Roland Ladley's Blog, page 23

Into a routine

It’s been a bitty time. The weather hasn’t helped – Mrs Sun only smiling at us yesterday. I’ve been busy doing little jobs which should probably have been done ages ago. I’ve sealed the cat flap (as far as I’m aware we don’t have a cat) which has been leaking cold air for as long as we’ve been here. I’ve resorted the garage – which is an unending task. And I’ve sorted a number of outstanding issues with Doris. After the altercation with the Discovery in the autumn, the forward side repeater (indicator) was broken. A replacement Hella light was £40, which seemed very unnecessary. So I ordered a light similar to the side running lights at £10. It fitted easily, as you can see. Result. And I sorted some beading in the bathroom and fitted a new 12v instrument panel front right which was poorly sorted by a professional company before we bought her.

always in need of sorting

There are a few more jobs to do, but if I get them done too quickly I’ll have nothing else to do.

In terms of books, sales have fallen through the floor. Like normal, I’m not marketing so that’s no surprise, I guess. I’m waiting for the proof copy of of Black Bulls and White Horses which should arrive next week. I sense the cover is not going to be right … we’ll see. Whatever, I will have the ebook out by Christmas, if you’re interested. And then I’ll start the major edit of book 7 (The Belmonte Paradox?) in January.

met this little chap yesterday



out on our walk yesterday

Oh … and I’ve done our tax returns. With some rental income, my pension, book sales and my leadership consultancy work I just make the 40% tax bracket. I’m very honest with my/our returns … and, as a result, there’s always a bill. I had to work hard, including phoning the tax people who are always very helpful, to get a loss in one area recognised against the rest. No doubt a tax accountant would have had little trouble, but it took me a couple of hours. All sorted, now, though. I just have to pay the bill …

We’re both OK, and still running. I have to say since we got back from Korea (I felt super well there) I haven’t been at my best. By 9 pm I literally can’t keep my eyes open, which is really unusual for me. But last night was better. Perhaps it’s delayed jet-lag? I dunno.

And, whilst it’s dark, we have made a conscious decision to stop doing stuff at 3 pm and watch a film. So far it’s been #Disney all the way. I loved #Incredibles2, #SpiesInDisguise and #Coco; not so enamoured with #Frozen2. What shall we watch this afternoon? We also started #TheMandalorian, which is a #StarsWars spin off series. We got four episodes in and have given it a rest. It’s good, and well filmed. But we both think it lacks direction. Doubtless we’ll come back to it.

Brexit? Trump? I give up. I don’t think I could dislike US and English exceptionalism more than I do now. The US has a clear path out of this. Us? I personally think we’re stuffed. In three months time we’re all going to asking ourselves what on earth have we done, as the economy grinds to a halt and the supermarket shelves empty. I hope I’m wrong, because I want desperately to move on. We’ll see.

Stay safe everyone.

Is it too much to ask?

It is a strange time, isn’t it? Tier 3 means we can’t do anything which, for us, doesn’t mean a great deal day-to-day. We have settled into a routine of admin type stuff (I’ve got of Black Bulls and White Horses back from my proofreader and am preparing it for sale), a run/walk and then we sit down after 3 pm and watch a film. I know it sounds a bit ‘old persony’, but when you can’t get out and the weather is so flat and the light so poor, it’s quite fun curled up on the sofa and being fed pixels. That, of course, is not the issue … although it is not something we have ever done before. The issue is the inability to plan.

[image error] still running

By now we would have had our ski trip to Chatel sorted. We normally do post-NYE. In January we went for 4 weeks and had the time of our lives. And, by now, we would have a Spring trip abroad in Doris sorted. If you remember we had 6 weeks planned for Spain in March, but covid saw to that. The year before we did Croatia … etc. Irregardless of the vaccine, we can’t plan on either of those things. However, we do know that, covid and passport allowing, Rebecca is hoping to bring Henry back to the UK early Spring. So that’s something to look forward to. And we will get away as soon as we can. Doris is ready … and she desperately wants to smell the sea and brown her knees. We’ll see.

Talking of Bex, Henry is, apparently, in the just eating and napping phase. We sense she’s struggling with lack of sleep, but that’s one of the prerequisites of early motherhood, I guess. Anyhow, I include an update photo for you.

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And finally, it appears that the US is coming to the conclusion that His Orangeness might have not won the election. It is crazy, isn’t it, that with the pandemic still sweeping through the country, with more lives lost each day than succumbed at Pearl Harbour, Trump is still taking no discernible federal action. It’s criminal.

Talking of criminal, we are days away from the final Brexit deadline. Sure, I’m a staunch remainer, but I lost. I get that. However, it would be nice to think that on 1st January we find ourselves in a position that doesn’t adversely impact upon the lives, livelihood and health of my family and friends. Is that too much to ask? (I was looking forward to those sunlit uplands, after all …) Sure, have your sovereignty, whatever that means, and fish, and your £350 million a week (or whatever the true figure is) for the NHS, and your control on immigration from the EU (sorry, I won’t accept Turkey as a threat here, nor that we couldn’t have done immigration from outside the EU differently, which we could), and your cutting through the red tape and unelected bureaucrats. Take all those wins … those benefits. But please make sure we have no food and medicine shortages, that businesses don’t collapse, that my pension is secure … I could go on. Please. Is is too much to ask?

Oh. And please don’t blame me if Brexit isn’t quite what you thought it might be. I didn’t vote for it … you did.

[image error] we’re still walking

Stay safe everyone.

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Welcome home?

Is it good to be back? I think so. We had a couple of nights with Mary and then back to Bradley Stoke. We’re in Tier 3, whatever that means. Our interpretation is that we only shop when it’s necessary, we don’t eat out (no change there) and we keep away from everyone. We did pop up and see Jen and James yesterday – I think the term is ‘in their bubble’. Without a spleen and only half a pancreas, Jen needs to be doubly aware. And I think they are doing that. Certainly they don’t see anyone and only go out to go to the shops. She’s still not in great shape, with plenty of tests and scans, but no outcome as to what it is that may recharge her batteries, stop the pain and warm her up. But they both seem happy enough.

[image error] the River Wey, Godalming, Colder than it looks

Us? I think C’s finding coming home a challenge. I think this is a combination of things, but includes leaving behind the whirlwind of emotions which was Korea. It was tough at times, fabulous at others, but from a complexity point of view relatively simple. We looked after Bex and Henry, C cooked for us all, and we walked and shopped. It was a single issue existence with no outside influences. Here, we are back to a number of people and issues who/which compete for our time. And we have no excuse but to give. We are fit, healthy, well off and have time on our hands. Why wouldn’t we help? Of course we would. But … oh for a simpler world.

And, of course, where we would normally be planning trips away, including time in Chatel to ski and then, in the Spring, somewhere hot in Doris for 6 weeks. None of that is possible because of the restrictions. Add to that the weather, the long nights and the fact that our main economy 7 heater has given up the ghost – which I’d left on whilst we were away, so we came back to an icebox which has taken 48 hours to heat up – has made a ‘return to normal’ more difficult. But we do have a grandson who is fit and well, and a daughter who is coping really well without her parents’ constant advice and interference (how could she possible manage?).

[image error] talking of grandchildren …

Me? I’m fine. I’m struggling with jet lag, which caught me on the way out and has ambushed me on the way back. I’m asleep on my feet early evening and awake like a fox at 4 am. I’m sure it will sort itself out.

Because we can’t travel, we have nothing in the diary between now and Christmas Eve where we intend to travel to Mum’s to celebrate Christmas with her. And then, not much. We suggested taken Jen and James away to Centreparcs for a spell early in the New Year. And we had made a plan to go away in Doris for New Year’s Eve, meeting up with old Army pals, but I think covid will scupper that. I do have of Black Bulls and White Horses to publish before Christmas and there are numerous jobs to sort in the house and in Doris, which will keep me busy … so I think I’ll be OK. And, of course, we have each other. After 35 years that is still a blessing.

[image error] my new favourite lunch

Anyhow. I hope you are all OK. For my US readers, please wear a mask and be as safe as you can. Every time I read your news it horrifies me. And for us in the UK? I’d do some gentle stockpiling if I were you. I think Brexit, deal or no deal, is going to hit us hard and we’re going to run out of baked beans pretty quickly …

Stay safe. And keep in touch with each other.

Back home …

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Just to let you know we’re back home after an 11 hour flight with an easy Korean Air (three hot meals!), with every passenger having a row each. Fab.

Anyhow, final update from Henry below … normal service resumes on Sunday.

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D + almost too long

Almost done …

[Full Henry update below …]

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So, we’re coming to the end of our marathon stay in Korea. Hats off to Bex and Steven for putting up with us – I hope we’ve helped over what has been a tumultuous time. Both C and I are looking forward to going home, even if home means covid-19 restrictions and, of course, dreaded Brexit, the impact of which is going to hit us all hard.

I’m going to miss Henry. I love him and find him funny even when he’s grizzly. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way about someone after C and our two girls, but it is a deep-seated love which has taken me by surprise. I’m going to spoil him rotten. And, of course, even in my late 60s, take him on plenty of runs.

[image error] I’m going to miss this chap …

It will be sad to leave, but Bex is in a really good place now and with a 3-week holiday on its way, the excitement of Christmas and a teacher pal of hers in Seoul due to drop early next year, she’d have company. I think her plan is to return to work next September. They’re planning on being in Seoul until mid-22 … and then, who knows what?

Away from the delights of Henry, I’ve prepared our tax returns, sent off of Black Bulls and White Horses to my proofreader and prepared a wrap-round cover. I’ll get all of that done when we get home. And next year? Well, that’s covid dependent. But I keep saying out loud … it’s going to be a year for craziness. I hope so.

Stay safe everyone.

[image error] I love this!

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To all the mums and dads

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The usual Instagram cut and paste update is below. But it misses a key event, which I have purposefully left out until now. It’s quite a story which, as you read it, does have a happy ending – for Bex, Steven and Henry.

Henry’s birth wasn’t without stress – I’ll leave out the gory details, but safe to say what with a cesarean, a good deal of pain, a baby with low oxygen levels and a Korean system which briefly presents the baby and then stows them away in ICU for two days, it wasn’t without tears.

Which continued when Henry came home …

… and then a phone call from the hospital. Henry’s blood results showed an anomaly. Again, I’ll leave out the details but what the lad would have if the blood results were confirmed would have been caused by both parents having a defective gene. And the prognosis would lead to two illnesses, both of them life-threatening in infancy and certainly life-limiting.

We had to wait for two days to get Henry retested (during which time we Googled the hell out of everything and made ourselves more miserable, if that were possible). Bex and Steven saw a specialist who was calming, but couldn’t disregard the possibilities.

We then had the longest five day wait … and then the phone call. The retest was all clear. No explanation was given, but we reckon the anomalous blood result was caused by stress at birth.

So … for all those mums and dads out there who have been through the same sort of thing recently and maybe had bad news for their young baby, we, all of us, are with you. So very, very sorry.

Now, back to what we’ve been up to, which should include a whole lot of fretting and no small amount of tears. You can supply your own.

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I am cute …

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ooh and ahh …

Leaving aside over-indulgent photos of grandson, you may ask is it worth coming to South Korea for a visit? Well, if you leave aside the covid-19 restrictions which mean you have to isolate in a government facility for 14 days at your expense (£1300), then … possibly.

If you consider other east Asian countries, the historical and cultural depth of SK is probably not as interesting as, say, Japan or China. And the scenery, the weather and the beaches, not as significant as Vietnam and Thailand. And there are no Sien Reaps … miles and miles of ancient palaces. And it’s not cheap, like Cambodia, but it’s not as expensive as Japan and Singapore. It’s all pretty middle-of-the-road.

And, and it’s a big and, we’ve only been to Seoul, although we are staying here with daughter and son-in-law, who have travelled widely.

But … there is plenty of countryside: mountains (you can ski here), lakes, rivers, gorges, national parks, beaches and islands. And there is the Demilitarised Zone, a short bus ride from Seoul, beyond which is North Korea and all those badies, fledgling nuclear missiles and all. It’s worth a visit. And the people are lovely. Oh, and there’s no crime. You can leave your laptop, wallet and phone open in Starbucks and nobody will half-hinch them. That’s a real plus.

And finally the weather. It’s blooming cold in the winter and Mediterranean hot in the summer, but damper as the rains can come and come. However, the Spring and Autumn are lovely. We’re here in mid-November and the autumn tree display is fabulous and it is very dry and, depending on which way the wind is coming, it can get lovely and warm (overcast and 18 degrees today; 20 degrees and sunny yesterday … sunny and crispy cold from the weekend onwards).

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So … is it worth a trip. Yes, absolutely. Would it be top of my east Asian list. No. Vietnam is culturally much more frantic and the beaches are to die for … nearly all year round. And we’ve not been to Japan, but Bex tells us it’s fabulous, provided you can afford it.

Now, what have we been up to?

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We are grandfather …

Technically we are grandparents, but I thought the title more amusing.

[image error] welcome Henry, John, Albert Green

And so Henry John Albert Green comes into the world. I would argue a worse place than when our children arrived, over 30 years ago. What with Trump and Brexit, a golden four years opportunity to grip our worst vices – namely climate ruin and the decent into popularism and the dismal, self-serving leadership which accompanies it. Thankfully Trump has gone. Unfortunately, regardless of the ‘cummings’ and goings, the UK still faces a bleak future. Frankly I have absolutely no interest in the pantomime which is this inner working of No10. I just want to governed by decent, intelligent, competent people with integrity. There seems little chance of that.

Anyhow, other than a baby, what have we been up to?

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[image error] we’ll leave that to the next generation

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Hanging on …

[image error] the tower I keep going on about

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