Firstly I apologise for the paucity of my posts. Some friends have become concerned and, despite emailing me, appear not to have had a response and have taken to communicating with one of my close Island friends. Many apologies to all to whom I have caused concern.
Going back to the phrase "or attempt to return" I should say that there was a time when that was not only a certainty but it was also instant. Unfortunately I have discovered (and I know I'm not alone in this) that now I'm in my 80s sleep is nowhere near as automatic if one wakes up in the night. In theory the body must need just as much sleep as ever IF one expends as much energy during the day as ever. I am very fortunate in still being very active.
Sometimes I wake either in the morning or at random times during the night and I spent a good while thinking about Life, The Universe and Everything before possibly returning to sleep.
Today was a fairly typical day in that I went into town this morning and did odds and ends and met a friend for coffee. This afternoon I, and another friend, went to visit a mutual friend. I have known her since November 1974 when we both arrived on Lewis.
I came to work with Comhairle nan Eilean (the local authority for the Western Isles) and Mutual Friend was married to a very close colleague. He has long since left the Island but Mutual Friend stayed and we are close and firm friends of over half a century.
Again. It is a relief to learn that Jimmy Edwards gets to twizzle his moustache again. If I wake too early and if my wife has already got up, I find it helpful to put Radio 4 on at low volume on our bedside radio alarm clock. News about bombings, wars and our climate crisis can have a very soporific effect. Soon I'm zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
ReplyDeleteOddly, YP, despite I understand that most people do put the radio on when they wake up, it is something I've never done. In the couple of days since I read that I resolved to ask Alexa to "Play Radio 4" but have forgotten each day.......so far. Tomorrow!
DeleteYou are sounding very social, which is such a good thing when one is older.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fortunate, Andrew, that despite many of my compatriots no longer being with me, many still are.
DeleteHaving friends to visit, spend time with, share with is one of life’s treasures.
ReplyDeleteMay
It is indeed, Maywyn.
DeleteWhew! So good to see your electrons. Sleep, once such a willing companion for me, has changed her ways and now often eludes me. The more I chase, the harder she is to find. But when I finally catch her, I can still visit your Land of Nod for 10 hours at a time. It just means I sleep when I can regardless of day or night. One of the blessings of old age!
ReplyDeletePauline, if I slept during the day most days I'd have people phoning to find out why I wasn't where I should, so often, be.........at The Woodlands having coffee.
DeleteYou sound like you're very much alive and well. I hope you stay that way for a while yet.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, Red, I am. But I've very aware that, in one's 80s, time is inevitably running out.
DeleteI had to laugh at your line: one day I won't, and i will be pissed off. I have used that line myself! I often tried to talk my husband into going kayaking with me, but it seemed like every time the preordained day came up, it would rain like crazy and the river would run high and muddy. The trip would be canceled. I said to a friend, "if the man tips over and drowns, I will never get him in a kayak again."
ReplyDeleteDebby, I've only ever kayaked in New Zealand and I have tipped over (when the canoe got caught on a hidden long) but, fortunately, I was rescued.
DeleteWaking each morning becomes more and more of a surprise. Luckily I still enjoy it, and look forward to the day ahead.
ReplyDeleteCro, I'm with you there. We should enjoy every moment whilst we are able to.
DeleteI, too, am pleased- and relieved - to see your post. Waking up each morning seems like the best way forward!
ReplyDeleteJayCee, thank you for your kind words....and wisdom!
DeleteHave you been to hospital yet? You not mention it this time. Good to see you posting. I am also happy to wake up in the mornings and see another day. Rachel
ReplyDeleteGood to see you, Rachel. No, I'm still waiting. I rang and I'm "on the list".
DeleteI'm glad you're well and happy. I also hope i have half the friends you do at your age.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kylie. I hope you have a life filled with friendship. I think having lived in the same place for over half a century helps.
DeleteSounds like you are feeling good and enjoying life, Graham. Good to hear! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. I hope that life is being as good to you.
DeleteNice to see you up and about, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice.
Delete"Wake up, you're alive!". Those were words I just read in Anthony Hopkins' autobiography, "We Did OK, Kid". I really liked his book. I think you would also.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay. Thanks. Yes I'm sure that I would.
DeleteAdmittedly, I was not worried about you not having posted in a while; it's happened many times before, and every time when you did come back, you had either been very busy with your offline life or in hospital, and since in your last post you mentioned another upcoming hospital stay, I simply assumed you'd been there.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, it is good to "see" you, Graham, as always!
Meike, it's one of those things. I'm not good at managing to carrynon with all my 'commitments' when they start overwhelming me.
DeleteI always "wonder" a bit when I haven't seen you around for a while, but was pretty much thinking along the same lines as Meike above. - I spend about half my nights half-slumbering to audio books. Personally I tend to find that more relaxing than repeating my own thoughts about Life, The Universe and Everything. (I usually end up needing to do a lot of rewinding in the audio books; but on the other hand that reassures me that I must have got some sleep after all...)
ReplyDeleteMonica, I've never been good at listening to books in bed although I've tried it on a few occasions over the last half century. I used to listen to music but I've not even done that for many years.
DeleteI never have any problems falling asleep, but like yourself, I frequently find myself wide awake in the early hours of the morning.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad you woke up this morning. X
Thank you, Jules!
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