Monday 7 March 2011

A whimsical day.

I have to confess to being in a somewhat whimsical mood today. Whimsy, what a great word, very underused. Anyway I am feeling whimsical, it may be something to do with the beautiful warm sunshine and the fact that I am at home, alone, pottering about doing bits and bobs, it may not, I just don't know.

I've just looked up 'whimsy' in the dictionary.  Whimsy it says, is "the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment".
Yes, that indeed sums up my mood today.
I have been acting unpredictably in that I have been doing something and then, like a very large and heavy butterfly (a butterfly incapable of flight obviously, and one that looks nothing like a butterfly, come on you know what I mean) I have stopped, mid-flow so to speak and gone off and started to do something else. I can't explain it really, it must be like being retired, I have no real regimentation about anything today, just aimlessly wandering through the day. Before I started writing this blog I was outside building a new chicken run for when we are away. I haven't finished it yet but I just downed tools and wandered off and now I find myself sitting in the kitchen having left the front door wide open for the first time this year (it is that warm here today).

Earlier today I was sealing the kitchen worktops (at last) and before that I was outside fiddling with some bits of wood. I've walked the dogs and fed the alpacas and had a cup of coffee with an old Rooster and an Australian and I have even had lunch, a couple of homemade wraps if you're interested but I somehow feel a little bit like I'm in limbo. It's as if I'm waiting for something to happen, waiting for some purpose in life, waiting for something to get me going and do you know what, having thought about it whilst composing this particular episode of drivel I have figured out what that 'thing' is.

Yes dear reader, I am waiting to start getting ready for the first Alpaca show of the year, The British Alpaca Futurity. This morning the Rooster and the Australian (not the one you may be thinking of, I know more than one you know) cast an eye over the Mighty Patou show team. Very encouraging noises were made and a rather splendid prediction was made by the Australian about which I shall say no more (there is a clue in the above photograph) but I am very pleased about it. That I think was the start of my whimsical mood. That was when the day seemed to dissolve into a much more fluid experience, when I seemed to go into my current state of waitingness (is that a word? It should be). Tomorrow morning I will wash the trailer and the Land Rover in readiness for the trip northwards. After lunch I have an evening shift at work to get through followed by a day shift on Wednesday. Then I will switch hats and become wholly part of the Mighty Patou. On Thursday morning Sue and I will load up the Land Rover and come 2.30pm, with the trailer loaded, we will be on the road heading North.

I feel that the calmness that is currently pervading everything I do will disappear over the next three days. I fear that come Thursday evening when we arrive at Stoneleigh Park I may be a bit of a gibbering idiot.

4 comments:

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Who is the photo ! Im wondering .....enjoy your whimsical days ....soon they will turn into hysteria and hectic goings on......The sniff of the Futurity, then before you know its time for ...The Big Chief of the Mighty Patou...to lead his team to Glory !.......Jayne

Apple Vale Alpacas said...

Whimsy is definitely in the air Mark - I managed to potter about yesterday to the extent of oiling a squeeky door hinge to the Lounge that's only needed doing for six months or more - the main thing with pottering is to stick at it, and that way you get loads done without realising it - I fiddled with some bits of plywood and screws, and within an hour I'd strengthened the doors of the polytunnel - result!

Unknown said...

Let me think...her name begins with R I am sure...her daddy is Jack of Spades of that I am certain...I am thinking good on ya Dee that's one good looking daughter!

We will be on the road by 12.30 heading South. Look forward to seeing you all Thursday.

Patou Alpacas said...

My, my, Barbara you have been paying attention. Well done gold star for you!
See you in two days!