Blog - Ivor’s Daily Gallivant

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Wednesday March 22ed 2023 Like yesterday a bright and blustery day Third time lucky with the trip: The first time I set out I got to Be Be’s (for lunch) and realised I’d forgotten the Scrabble set, so returned home. I thought I’d make use of the few spare moments writing a letter to an old friend (Jim) but as I was distracted forgot the Scrabble set again. Third time lucky I left home with it. Wonders will never cease. Although things weren’t done with the greatest efficiency there were some happy accidents: (1) I met my friend Michael waiting for the bus when I got off it at Hythe. (2) I met Nicola in Be Be’s when I was having lunch. (3) I had a brief conversation with (hopefully a new friend) a lady called Michelle whilst waiting for the West Totton bus. She’s a teaching assistant who lives in Dibden Purlieu. I gave her one of it’s promotional cards. (4) got some exercise running to the bus stops. (It’s said that heart health is good for brain health and judging by my performance today: my brain needs all the help it can get) (5) Had a chat with Patrick who speculated about why the bus drivers sometimes use different routes: I would never have thought of that. On another occasion he got off the bus at one of the mini-supermarkets on route and back on with his groceries when the bus route came back on itself: it wouldn’t have occurred to me to do that. (6) Met Pauline and introduced her to my blog (with another promotional card) on my trip back from Hythe to Holbury. Andy won both games of Scrabble and gave me a lift home. It was a good day and I’m flooded with endorphins with all the exercise I got.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Tuesday March 21 2023: Spring Equinox (when the day is the same length as the night) prior to today I didn’t know that. The most important thing I did today was go into Southampton and take steps to open a new band account with The Coop Bank. For lunch I had cottage pie at Be Be’s. The reason for changing banks is that unlike Barclays, The Coop Bank don’t invest in fossil fuels. There’s no doubt in my mind that the continued use of fossil fuels will have dire consequences for the environment and I want to do all I can to avert them. Perhaps it’s only a small contribution but it’s the best I can do. I caught the 8 to Hythe from Southampton and when I got to Hythe I went to Costa and much to my surprise Barry was standing outside waiting for someone. We had a chat about the various ailments we’ve developed since we last spoke. In my case Diabetes and glaucoma and he’s developed diabetes. I showed Barry my sketch book and he was complimentary. The After our chat I was walking towards the bus stop and my bus passed me. I tried running for it but without success. I thought rather than standing round I would get some exercise and have a run and did. I felt really good after my run I felt marvellous (I’d got to Knighton Hall) and had a runny nose so went into the Tesco Store and bought some paper hankies. It was a short wait for the bus home. The only unfortunate things about the day were that I forgot to go to Waterside Art Group and I forgot to book a blood test.

A day put to good use applying for a eco friendly bank account, getting exercise and feeling good

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Monday 20th March 2023 A rainy Monday morning the sky an uninviting grey. I partly rewrote the piece of Anecdotal Evidence which I’d started on Sunday but accidentally deleted about meeting Olivia. Ran along to the bigger Co-op and bought some Braeburn Apples and a Peppered Steak Slice. Waited at the bus stop when I saw the bus reach the junction I thought it turned the wrong direction (my eyesight must be getting worse) I arrived at October Books and found a seat at an empty table. A couple Su and A young chap (Mathew) who was carrying a musical instrument case asked me if I minded him sitting with me I replied please help yourself. ‘I see you’re a musician’ I said: Apparently it was a mandolin which had just been fitted with a pickup and the neck adjusted. A young lady Helen joined us. We got into conversation and I showed them my sketch book and told her about my blog and gave them one of my promotional cards. Mathew asked me if I played any instruments I replied: ‘ I tried playing the guitar but decided there’s enough suffering in the world without me doing that and gave up’ Su and Martin when they’d finished their set came came and joined us. They’re friends of Mathew and Helen. I said my ‘Goodbyes’ and went into the bookshop and bought Orwell’s ‘Politics and the English Language’ which I’d seen the previous week. When I got home I rewrote the part of my Memoir ‘Anecdotal Evidence ‘ which I’d accidentally deleted. The accident seems to have been a ‘happy accident’ what I wrote today was better than what I wrote and lost yesterday. I’m finding getting into the habit of writing daily is paying dividends.

A Monday well spent, listening to folk music and eating vegetarian food and meeting new people

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Sunday 19 March 2023 I went to Marcella. Margret made everyone macaroni cheese and Aqid did some garlic bread to go with it. Next we had a walk to the Marina and looked out across the water to Southampton. I think it was Margret who remarked the view wasn’t very spectacular. We looked at the mud flat and Margret said there’s an annual football match between the police men and the firefighters. After Marcella I did some shopping in Lidl and as there was a long wait for my bus I had a coffee in Costa. I sitting outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.. When I was home I had a sleep for a while and wrote a piece called ‘It’s a shame but these guys die’ it wasn’t exceptionally good but at least I’d done something. Unfortunately I accidentally deleted it but will be able to rewrite it tomorrow

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Saturday 18 March 2023: A good day’s writing I intended to go to The Soul Café this morning but it was warm in bed when did get up I got onto messenger and then treated myself to a shower. I put the washing on the dryer and decided to do some more work on my Memoir ‘Anecdotal Evidence’ it went really well telling tales of traumatic experiences without me feeling traumatised. Time is a great healer. Last night coming home from The Soul Café the car stereo system was playing Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused. I’ve just listened to it again this afternoon and it’s nightmare-ish. And brought back a another memory which I’m going to write about tomorrow. I wanted to write for years and now in my 68 year I’m finally ready.

A lazy day getting down to and enjoying writing

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant 17th March 2023: St Patrick’s Day Did some more revision to ‘Why do we dream of Liberty’ and hung up my dry clothes. Emailed Herald and Advertiser with a draft of ‘Why do we dream of Liberty’ . Caught the bus into Hythe and did some shopping in Lidl and returned home. I was tired and had a nap and missed the beginning of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at The Soul Café. But caught the later bus and a place was found for me with Stewart and his young lady. I asked Peter who helps with the coffee bar his name. Trish (the lady vicar introduced herself)and her husband Richard who’s in a wheelchair. He said at one point ‘Do you know Andy Burch? By any chance’ I replied ‘ Yes: you must be Richard’ ‘He’s told me a lot about you’ Said Richard. I was too late for the pizza but in time to have an ice cream and a can of Diet Pepsi . I Left as quickly as I could thinking my bus might be any moment but when I got to the stop and looked at the timetable I saw it was a long time before the next bus. I’ll get some exercise and run to one of the stops further down the route I thought and buy myself something to eat in Tesco Express on the way. One of Rory’s friends who was giving him a lift asked me if I’d like one too. So I didn’t have a long wait at the bus stop after all. It seems the luck of the Irish has rubbed off on me.

The events today led to further work on Anecdotal Evidence

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Thursday 16th March 2023: I can take the despair: it’s the hope I can’t stand! I went to Waterside Writers this morning and it looks very promising with a discussion about poetry Mike Sears came up with the phrase ‘why do we dream of liberty’ at one point (I’m not exactly sure why he said it because of my hearing difficulty .) As the meeting went on I started writing a little piece using it as the first line. Barbra read out the draft of one of her poems and handed it round and I wrote a few suggestions on what I thought might improve it. Peter read out some of his pieces. Caught the 8 back to Hythe with Peter and Kim, had lunch at Be Be’s and then got the 9 back to Holbury. Andy beat me at Scrabble twice (as is almost inevitable) winning the first game in by one point. And continued revisiting Why do we dream of liberty? I can take the despair: it’s the hope I can’t stand!

Went to Waterside Writers and was beaten at scrabble twice And

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Wednesday 15th March 2023 Halfway through another week: where does time go? Today’s Scrabble has been rescheduled until tomorrow and I’m at a loose end. There’s loads to do: housework, washing clothes, maybe write a bit more of anecdotal evidence Or a bit of all three. Housework when done properly isn’t a chore…… Who am I kidding? Or I could do something completely different….. Maybe I could go for a run round the block? A thought but it didn’t happen Have some of the tuna pie I bought yesterday? I did and wasn’t very impressed Read the Fundraising Pack for Diabetes UK? I ate one of the apples I bought yesterday and settled down with another cup of tea. Hum I could try catching up with the news or see what’s on the radio. Facebook would be another possibility. It was on with the telly and there was a Budget Special if you believed what you were told by Jeremy Hunt: The Tories are doing a marvellous job and everything is going to be splendid soon, it’s all the fault of the Pandemic and the War in Ukraine, and nothing to do with their 13 years in power…… I decide to do some shopping but when I get to the door it’s cold with rain, so I didn’t go. I had another apple and get back under my throw blanket.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Tuesday March 14 2023 This morning was cold but bright and sunny the plan was to go to Hythe Market in the morning and Waterside Art Group in the evening. Up early the first thing I did was shower and have a nap. I felt tired and after the nap on top of the world. When I got to Hythe I treated myself to spaghetti Bolognese followed by vanilla ice cream in Be Be’s. The ice cream was a special treat. Next I did some shopping in Lidl and as a change I bought a tuna pie. After shopping I did some sketching whilst sat in the car park drinking coffee. The afternoon sunshine warmed my face. Rick told me in a messenger chat this morning that Monday is the first day of spring. After that had a coffee in Black Wax where I did some more sketching. Just thumbnails to keep me in practice. I wasn’t fussy about how it turned out My evening meal was a tin of tomato soup with a slice of seeded bread and an apple. Some of the soup got split on my new pullover despite trying to wash it off the pullover is still stained. There was a table space for me at the art group and I changed the colour of the reflections in the water from violet to blue. Had a cup of lemon and ginger tea my alarm went off and I got to the bus stop with two minutes to spare. Andy is seeing another of his friends tomorrow so I’ve a free schedule. All in all a successful day.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Monday 13 March 2023: it was a one of those days that comes in 3’s 13/03/2023 I set out this morning with the intention of having novel experiences to write about and got more than I bargained for. Not allowing myself enough time I made for the bus stop: the last few passengers were getting on the bus and the it was a long way off. I decided to try and catch the bus although my chances were slim….If I’d made it it would have been noteworthy: I didn’t. The bus left the stop and I tried waving at it: but in vain, it passed me by. Now I would have to wait at least half an hour I thought . There was the sound of loud machinery. I looked and the large conifers in the garden, on the other side of road were being cut down with chain saws and their trunks fed into a giant shredder. There was now at least half an hour’s wait the next bus so I did a sketch of a detail of the shedder. Stopping when the bus was five minutes due. I needn’t have worried: the bus was half an hour late. When it arrived at Sea City Museum i caught the next bus to Portswood . And made my way to October Books. Martini was sat at a table with another Lady Nikki. We ate our food and Martini left and Nikki went out for a roll up. I tried showing the promotional card for my blog unfortunately Nikki is sight impaired and didn’t know what to make of a penguin saying ‘Roar’ ( Come to think of it that’s a very good question) I browsed the books but asked myself: ‘When are you going to read them?’ Which deterred me from buying one. After leaving October Books I did some shopping in Portswood and headed home, got to my front door and found I’d lost my key. I tried Raellia and Ashley’s door to see if they could help but there was no one in, I thought of asking Glen but thought again. How about One Stop I wondered? On the way I noticed The Pet Shop was still open and fortunatelyn Petina was able to help using her internet and phone. She went to a lot of trouble and I’m very grateful: I don’t know what I would have done without her. She told me that: with the work on my garden a rumours were in circulation that I was dead, or had moved out of the neighbourhood. I naturally replied with Mark Twain’s famous quote: ‘Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated’ A locksmith was called the problem fixed and my bank balance lessened by £138. (Another 3)

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Sunday 12th March 2023 Another day without gallivanting. I stayed at home and did a little work on my ‘reflection in a puddle’ painting but never got into the flow. Next I did more to ‘Antidotal Evidence’ starting a piece called ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ It brought back memories of misery and anger. My right leg was painful this morning. I tried a bit on Ibuprofen gel which eased the pain and decided to Google ‘pain in legs’ to see what the causes might be. I was hoping Liv and Russ would do some more to the garden but heard nothing from them. I’ll phone Liv and see what’s happening next Friday. To be fare the weather is horrible today which may explain it. Perhaps their still in Iceland Plan for the week. Monday October Books and Bootleg Art Club, Tuesday Hythe Market and Waterside Arts Group, Wednesday Scrabble. Thursday Waterside Art Group and Friday St. Patrick’s Day Party at The Soul Café.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Saturday March 11 2023 Another day when gallivanting has been conspicuous by its absence. I find these days nothing is very pressing: all I’ve done is pick my medication from Boots, have a nap and cook a beef stew. My cold has gone….. Is this going to go down as the most boring blog on the internet? I really aren’t doing much exiting or anything much.