She lifted me from a negative state of mind to a more positive one, just by being herself and being with me.
We had a lovely walk, coffee and snacks then headed for lunch.
It was quite a busy place. Mandy bought food and I bought drinks.
I’ve been struggling with a lot of things but Mandy helped me to feel confident that I can get through to the other side, or at least keep going, even if the other side is a bit of a way off.
We’ve known each for a long time, Mandy and me, from when we first worked together,, about 40 years ago. I wanted her to be my friend then and am so glad she is now.
Lydia and I had an early walk, so that I could catch the train to meet Mandy. I think she’s had a good day too, and now it’s time for her tea.
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.
Lydia and I had one of our weekend walks this morning, on a quiet track. It was cold, so I wore a hat. I’d inadvertently shrunk my knitted winter hat in a too-hot wash a couple of weeks back, but I found another in the cupboard to keep my head warm. My cold is on its way out but I still need to keep myself ‘well wrapped up’, as our Mum used to say.
Lydia kept stopping and looking out over the fields at something I couldn’t see, or maybe it wasn’t something she saw either but sensed. Anyway, we had an easy walk which I needed, then back to a warm house – breakfast for both of us and another cup of tea for me.
Strong tea and freshly brewed coffee are daily pleasures for me, but I’m cutting out coffee at the moment, and only drinking tea in the morning. This is to help me establish a better sleep pattern again.
I did a bit of kitchen tidying and cleaning, loading and unloading the dishwasher and mopping the floor, before going back to bed for more rest. I have been very sensible in looking after myself while I’ve had this virus working its way through my body, and I do think that is a strategy that is paying off. It can be a bit frustrating, resting, but I know I need to do it at the moment.
Later it was Trev’s turn to take ‘stuff’ to the tip, which is actually a recycling centre, and very well organised for different types of waste, including a ‘waste to energy recovery’ skip for anything that doesn’t fit the recycling categories, such as wood, metal and so on.
I think we’re only a few tip trips short of a good clear-out now. I have a charity shop run planned tomorrow, and then I’ll buy a pot of paint, to start doing some internal work that needs doing.
Glad About 
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