Gloomy Sunday

A gloomy old day again today, sky leaden and the trees looking very forlorn as they still hang on to the tattered few leaves they have left.  Newspapers very depressing as well, continuing story of an 89 woman beaten so badly by thugs who broke into her home that practically every bone in her face was broken, a chap who has been a sex offender since the age of 12 has been released after serving his prison sentence for breaking parole.  He has threatened to kill the next child he goes after so there are no witnesses.  Nobody, it seems has the power to lock him up and keep him there. He is now living 200 yards from a school and spends his time chatting up youngsters in the town centre. A train crash that has left six dead and 150 people injured.  Then there was the usual list of firework casualties and the story of a top judge who now wants life sentences cut for murderers.  His idea is that if they "come clean" at the start then their fifteen year "life sentence" (yes, fifteen years is supposed to be a life sentence here) would be immediately reduced by a certain number of years. Thankfully this judge is due to retire. I decided not to read on anymore and have left that to him indoors.

The new fireworks law was ignored as everyone guessed it would be and a few huge explosions were still going on here at midnight.  At 11 a.m. this morning, in broad daylight, well - as broad as the grey skies permit - we get more going off in the surrounding streets.

On a much brighter note, I did my trip out last night.  We drove to the nearest large town.  Quite spooky because when we set off it was completely clear but we drove into one of those strange mists that appear from nowhere.  It got thicker and thicker as we approached and what with the green glare from fireworks breaking through, it was quite eerie.  So, my friends, I did my trip out.  However, I did something else that gave me a real boost.  On the way home we stopped outside the local supermarket.  Not a big place but quite huge to me.  I wanted some dried Apricots so I waited in the car while Mike went in and got them.  Then I decided -  I want to go in there myself.  So with shaking legs I walked across the car park and entered this brightly lit world of endless racks of goods.  I had to hold onto Mike's arm, butI made myself walk completely around it, then I picked out some cold meat and a magazine and went to the checkout and paid for it myself.  When I got outside my legs were really aching.  I had been gripping the ground so hard with my feet (through my shoes) that all my muscles were complaining.  But I did it.  To some reading this it might be hard to understand.  What is so great about going into a supermarket?  Well, the truth is, it is the first time I have set foot in this shop in six years!!!!!!!

I am not counting my chickens.  It was late at night, it was very quiet.  Only one person in front of me waiting to pay.  I still have to face going in there during daylight hours and standing in a longer queue, but I shall be trying to work up to that.  You cannot know how much your good wishes and encouragement in your comments have helped me.  So thank you all for standing by me and egging me on to greater things.  Yes, there will be bad days, that is inevitable.  Even people who are fit and healthy have down days.  But I have made the start and hope to continue.  I must not let the down days discourage me.

Now, some more pictures for you, taken by him indoors.

Well, he took all of them except the Great Hall and the Tudor Room (man sitting) as the building is temporarily closed.  This is a medieval property not far from us.  It looks like several different properties but they are, in fact, front, back and side views of the same property. It is a truly beautiful place with wonderful gardens. The great hall was built in 1290.  The house and its outbuildings were originally surrounded by a moat with a large fishpond on one side and a gatehouse and drawbridge on another side.  Part of the moat survives but the fishpond has been divided into several small ponds.  There are many wild and tame ducks of various species plus three black swans which were not around when Mike was taking the pictures.  Originally the home of the Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire, it then passed through his family and various others untilin 1900 it was a farm and in very poor structural condition.In 1927 it was purchased by the Council and completely restored to its former glory.  It served then as a library until being opened as a museum in 1974.