The moon rose exactly in the east as the sun began to set exactly opposite in the west. Both big glowing balls hovered above the monoliths already stretching out their shadows, tentatively touching, 'casting out their sweet line with abandonment and hope?' It felt special. The supermoon preparing to be transformed into a bloodied one with the help of the always super sun. Everything aligning. Why did almost everyone rush away? Were they afraid of the dark or the red tears that may drip drop from the sky's eyes? We left one family contentedly behind, kindly keeping Mini-Me with them for a while longer.
Darkness had descended and we struggled to find the tracks back. Still no fear or worry from me.
'Just head for the lights,' I said.
'It's not as easy as that,' replied Romeo.
Flashback to Le road trip 2015, with a 2005 map of France and no satellite navigation system.
'Haste not now beautiful wife which road do we need?'
'Oh deary me all the road numbers appear to be different my love.'
'Worry not sweetheart, I'll stop the carriage forthwith and check the map.'
'How wonderful! Forgive me for thinking that it would be so much better if you allowed me to drive and tell me where to go beloved one?'
'Do not frown so or you may further wrinkle your brow my heart's desire. I have it all under control.'
Delirious encore moi? Oh la la et Mon Dieu! Back to the desert.
Coming to an abrupt stop, stress levels spiked high, I spy a baby owl perched on a rock right beside us. He stared at me, blinked, then flew away and we found our route back.
'What language is this written in?' Mini-Me asks whilst reading Five Go Adventuring Again by Enid Blyton.
'Old English,' I smile back at him on the bottom bunk together.
''George! Make Tim sit down. He's wagging my hat off!'' I read aloud in my posh Yorkshire accent.
'Is that a figure of speech?' Asks my boy.
I have to say Aunt Fanny quickly trying not to snigger, but he openly chuckles when I stumble across Dick! This is going to be brilliant bedtime reading. Good job it's Uncle Quentin and not Uncle Nobby.
I treated the kids to an all singing, dancing, pyrotechnic, trapeze flying production of Peter Pan. It was amazing. My eyeballs were ping-ponging all over the place trying to keep up with Tinkerbell and the non-stop action. The fire engine had burnt up inside with it's broken down air conditioning forcing a quick change of vehicle, a very patient, Hoyle tolerant friend and off we went. I was so happy we could go to the show and as if by magic we ended up sat in some comfy VIP seats too.
We are currently long-term borrowing a Mitsubishi thanks to kind neighbours. Would you lend your car, van, bike to someone in need? It's an amazing thing to do in my book. Speaking of books I'm still editing the novel and am in limbo, panicking over the next step of possible publishing and how to go about it? Have humbly, gratefully received some positive feedback.
All things are possible.
High on the adrenaline rush from Neverland I slump back down to earth, landing on the cushion of sorrow upon hearing the news that my dear friend, Arthur, had died that morning aged 98. I am fortunate to have enjoyed his friendship for 23 years. He has blessed many, many other lives as well as mine. We shared some quality time together again in the summer. He was on good form and we talked about the important things; life, death, love, friendship. And we laughed and cried. After I had washed his cup and plate, then shut the kitchen door gently behind me having already hugged and kissed our earthly goodbyes, did we both realise it would be the last time? I think so. I take great comfort in knowing he is now at peace, soaring high above with some super strong wings until we meet again.
''Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face,
Do you realize we're floating in space,
Do you realize that happiness makes you cry,
Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last,
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round.''
It has been a difficult week to crawl through with some sadness, apathy, family conflict, chronic back and buttock pain. Giving in again, I go to the Medical Centre. Another Doc this time, not the sore throat soother from my last visit.
''Hellooo my darling what is the matter?'' Instantly I feel a bit better.
The physiotherapist gives me some exercises which work wonders. One lovely friend recommends heat while another a cooling gel. Open to anything that may help I gently smear the Biofreeze onto my lower back and (do I have to tell you this?) both buttocks. Now I truly know how the land felt during the last ice-age.Wow! Talk about comfortably numb. Sing it louder Pink Floyd. The thing is how did this injury occur? Was I conscious when it happened or did it strain in a gymnastic dream? More likely it was a squat that went horribly wrong in a circuit training session. Why do I bother? Because I'm worth it and so are you.
I consider performing open heart surgery on myself and slathering Biofreeze over the life-giving organ within when things deeply hurt me. My brain tells me to carefully reconsider, not to numb the pain as then it will never truly heal, but face it boldly and deal with it. Besides the warning on the tube clearly states: 'For external use only.'
Lyrics from Fisherman's Blues (slightly altered) by The Waterboy's (1988)
and Do You Realize?? by The Flaming Lips (2002)
Reading: I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Listening and absorbing every lyric to: Keep The Village Alive (2015) and Graffiti onThe Train (2013) by the Stereophonics in stunned surprise that I will be seeing them live in Doha next month!
Singing to: Hopes and Fears (2004) by Keane
Injury permitting I'm dancing to: Back Where I Belong by Jack Savoretti and Can't Feel My Face by The Weeknd. Do they use Biofreeze too?
Photograph of a photograph: Arthur aged 93, Susie aged 38. Taken in 2010 in our kitchen the year before we came to Qatar.
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