This and That 2025

 

setting sun in Kelvin Grove

January 

New Year, new beginnings. How to keep up with it all. It seems that the older I get, the busier I am—nothing to do with doing things slower! Last year was full of adventures, going to Germany in June/July (see my snippets Travel to Germany and Presentations about two of Germany’s oldest castles).
 
Then there was, and continues to be, the massive job of downsizing with numerous trips to the Salvation Army and Lifeline. A little unexpected stay at the hospital just before Christmas, where I received daily visits from various specialists, family, and friends and was spoiled with delicious small-portion food choices and tender care by the nursing staff.

The excitement of getting acquainted with several replacements of ageing possessions was the next thrilling step.

There is the car, Ellie (short for the little leather elephant bought years ago in America), that always sat in my old car for good luck. After twelve years of being comfortable with the little hatchback, I am now getting used to new technological gadgetry. First, you don’t need to put the key into the door or ignition. Second, the car beeps when you do something wrong, although the beeping is losing its urgent frequency. Then there is the automatic window wiper, which has a mind of its own and wipes when it wants to. Most awesomely, the car talks to you. 

Usually after parking somewhere, the voice tells me in sombre tones that an incident occurred in the parking lot, and a thief is driving. My distressed response, ‘If a thief is driving, they know it and don’t need to be told,’ is ignored, and the message repeats. Scared to touch any buttons if the car stops in the middle of the road, I ignore the inept advice. One day, when I have a lot of time, I might find out how to deal with this high-tech security device. 

Of course, there is the sunroof. I don’t know how to use that, nor do I want to since I am trying to protect myself from the sun’s rays. You might ask, why did we buy it? I don’t know; maybe the salesman saw us coming and succeeded in honing his persuasion skills. 

Besides the foregone whinges, I’m getting used to Ellie and never cease to delight when discovering hitherto unknown features. Here AA Milne's (1882-1956) motto comes to mind: 'One of the advantages of being disorderly (or in my case ignorant as well) is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.'

I won’t talk about the new phone; it is a mystery like the old one. The only difference is that I know now when it is nighttime, as everything is tinged in black.  
 
Then there is the new bed. Changing from king-size to dual mattresses to enable individual reading and feet elevation positions and having a massage sounded fabulous and beneficially healthy for the maturing body. A message enthusiastically confirmed by the saleslady, who couldn't live without her massaging bed. In hindsight, it does seem odd that the saleslady from another outlet also insisted with the same fervour that she couldn't sleep in an ordinary bed anymore. The massage turned out to be more like a vibration; if I feel like a massage, I'll revert to using the old big massage chair in the retired nurseryman's (RNM) study. But downsizing from king to two single mattresses meant I had to eliminate several of my recently purchased and most loved kingsize ‘I Love Linen’ linens. 

That is a saga involving RNM, as he reads the instructions for the sewing machine to enable me to stitch the cut to size single sheets. A few of the king-size sheets were reduced to small-sized table clothes due to my creative scissoring. Alas, the unexpected rewards are the six additional and matching serviettes. You should always try to look for the silver lining, and I love reading in a comfortable position without struggling between book and sheet and trying not to upset the RNM with my bedside light disturbing his peacefully slumbering features. 
 
We also got a new super-duper coffee machine. Again, I cannot make coffee and leave that task to the RNM because I don't read instructions. If I want a coffee, and he is not around to make it, I use the old plunger or the little Italian number you put onto the stove.
 
Now, let's talk about the new TV. After several weeks of trial and error, I’m still figuring out which button to press and which cursor to point to switch it off. I can turn it on, though, as the red button functions like the one on the old TV. So that is an unexpected bonus.

Disregarding the challenging task of mastering the plethora of choices, I choose to see the bright side. I can now enjoy my favourite soap operas and crime dramas on German television channels. So, despite the initial confusion, I'm content with the new TV. And for that matter, with the other things too. If only the wonders of the new technological gadgets could be transferred to my mature (since it's politically incorrect to use the more aptly described old) human body. However, when I think of it, with my modus operandi, it might be best not...

 

At this stage, I won't talk about the bathroom renovations, I'm too stressed to put it into words. A work in progress, literally. 

And this is only the beginning of 2025.

😁