Ramblings

Here I am in bed eating an exceptionally moist pain-aux-raisins for breakfast, which was a weekend treat I forgot to eat yesterday. How lucky am I?

I finished this book yesterday

so I will have to find something else to read. I really enjoyed it, and found it gripping, despite the fact that it’s non-fiction.

The heating is on. We have it on for only two hours a day now, because of the price of domestic heating oil. Three weeks ago it was 56 pence per litre, last week it was 76 pence per litre, and this morning they are severely restricting how much each customer can have and the price is 139 pence per litre. We are not restocking, though we do need to. I am so thankful for the piles of logs that Dave has collected. I am so thankful I have a log burning stove in the room where I paint, as well as in our sitting room. I am sitting pretty.

The people of Iran and Lebanon are not, and my heart aches for them. Southern Lebanon is beginning to look like another Gaza.

Back on the home front, last night was the last episode of the last series of Call the Midwife.* It’s been on the telly for 15 years, though I only discovered it about 8 years ago. I have now watched all the old episodes on BBCiPlayer. This drama has everything that a Sue likes - social reality, social problems, personal problems and dilemmas, medical issues (thalidomide, abortion) all set in a historical context, humour, kindness, compassion, romance, friendship, community, and a cast of interesting characters. I have loved it. And I have loved the childbirth scenes. They are so moving and uplifting. Does anyone know, can anyone suggest to me, a series that I might like as much? A drama of sweetness and substance?

That last phrase reminds me of this poem, which I have shared on the blog before:

* I have found out that there will be more of Call the Midwife though not in its current form.