The words just keep on moving.

IMG_0856French Sardines

French sardines and my birthday cards

There has been a spell between the last time I wrote down some words in a certain order. The times just keep on going and for every intention to get back to write, something came between the intention and the words. The birthday was a main event but reaching 80 has now passed and it feels the same. I keep a keen alert on moments of forgetfulness or lack of instant recall on names. ย Many people of my age I noticed now are doing crosswords and even cryptograms to remain sharp and alert. In my Bradman Cricket cafรฉ group called Stumps, we help each other out onto remaining alert by recalling movies we might have watched with details of actors’ names, or special events that were shared in times gone by.

We all nod in pleasurable contentment we still know the details of war battles or the Queen’s birthday, the capital of former Rhodesia or what it means to have fallen down a ha ha. When I go through my garden I try remember the names of the different plants that were put in, and at times I do struggle with the instant re-call, but when I let it go, through the sheer magic of my brain, the name will suddenly pop up. So, all is good and still in order.

However, a serious slip-up came to the fore this morning. My usual wake up routine, (as if this is of any importance to you, my dearest and most faithful followers), is to go downstairs and ignite the heating systems, before hopping back into bed to wait for the comfort of a warm and pre-heated wave of air to greet my face. This usually takes about half an hour which is spend, while still in-situ under the blankets, by checking any dire messages or the latest Covid-19 fatalities on my iPhone. It’s not exactly reassuring knowing that those of advanced years are by and large most likely to be locked within the latest fatalities.

So, to keep this short and reverting to the slip-up. As I finally got up, had a shower and got dressed, I noticed after carefully ambling downstairs, that I had left the milk outside the fridge. Can you believe this? I might have told you that instead of sipping Shiraz I now have taken to drinking warm milk with honey. I take one in the morning and one before going to bed. I hope it is not a sign of slipping. Perhaps giving up the Shiraz was not such a good thing. Mind you, I buy the top label of milk named A2, and is twice as expensive as normal milk. It is the best milk money can buy but of course it is not Shiraz. I don’t get a buzz out of this top-milk no matter how much honey is in it. (12%)

Was it a mistake and should I go back to Shiraz?

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24 Responses to “The words just keep on moving.”

  1. freefall852 Says:

    “I often wonder what the vintners buy One half so precious as the stuff they sell.” ……..Omar Khayyam.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. auntyuta Says:

    Yes, have some Shiraz, why not? ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Barbara Says:

    I guess you donโ€™t need to put the Shiraz in the fridge! One less thing to remember ๐Ÿค—

    Liked by 1 person

  4. freefall852 Says:

    Well..tonight’s our once a month BBQ. night…a cupla thick porterhouse inside the house on the old wood-fuel stove with a griller on top, a suave of L.Cohen wafting over the slate and like Helvi..I prefer whites..the good lady has the shiraz, so its a tad of suav-blanc plonk per mai and on we go!

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      L.Cohen is always welcome with or without the porterhouse.
      Helvi gave up alcohol the instant her breast cancer was diagnosed and she read how 10% of breast cancers are due to drink.
      So, I suppose my reason for giving up might have to be seen in that light as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. leggypeggy Says:

    Happy Birthday, have some shiraz!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. freefall852 Says:

    Gerard…I don’t know if it is both good for one’s sanity OR health to go headlong into old age stone-cold sober!

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      Yes, but even at the best of times being cold sober seems out of reach for some of us. Some mornings I am intoxicated with a blue sky and burnished sun, the gentle swaying of the trees opposite my bedroom window and a friendly wave of a passer by.

      Like

  7. Therese Trouserzoff Says:

    Hi Gez. Happy birthday cobber.

    Shiraz is a mistake. I rate it a 9 on acidity and an 8.5 on histamines. After only six or seven glasses I tend to wake up feeling crap.

    Merlot on the other hand is a far kinder drop IMHO. Margaret river ones tend to amuse me – when I fall over I slump more slowly – even with a sense of graceful composure as I make my way down onto the tiles. I leave crosswords down there so I have something to do until the paramedics arrive.

    I cannot abide sudokus. I think that people who find them enthralling have lost control of their lives.

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      Thank you, Trouserzoff.
      I had a nice birthday with friends I managed to get to know over the last 9 months or so.
      I don’t do crosswords, but Helvi did. I have a stack of crosswords books all done by her. She was tenacious and we sometimes used to do them together or I would help her on the occasion I recalled a word or so.
      I’ll try merlot next time. I remember it being softer on the palate.

      Like

  8. Beth Alisan Says:

    Happy 80th Birthday! My father will celebrate 80 this year and he favors cryptograms and sudoku for his morning mental calisthenics. As my 12 year old left the milk out the other day, I vote mistake and will promote sticking with the warm dairy honey mix. Then again I’m a country girl raised on dairy fresh milk and was taught milk does the body a world of wonders.

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      Yes, Beth. Welcome.
      I remember back in the days milk was delivered by the milkman and scooped into a waiting enamelled bucket. We were a 4 litre a day milk drinking family and I used to skim the cream from the top of the bucket in order to try and put on weight.

      I suppose that’s were my fondness of milk derives from. I now buy the best milk I can get. I mix it with a good spoonful of native honey. It is nice.

      I still haven’t put on weight!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. doesitevenmatter3 Says:

    YAY!!! So glad you had a nice birthday, Gerard! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Ha! I say have one or the other, or both…whenever the mood strikes! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Sometimes you feel like a buzz…sometimes you don’t! ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜›
    (((HUGS))) ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      Yes, to have both is probably the people’s choice. I will not buy any alcohol except perhaps low alcohol beer when summer arrives. I’ll sip wine on social occasions with my friends or at weddings toasting the bride.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. rangewriter Says:

    Well, I know what I would do…

    Liked by 1 person

  11. shoreacres Says:

    There’s no need for forced choices at this point in our lives. I’m all in favor of both/and rather than either/or — although, when it comes to Shiraz and milk, it probably is better to separate them, at least by a few hours.

    I did smile at your mention of a tuck in bed while the house warms up. I wish I could bottle up some of our heat and send it to you as a belated birthday gift. In time, of course, you’ll be the warm one and I’ll be searching for a jacket: funny, how that works. I’m so glad to hear that you had a fine birthday. I’m impressed that the cupcake still was available for a photo. I might have had no more than an empty wrapper.

    Liked by 1 person

    • gerard oosterman Says:

      Yes, both is the best and I am not preaching I hope. In between the milk and honey I have suddenly taken to green tea as well. I am not a greeny nor a wowser or zealot but just decided to change ingrained habits for the fun of it.

      Yes, the cup cake survived and so did a large portion of the birthday cake. I might like honey but overall I am not a sweet eater, except when home-cooked by my neighbour. She infuses her baked delights with lemon, almonds and exotic spices. Just wonderful..

      Liked by 1 person

  12. gerard oosterman Says:

    Thank you for your kind wishes, Yvonne. I am surprised each day that I am eighty because I don’t really feel of any age. I am in good shape and apart from a supposedly dodgy heart, I am fine. The problem with doctors is that they find ailments.
    I am now a single man which means I don’t have to vacuum behind the sofa or under the bed. I had a bottle of wine last week but none since as I just thought it became a habit like smoking. Even so, I don’t want to end up having some pretty annoying virtues.
    I still nurture a hope to find a nice partner, but that can get difficult too. The courts are full of fighters who started out with love.

    Like

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