and an early night are in order. I am keeping in mind the message from the teaching on New Year’s Eve. A calm and peaceful mind is what I am working to develop. I will develop a calm and peaceful mind.

Day 1

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Writing 2026

A Christmas gift

Lydia has not yet fully accepted the Halti collar that I started using with her a few weeks ago, but we’re getting there.

As usual, we work it out between us, even if it takes a while.

There was no yoga or Qigong class today but after doing the woodland walk with Lydia this morning, I got ready to meet up with my friend Judi, who I have known for many years, since she was a friend of my Mum when I was a teenager. 

Now 85, Judi’s resilience and zest for life is an inspiration, and we resolved to meet up more often going forward.

On the way back to the car park I called in at B&M Bargains where I had earlier seen a dog bed that looked perfect for Lydia. Pleased with my purchase I returned home and am now in reflective mood.

My confidence levels have been low over the last few weeks which I know is at least in part because I’m tired. Keeping up a combination of resting, meditating and constructive, focused activity will help. As will tickling Lydia’s tummy. Of course, ‘the tickling of the tummy’ is a constructive, focused activity in itself. In fact I don’t think you can get more constructive and focused than that😊.

Day 23

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Writing again

I wasn’t able to visit my friend M today as I usually do on a Tuesday as I didn’t want to take germs into the care home.

My cold isn’t yet fully developed but still lingering in the background.

I took Lydia out for a reasonable walk and since then have been taking it easy. I did put our Christmas tree up though, and made some roasted red pepper and sweet potato soup for our tea.

I’d boiled the bones and carcass from a chicken we’d had earlier in the week, making stock for the soup and providing some ‘Lydi juice’ for Lydia that she enjoyed after her tea. It had turned to jelly on cooling, so nourishing as well as flavoursome.

Day 20

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Writing again

Lydia has had a good rest this afternoon after a longish walk this morning.

I pushed her a bit, to go a bit further than she wanted to, although it was an easy walk for both of us really.  Just over an hour on flat ground.

I’m tired too, though recognise I still need to push myself a bit as well. I’m tired but still not able to fully relax into the deep sleep that I need.

We had some over-ripe bananas so I made banana cake, with the addition of linseed, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, all-spice and ground ginger.  I used my standard cake recipe – 4oz butter/margarine, 4oz sugar, 4oz flour and 2 eggs, x 3, although I used less sugar to allow for the sweetness of the bananas. I also added some rolled oats. It turned out well. Baked in two loaf tins at 180 degrees centigrade, initially for about 20 minutes, then turned down and baked for a bit longer, until they passed the skewer test, coming out clean so I knew they were done.

As usual, Lydia has been keeping me good company on a quiet rainy day.  

She hasn’t had her tea yet but doesn’t seem in any hurry for it. Neither am I for mine.