I left the toadstool early this morning,when the world was still in darkness and repose, as I had an appointment with the faery Physio at 9.00. Pendragon accompanied me as far as my little red four wheeled motor carriage,planted a shower of kisses on my ever so ready lips,and then headed off into the darkness to find his way to the tram stop.He was off to work, but won't be home tonight. He is travelling to Inner Beesneckie to meet with some other Consultant Healers to discuss new and innovative remedies to try with patients to accomplish healing. Pendragon is a fine healer and an accomplished speaker, so I am sure his deliberations will be put across with feeling and considerable integrity.
He will be home tomorrow ready to take Lobelia Drive by storm and make me one of his famous pasta deliciacies - famous for the unusual ingredients he finds and the amazing amount of flavour he seems to be able to create. There was real warmth and passion behind his embrace today which really set me up for my physio appointment.
Lystrata my present physio, has been working out sets of exercises for me to increase the rate of my right leg healing.My right leg is about 90% better but the calf muscle is still very weak. I don't really notice until I lean more heavily on it or try to effect a balance of some sort. Then it lets me know very quickly that it would rather I sat down, or shoved the weight back on the other leg, by caving in and forcing me to grab some nearby prop to avoid keeling over. I do feel I am doing well though, and every week seems to mark up some obvious improvement.It has taken quite a long time, twelve weeks in fact, just to get this far. February, Nature willing, should see me completely renewed and ready to gambol with the lambs of March.
My appointment only lasted twenty minutes so I wished her a cheery farewell and headed off to nearby Bissnobbinto for a morning's shopping and parchment search. Bissnobbinto sits about six miles away from Dingley Dell, to the West,and is partly in the country,but also like Dingley, has a border to the open Big Water. It is as quaint as Dingley, with four churches of ancient origin,several ruined chapels, equally historical, a small street of mercantiles, several estates of toadstools surrounding the centre, a Town Hall, and some fine eating establishments hidden among the tall spires. I love to wander there, unknown to almost everyone, to buy a few provisions at the market, sit in the window of the teashop/ art gallery which goes by the name of The Scabby Hedgehog, where I write my letters, jot down my thoughts, or plan my next expedition. They make a mean onion and sweet potato quiche,and steaming bowls of sweetcorn and pepper soup. A great place to be on a cold day, when the rest of the world fails to hold your attention.
I returned from there at five, clutching more shopping bags than I had intended to collect and just made it to the woodland phone in time for Pendi's call. He sounded merry, and I made him laugh, so happy was I to hear his voice. We talked for a while,sharing our day, and talking of our plans for the weekending. We have to choose a place for our Betrothal Holiday after the ceremony. Pendragon has narrowed the choices down to eight wonderful spots in our favourite city, Gaelicianna.
A long boat journey away, we will sail to its coast ,and travel by railcar to its centre. There we will enjoy seven days and nights of married bliss before returning to Lobelia Drive as Dr. and Mrs. Willow.
I am not sure how much being married will change things. All I know is that he is the Only One for me. Our life together is wonderful already, being married will just add more sugar to the compote.
Tomorrow I spend the morning in Brigantia, and am lunching at the Jolly Woodman at two. Changes are being made at the Community Radio Station and our Programme Controller Syncopatius Timpo has called a "Coffee Meeting" there to tell us all the good/bad news. Everyone has been talking in low tones for the past three weeks as to what changes might be involved. Some of the suppositions are wild- the studio is moving into the Bleak Castle, Dingley's oldest building- that the Station is going to be run as a commercial venture- we'll all lose our presenting jobs and have to reapply - the Committee are all leaving- and so on and so on..........
I am trying not to think about it. I am sure nothing very audacious is happening, but we will know when we know, and I am happy to wait till then. I love my Radio Show and have thrown enormous energy into it, but if difficult times are coming, I'll cope or diversify. Hopefully past glories will help to see me through.
So bring Friday on, my dear friends, with its rollercoaster of emotions and its rippling waves of change. We must take what life sends along with our sense of humour primed and our senses ready to absorb the new or altered. It's a new day. Live it, love it and dance with the flow.
From Amarantha, the Rainbow Faery,- from Flowerpot Cottage,her home at number five.
