Synchronised Zimmering

Cornflower

I am wondering if a few of my sisters and me shouldn't go for Olympic gold next year?  We've left it a bit late this year as, in order to finish in time for the Closing Ceremony, we would need to start a good few weeks ahead of the Opening one.  Our movements, though stunningly graceful and synchronised to the utmost, will be on the slow side. And we will need lots of pit stops for nice hot cups of tea as we go through our routine.

Its a lovely day here.  Captain Butterfly left in a blur of cameras before 7 this morning.  And I have been out on the balcony studying my Watchtower and getting some sun. We are being reminded that Jehovah is the great Timekeeper, and that He will act in time to save the earth from being ruined, as He has promised.

Of the wildflowers Bea planted for us, only the cornflowers have come up. But they are doing really well, and their tender blue goes beautifully with our clashing red geraniums.

Took Maggie out on her magazine route yesterday morning - in the drizzle.  Scary driving - for me - but, with lots of praying, we got it done. And I was out with Audrey on the Tuesday, finishing our magazine routes.   I should have been at the study this morning, but the brother who conducts it is taking another sister along this week. We are trying to help our student get to know the brothers and sisters in the congregation, so that when he starts coming to the meetings - as he says he will! - he will feel at home.

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Captain Butterfly in full flight

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/13/butterfly-hunting
You will see him to the left of the picture.   My job was to be at home by the computer - on Twitter - sending regular butterfly count bulletins to his phone - so they were updated on the state of play.  In between doing that I shopped and made the curry for Jacks tonight.  A Madhur Jaffrey lemon coriander chicken - not helped by Sainsbury's being out of coriander.  We will also have tomatoes cooked Indian style, and strawberries, chocolates and champagne - our wedding anniversary celebration - a week late.  The Captain has just jetted off to buy a real-time copy of The Guardian, but just reported that it's not in today's edition.

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HAILSTONES

Captain Butterfly nearly got caught in a hailstorm just before lunch today.  There was a flash of thunder and a crash of lightning as a warning and he made it to his car before the hailstones arrived!  I associate thunderstorms in July with hotter weather than we have had.  It is now pouring down. Second torrential downpour of the day here by the English Channel.  Its the meeting tonight, if we aren't flooded out.

On the work with Audrey yesterday morning - but I was very very tired and rather lacklustre.

I shopped early this morning and posted off the next lot of butterfly paperwork, namely my expense forms and receipts for all the posting of butterfly packages.

Everything looks lovely outside with the drama of the storm.  The Channel is getting a bit stormy, the Green is an especially deep and vivid green and the clashing red and pink geraniums on our balcony are dancing away.  They remind me a bit of my lost admirer, Maurice the Mussel.  What a dancer he was!  I haven't been able to totter down to the beach for months.

I hope a seagull hasn't dared to eat him.

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My Wimbledon Career

With all the grunting and groaning I am doing (re my poor arthritic knees), I feel I should be a natural for Wimbledon, as making a terrible groaning noise every time you hit the ball seems to be de rigeur for the Wimbledon ladies nowadays. That would be no problem for me, and if any Tennis Talent Scout was passing and heard me, he would think Raw Young Talent, and sign me up.

"Yes", said Captain B, "apart from the Young and the Talent".

We were on our way to the shops I think. He also ran me up to Janet's with a sackload of cakes as there was an urgent call for supplies at the meeting on Sunday.  We are on the last big push for the new Kingdom Hall build.  Our neighbours have been wonderful. Three of them have sacrificed their garages for the duration; and one garage is now storing materials, one is the (temporary!) loo, and one is the office.  We had two of the young builders stay with us on Saturday night.

I got back from the meeting in time to see the second half of the Murray match. He did very well, but Federer did better.  We do think though that if Andy M could have got his first serve to work as it was working earlier in the tournament, the result could have been different.  I am hoping for a quiet day of catching up today.

Am now wearing my Dorothy of South Island recommended orthotics.  I think they are helping my knees already...

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Sunsets

Two spectacular sunsets - one last night - see photo - and one on the previous night when I was driving back from the Kingdom Hall.  I was out with Jean the next day and we were talking about how wonderful it was. There was a sort of cloud column rainbow in the sky.  And there will never be another sunset like it.   I hope to see millions upon millions of sunsets, and not one will be the same as the other, such is the glory of Jehovah's creation.

Anyway, the Zimmer twins, Jean and me, creaked up to our student's flat yesterday morning, and after I had asked Jehovah for his spirit to be with us, we had a lovely study together.  We all felt very happy as we left.  The afternoon was taken up with Butterfly bureaucracy, as the first batch of new members for July arrived.  Captain and Mrs Butterfly (me) are just about to release the membership packages at the Post Office.

We are looking forward to Wimbledon this afternoon.  Its cloudy and overcast, but not scheduled to rain here.  Floods, severe floods, forecast for a lot of the country.  Hopefully the Centre Court roof will be rainproof.  I am trying to type up my notes from the Brighton Convention... my handwriting... never good... so bad now with the arthritis.  Its as if a clutch of spiders had fallen into a bottle of whisky, got drunk, staggered out, fallen into a bottle of ink, got out and crawled all over my notebook.  Only not as neat as that.

Anne of the Cape and I are talking about Genesis and Job at the moment.  We hope she will make it over here for a visit one day.

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Saved by Mark

I just got back from the field service with Audrey - we didn't make it to the group but did some route calls and then I took her shopping - and got wet as its been a rainy day - and was getting lunch ready when Captain B said that Mark had rung, they were going to attempt a Butterfly Hunt and two lunches were needed.  Assuming he meant two packed lunches, I made an extra sandwich box up. But he didn't, he meant Mark was coming for lunch and then they would go out.  And he did, and they did.  Which saved me from being caged in the flat with a stir crazy butterflyless Captain all afternoon.

Restarted the Cakeathon by making a batch of marmalade muffins, studied, fell asleep, and managed to lose my Convention notebook.  Hopefully it will turn up. Its only a two bed flat after all.

The young brother, a carpenter, who will be staying at the weekend rang to check our address.  And Anne of the Cape and I are back in email contact again.

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A Bear with a Sore Head

Growl, prowl... "NO butterflies".

Its raining out and I am trapped in the flat with a butterfly-deprived Captain B.  The Sharapova Lisicki match kept him happy for a while - two pretty blondes playing tennis.  Not sure if he noticed they were playing tennis, but he watched happily enough.

The Wimbledon Ladies Title is safe from me this year.  I can barely walk. Three days at the Stadium, followed by having to climb up and down the stairs to my appointment this morning (lift broken again) have just about finished me off.  Audrey wants me to go out on the field service with her tomorrow, but I don't know if I will be able to.

In the meantime I have offered to put on a colourful frock, and flutter around the room, landing on one of our orchids occasionally so that Captain B can stalk and photograph me.  My offer wasn't very gratefully received.  He growled that when he wanted pressed orchids he'd let me know.

I need to go and study now and try to type up my spidery Convention notes and try to APPLY all that wonderful teaching.

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