Monthly Updates, The Changing Seasons

What’s been happening? July 2021

Suzanne

It’s been a month of over-caffeinated thoughts and patiently waiting. I was kidding about being patient. The big medical event is slowly becoming more “real” with the Squire requiring additional tests and medical appointments this month. Those medical folk and the Squires donor are doing their darndest to give him another shot at life, so I need to be patient. We both do. Then there are those other days when we two-finger salute the world in frustration and our equilibrium slowly regained with a delectable treat. We’ve been conditioned with a treat for good behaviour most of our lives; why ruin a winning formula?

Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes

Some days it’s not a lack of subject matter that’s been the concern; it’s been my lack of concentration and narrowing my raging thoughts. It would’ve been relatively easy, too easy, to give up on blogging. For a while, I’ve doubted my ability to form sentences then paragraphs. I’ve sat and stared at a blank screen, then typed and deleted and repeated the first two steps more times than I like to admit. It’s like being a recycled blogging virgin.

Then I concluded my regular goings-on would have to do.

As we all know, over time, there will be more gritty subjects to share or not. A small part of me enjoys the security of the mundane, the repetitive activities such as grocery shopping on a Monday morning and fast travelling with my cycle though not to pick up our groceries as I have too many treats to buy. Then there are the interactions with nature and bouts of bird [feather variety] stalking and everything in between, like my one-sided relationship with an overly cuddly kunekune pig nicknamed Twiggy. I want to say a big thank you very much to all of you for keeping me slightly more sane and grounded than usual. Now, let’s get on with what’s been happening.

Winter sunsets are the best

Twiggy’s five and never a Sunday roast

Twiggy doing a piggy thing

From a distance, I could faintly hear the sound of an early afternoon siesta. Crikey girl, that’s not a very ladylike sound. Sure enough, the old girl was snoring happily on the front lawn. I was seriously impressed as no matter how much coaxing from the fence, I did, even with a tempting large apple. Twiggy was not budging. Enviously I thought if only I could sleep so soundly.

Oh well, there was going to be no dialogue between us today; adjusting to this reality, I carried on biking. Down another road further along and onto more civilization as in busier roads then suburbia and towards the sound of waves and not snoring and another few kilometres I am where I started. At home. That’s a regular circuit of approximately 20 odd kms. In summer and a low tide, I would’ve stayed longer, there was a coolish westerly wind, and I was becoming more eager to get home to a warm cuppa.

You will be pleased to know that I have finally had a chat with a human family member of Twiggy’s who ventured to their letterbox as I was capturing her doing piggy things, like sleeping. She happily informed me that Twiggy recently turned five and never to more than a much-loved part of the extended family.

Capturing moments around home

A stingray sighted at the Tauranga Marina
A month of camellias blooming beautifully
A cormorant drying out
Best of all – beach walks with the Squire – always hope – always hoping

Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

43 thoughts on “What’s been happening? July 2021”

  2. Sending you hugs & both positive thoughts. I haven’t been very communicative in the blogosphere over the last few months, but I do think of you often. A good bike ride is a great way to help clear the mind, but a friend such as Twiggy on route must certainly an extra touch of joy. I love piggies, they can be quite cheeky & full of character x

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    1. Thanks very much, Sam, for thinking of us. I think many of us aren’t blogging as much as we used to. What is fun is catching up when they do write. Piggies are very endearing though Twiggy has lost most of the cuteness 🙂 Take care x

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  4. Wishing you both strength, Suz. There is something positive around the corner, I hope. Hope, hope, hope. Yes. What would we be without it? More like Twiggy, for sure. And, as long as we don’t turn into a roast, maybe ignorance is bliss? Happy biking and walking!

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  6. Pingback: The Changing Seasons: July 2021 – Touring My Backyard

  9. Gorgeous sunset, but… regarding the caption under the bird which looks more like a cormorant / shag than a heron to me – they have very different bills. But I’m no bird expert!
    Fingers crossed for the ongoing treatment. ❤

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  10. Just keep on keeping on like you’re doing. It’s the only thing to do, be obstinate about doing your own thing and just taking life as it comes and drawing all the positives you can from the mundane and the everyday. You’re a brave couple. My thoughts are with you.

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  12. Hooray, a donor for Les. I am so happy for you both, Suzanne. That’s definitely worth a caffeine treat. Speaking of treats, it looks like Twiggy has been having a few too many. Perhaps she has sleep apnea which would account for all the snoring. I enjoyed the video and the photo of the cormorant is lovely. Take care and I hope August is good to you both.

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    1. Tracy, it is good news. We will be less stressed once the donor process is finished. A lengthy business for the donor and he knows how much it means to his brother and me. Twiggy gets all the household scraps and more, though it would be slightly abnormal to see a skinny pig. Focussing on her has been a fun distraction and I am not the only passerby to stop for a conversation with her 🙂

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  14. What a beautiful sunset. Thank you for keeping the blog going. I gave up for a while, but do find it interesting to look back, a virtual diary. Best wishes for the Sqires treatment. Medical science and treatment is quite amazing these days.

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    1. Sunsets are such a treat to experience and a positive effect from stormy weather. We’re taking one day at a time and putting our trust with those professionals who create miracles every week.

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  15. Lovely pics, as always. I’m glad Les has a donor. Hospitals are not the cheeriest of places to have to wait, but, in my experience, the staff in oncology departments are unfailingly cheerful. I hope the ones you encounter are the same.

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    1. Thanks April. You’re absolutely correct regarding oncology staff as we’ve had the same experience. I’m sure when he’s admitted to hospital it will be the same. Not too long to go now.

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  18. During rough times, the mundane is absolutely a saving grace. Familiar routines can be soothing. I don’t know what is going on with your loved one, but I’m praying for a good result, and for peace for you and your family.

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    1. My husband has Primary Myelofibrosis which is a rare bone marrow cancer, we’re waiting on his stem cell transplant which should happen in the next month or two. There are many of us going through challenging times, that’s for sure. Thanks for your best wishes.

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