I've been trying to phone hotboy's house, to speak to the Domestic Bliss. She works in the medical field and could perhaps advise me. All I get on the end of the line is this posh robot, saying nobody's home, but we know better than that, don't we?
HOTBOY, I KNOW YOU'RE SITTING THERE RAISING HEAT. CAN YOU PICK UP THE PHONE?
About 6 months ago, I said I would post pictures of the magnolia here when it's in flower. Well it's not looking good so far:
One brave bud is threatening to open, but the others perhaps realise it's still technically winter here, and fear an ambush by frost. Pessimists, like me.
In the background is the jacaranda, which will explode into flowers that carpet the garden in purple when they fall.
But there are signs of spring elsewhere in the garden:
Albert? I didn't recognise the voice, but I was sitting there going om, so you're right. The best time to get the D. Bliss is between half six and seven our time, or about eleven at night. She's never in. But she said it was you on the robot service. I emailed you today. If you want me to pick up when I cannot recognise your voice, just say: This is God, Hotboy. We need to have a word. That would work. Or use your surname. I thought you were one of her boyfriends. She's an awful busy woman! Hotboy p.s. I'll do anything for your old dear after the time we had in the hut!
ReplyDeleteThe spring pics are gorgeous- you're very fortunate to have such a garden! I recognise the magnolia and the lily-of-the-valley, but am stumped on the others. Do tell, if you can name them.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your old dear, whom I assume to be your ma and not a polyandrous partner. Presuming that she's in Schottland, there are several services that can be accessed through the GP or the hospital consultant, including; Social Work dept (for respite care or support at home), MacMillan Nurses, Maggie's Centre and (when things get worse) hospice services, including Marie Curie and St Columba's.
Unfortunately, it is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil, so she would have to be vocal and persistent, which doesn't always come naturally to stoics. Wishing her and her husband well.
The flowers and blooms are beautiful. I love springtime...I am looking forward to fall in a couple of months.
ReplyDeleteRob, I hope you are well. I do think of you often.
What do you mean when you say "She's losing the plot after a lifetime as an iron lady." I hope she is doing well too.
I am sending positive and healthy thoughts your way.
~xo
Lee Ann
Hotters - I must have sensed your vase breathing. Thanks for the info, I'll try shouting Susqehanna down the line at those times.
ReplyDelete(I don't normally like asking people work-related questions when they're off duty.)
ion - the 3 others are, in order:
Canna lily (Cannaceae - I had to google to get that), a relative of ginger, with monster leaves and gaudy flowers. Not my kind of thing.
Secondly, some kind of all-year flowering plant, I can't find the label. When pruned it oozes a sticky sap like ficus pumila. As long as it's fed and watered, it just goes on and on flowering.
The third one looks a lot like lily of the valley but it's a dwarf version of something called Pieris japonica, aka "Temple Bells." In five years it has grown about a centimetre.
Thanks for the clearly laid-out info, I hadn't understood how those services related to each other and to the patient/spouse. That's great!
LA - I mean she was always a bit of a dragon, hard on herself and everyone else. Yet now age is at last mellowing her. I swam this morning but didn't achieve the full mile, I forgot to summon up the virtual swim-coach.
ReplyDeleteion - on further research i see that Pieris is also known as Lily Of The Valley Shrub. I should habe known you were right.
ReplyDeleteI assure you that I wasn't right about the Pieris shrub- I thought it really was a lily-of-the-valley! But I do not bad for someone who's never had a garden. Glad the advice might help yer old mum.
ReplyDelete