Thank you all so much for your kindness and your thoughts. I received so much love and support from people and it is like a balm for my soul.
It is quiet here at Dragonlane. Â The tall boy is back in school…AP is busy with work… I am slowly stepping back into my life. Â I worked this morning in the shed with the sunlight streaming through the windows. Â Yes! Â Sunlight.
I took the dog for a long walk along a quiet road where I could have a nice conversation with myself. Â Do you ever talk to yourself?
I had a humbling moment this morning when I needed some basic geometry instruction from AP because I am ashamed to say that I am a math failure. Â I’ve always been so intimidated by math and as a student, I must admit that I was lazy. Â I’m not proud of it but there it is. Â So I received some tutelage this morning from AP and thankfully he wasn’t horrified by my ignorance. Â Instead he assured me that it was the lousy educational system that failed me. Â He’s a good man.
Dragonlane Artisan Jewellery 
Sorry, I must admit I was worried because I called you “Kim” on your blog and I wasn’t sure whether you were anonymous there or not… I was unable to remove my comment and hope I haven’t caused any troubles.
I am so sad about Pumpy. I must admit, I look at my own old girl (Cricket) who I got as an adult cat in 1999 and wonder how long she will be with me. My cat has preceded my husband, my children… she has remained a constant while friends did not. I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about! When you have a pet that long, you know them inside out, you know what they are saying, their body language. It’s so sad. My condolences for both Pearl and Pumpy.
There is still five feet of snow here on the ground in Ottawa and the weather is proving to be a barrier to the life we want to live. I am filling out my application for my British Citizenship (by descent) and that for my girls. My husband is making a list of potential employers in the UK and I am in the final weeks of my masters placement. As of April 1st, I am free as a bird.
Who knows what the future will bring.
I am upset, however, to have received some bad news last week. I have been diagnosed with a health problem which could interfere with my quality of life and ability to work. Right on the cusp of finishing my masters! Such is life, eh? We never know how much ‘good health’ we have left. I don’t think anybody has perfect health, but this incident has accelerated my desire to get on with my life, live as much as I can. It’s not life threatening, but may be disabling and I am bummed about it.
Well, I hope that you have as easy a time as possible in light of your recent loss.
Best wishes,
Julia
1) Yes, I talk to myself. Ostensibly I’m talking to the dogs as I walk them, but in reality I’m talking to myself.
2) You went through a lousy education system? I also went to a Catholic school. That’s what you mean don’t you? Nuns, all they really wanted to do was indoctrinate us.
No – I didn’t go to Catholic school because my parents were fundamentalist Christians who didn’t believe in all that ceremony and the priest and all that. But don’t get me started on the Catholic church. So many of my friends really suffered at the hands of those hideous old nuns who pulled hair and basically physically abused children… not to mention what the priests have done. And gotten away with. Someday I should write a post about it but my blood boils every time I think about it.
Hmmm… not sure which is worse, fundamentalists, or women in heavy black robes and cowls beating you with three sided rulers.
My nemesis was Sister Angelique, who beat long division into my skinny frame. I do know long division, but have never forgotten the humiliation of being whacked into the blackboard in front of the class. By the time I got to algebra and geometry, I was in public school. Much nicer teachers, but the lessons didn’t stick:)