Mixed Weather.

The day has been a mixture of sunshine, greyness and the occasional shower. This morning I had an appointment at the doctor's to have a steroid injection into my hand to ease up the tendon that has been giving me trigger finger. I didn't have one last week because my doctor who is new and young, isn't qualified to give those injections. It was a little embarrassing this morning as the doctor I was seeing today used to be our regular GP but we switched to another doctor because 1- she was usually unavailable during school holidays and 2- because although she was pleasant and sympathetic nothing seemed to get done. However this morning went well and the injection which I had been expecting to hurt a bit only stung for a moment after the needle was taken out. Afterwards I went into town, visited the library etc and went to Tesco's and Lidl's. Now I can go back to being a country mouse in the peaceful countryside.

I felt quite worn out when I got home so after unpacking the shopping I settled down outside with some tea and a book only to be rained on. After a break I went outside and did some work in the scree garden before returning indoors. I've been spending a bit more time playing the piano, the doctor said it was fine to play straight away but to avoid manual work for a few days. Also it's been taking so long to put photos on the blog that I go off and do a bit of piano practice in between. I'm still at the plodding along stage as I learn In un'altra vita but the muscle memory is beginning. I think sight reading must be very good for the mind as you have to be so focused and use different parts of the brain. A lot of research into keeping your marbles, so to speak says you need to give your brain new challenges not just doing the same old Sudoku or crosswords. 

When I came out of Lidl's a Border collie-cross was tied up outside barking and howling for its owner. When it saw me it gave a plaintive half-howl as if to say You're not my owner are you? It sounded so sad.