Glad Things #49

Embroidery, cheese, singing and supper.

It’s not quite seven in the morning and Percy is snuggled up at my feet, slightly under the weather, but seems much better than yesterday, which included an unplanned visit to the vet’s. I love my vet; everyone who works there is friendly and helpful, and it’s just an individual practice, not part of a giant, over-charging chain like I hear about on You and Yours. I also have a great GP and a nice dentist, which strikes me as a magic trio. Can you get luckier than that?

1.

Well, actually, yes you can, because you could have wonderful friends who have your drawings of their pets embroidered onto their wedding outfits! I stupidly didn’t take a photo of this (or indeed anything at all, because I was having such a good time) but Hannah had them on the belt of her sensational dress, and Miri on the pocket square peeping out of her beautiful turquoise suit! However, what I do have is a photo of the world’s most extraordinary cheese board:

2.

As soon as I got home on Sunday, I hot-footed it (or rather hot-wheeled, but steadily, in a Polo) over to the National Memorial Arboretum where we were performing as part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations. I was feeling slightly frazzled when I arrived, but it is a simple fact of life that Lichfield Gospel Choir always helps. And, amazingly, I managed to stay in my body while I sang a solo. A revelation! A bit like when it became ok to wear trainers all the time instead of thin ballet pumps from Topshop, and you could just move through the world in a wholly different way. Learning I can be around for life instead of floating somewhere slightly off-centre is something I’ve worked very hard at for the last few years, but managing to pull it off in front of a microphone is officially the most I have surprised myself, ever. I even put it on Instagram, which I now feel a bit embarrassed about, but also, there I am. Alive and making a noise! (Two things I have often felt to be impossible bedfellows.)

Themba, Gabriella and the gang ❤️

3.

I wrote most of the above this morning, and now it’s very late again! I should probably stop pretending that I might send this out at a reasonable Friday hour, at least till my book deadline is done in about a month’s time. Happily, I’ve just been for delicious supper in Emily and Peter’s garden, which is the most present-gladness in my heart right now. My to do list has reached fairly epic proportions, so being invited to potter down the lane for a break and aubergine curry is a huge treat. And I’ve come home with the new Elizabeth Strout, which I’m saving to be Sunday’s reward for working tomorrow.

I can’t quite believe I’ve almost kept Glad Things going for a whole year. Thank you for reading them. I’ve really fallen off the drawing-every-day wagon, but on the plus side some days I’ve done a few at once so perhaps there’s still time to do 100 before my 40th birthday, which was the original plan. Or perhaps it’s just a sign to leave unrealistic expectations of myself behind in my thirties!

Here’s one from last weekend.

Goodnight and glad mornings to you all,

Kate x