Surprise surprise....

I'll get on to the reason for the blogpost title later.....but for now I've been asked by Lady J to write the evening update, so that tells you a little about the day we've had.

In no particular order....Jilly was (for some unknown reason) a little out of sorts today, well this morning anyway. Was it the tonic water in her gin last night? Was it last night's Chinese? Was it an overload of monosodium-glutamate? Was it the impending appointment to join the ranks of the "follicly challenged"? It was almost like the steroids had decided to have a day off, even though they had been taken as normal with the honey on toast first thing this morning. We were so off colour that we had to cancel a lunch reservation with another good friend who is also fighting her own battles with this flippin' disease. That was a big disappointment....we know that she's away tomorrow for radiotherapy at the Marsden, and we really wanted to meet up, but we'll do it when she gets back. Our thoughts and prayers go with her.

Other family members have also been challenged today. Dan has had a rough day at sea, coping with very big tides (lots and lots of water moving about), wind (the celestial sort), and an array of age groups ranging from 3 to 80....and came home to deposit a very large amount of very wet clothing on the Aga. Tom has a work placement student to "look after".....no more comment needed. Jack has had to put up with taking me to the recycling centre this morning, and this afternoon spear fishing with no fish throwing themselves on to his spear. I've walked 11km, taken 15,000+ steps and taken Jill out later this afternoon to do some "errands"....all I have to show is tired legs, a tired brain and a bee sting! (oh, and my car has started telling me it's needs a service....doesn't it realise that I'm supposed to make decisions about that sort of thing?) Bex is possibly the only one of us who's started the week well!

On the plus side....we have a time and date to have the port(acath) removed (Friday 10:30) so we won't need to worry about the infection risk there anymore. Despite it's irregular issues, it's been a godsend for us, and has saved so many injections and canulas . Another plus....Aunty Betty arrives on Wednesday....so the garden and greenhouse will get the attention that they've both been sadly lacking of late.

Other news includes the fact that I no longer have the shortest hair in the family. A hair stylist friend came around this evening and shaved Jill's head.....unfortunately, the new bandanas that have been ordered (from China) have been detained at Customs (they've obviously highly dangerous) ...hopefully they can be delivered tomorrow! Jill's already feeling the cold a little more, and wooly winter hats have been dug out to keep the chills at bay until she gets used to the change in thermal insulation from her new hairstyle.

Finally, the blog title. Our reader will be surprised to read what  am  about to type....but (once again) I'm going to add to the list of female singers that are "worth a listen". These two each have a particular single track that I could listen to all day. The first is Dusty Springfield, and the song is "The Look of Love". A Burt Bacharach composition (did the man ever write a bad song?) taken from the film Casino Royale...the original film, staring David Niven. It's such a simple track...no full orchestra behind...but brilliant in its simpleness.

The second female artiste is (wait for it) Cilla Black. That's certainly going to be a "surprise surprise"  for our reader. However, right at the start of her career she did some really powerful stuff....young, keen, raw, inexperienced, hungry, brave, unfazed and not frightened.....you can hear all those emotions in the track that she recorded entitled "Alfie". It's no coincidence that again it's a Bacharach composition...he actually played and conducted.....and the original recording at the Abbey Road studios is more than well worth a listen.....just type "Cilla Alfie Abbey Road Live" into Youtube.....brilliant music at its best....and in black and white as well.

Right....I promise no more female singers will be mentioned on this blog. Next time I'm moving on to male songwriters and/or male artists!

I'll finish this evening with a short trailer/taster about tomorrow's blog, and the dangers of being disabled...... Jill has ordered a electric mobility scooter for a trial tomorrow. Her idea is that she can "fly around" up and down our lane, visit all our neighbours and deliver some invitations. there's little more that I dare add at this time....other than I have warned the Honorary Police and asked them to be sympathetic if they get a call. No doubt there will be much to report this time tomorrow....that's if we haven't all been arrested!