You have to be careful what you wish for, you see. I know this from past experience. I am not talking about my wishing for a dog every Christmas pudding stirring day, and finally getting one when it was a bit too late for me to enjoy being a dog owner because soon thereafter I left home. Oh no, I am talking about wishing for years I lived by the seaside, and where did that get me? Bl**dy Sheerness, that's where it got me. Oh yes, if I wanted to stand on rooftops I would have been able to see the sea, but stand on the pavement and there was a massive and very unattractive grey concrete sea wall in the way. And if you know Sheerness at all you will know that there are thousands of better places for seaside living.
For I was thinking, 'Little cottage on a grassy cliff, overlooking vast sandy beaches fronded by deep blue waves with massive atmospheric skies,' and what I got was squashed in the middle of rows and rows of terraced houses, a shingle beach, a view of Southend on a clear day, and the distant threat of being blown sky high by the wreck of the 'Richard Montgomery' war relic sunk off the coast and still loaded with vast amounts of highly volatile explosives.
You see? Be careful what you wish for. Or at least, be specific. Took myself years to extricate myself from THAT one.
So...
...I could wish that I wasn't so fat. But I have lost over a stone since my birthday, so that wish is being dealt with, slowly but surely.
...I could wish that I lived somewhere other than where I live now, but since the garden has been done and the woodburner is in, actually where we are is okay, and once I shut the door on the world, this house could be anywhere anyway. It is a good house. It is how we want it.
...I could wish for a Figaro car, but actually, I could just go out and buy one, couldn't I?
And at this moment, I cannot really define 'My Wish.' Space for more chickens would be good. And some quail. And maybe goats. And more space would also mean we could get our dog, already named Colonel Bunty. Or Bingo. When we were walking around the park at the weekend, I thought that it would be quite fun to have a dog called Bingo, and be able to march around the park on walks shouting, 'BINGO! BINGO!!!'
And space for a big vegetable plot on the back doorstep, to save having to go to an allotment. And space just to go outside and run around shouting, 'Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!' as and when the fancy took me, without fear of disturbing the neighbours, because I am aware of making unnecessary noise and disturbing the peace and quiet of others, even if our current neighbours are not. (Noisy sods.) And maybe working for myself, which I kind of do already, being self-employed.
I asked Andy what his wish would be. He said, 'Being able to spend more time outside under the sky.'
So I guess for the both of us, the wish is space and air.
Your turn now...what would YOU wish for?
Ooh, now that is a good subject for a blog post. My wishes are always the same and always very simple: health and happiness, because when you've had periods in your life without either you realise they are pretty much all that really matters, and as long as you and all the people you love and care about have got them everything else falls into place and life works.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, our old farmer neighbour from years back had two cats he called cat and astrophe. I always thought those were marvellous names to shout out loud. I have a patient with a cat called Percy, which is equally wonderful. I think old fashioned people names for dogs are always funny- Harold, Roger, Christopher- that kind of thing. When is the interview, or do we not ask? XX
Of course, I could have gone outside today and spent some more time under the sky! But I chose to sit inside and play 'Voodoo Vince'. More fool me!
ReplyDeletePS- Forgot to say: I like the new header. Did it take Mr Malarkey long?
ReplyDeleteWell, CT, the new header did not take too long at all. Once Mr Malarkey gets drawing, he can produce pictures with impressive speed! The interview was last Friday but we have to wait a week for the outcome. Mr Malarkey is dubious of a positive outcome because he always thinks every one else is better than him whereas I beg to differ. And I am with you on the health and happiness front...and old-fashioned people names for animals, too. The caretaker at the first school I ever worked at had dogs called Derek and Clive!! Xx
ReplyDeleteAndy, we did do outside today - we shifted two truck loads of logs, remember?? And you did a trip to the tip. Besides, the sky was mostly hidden by rain today. And what on EARTH is 'Voodoo Vince?' (That was a rhetorical question btw!!)
ReplyDeleteI am sure that your wish will come true. I love the header as well. And never heard of Voodoo Vince either!
ReplyDeleteLove the new header. My wish would be NO MORE SNOW!!! Enough already, we got another 6" today. I guess we'd have to move way down south to fulfill that wish.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vera. Keeping on with the visualisation and positive affirmations! X
ReplyDeleteJanice, I am amazed at your snow stoicism. May your 'No more snow' wish come true!
I'd wish for good health, too. Everything else, you can manage without.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Olly. Good health is the biggest tool one can have to living life to its best.
ReplyDelete