Deirdre Geraghty

My cleaner, Chani, has left me now. She is starting a new job with training at Mencap where she will train to become a support worker for people with learning difficulties. I am delighted for her but will miss her very much. We were on the same wavelength and I really liked her.

A very happy New Year to everyone. It is true that the older you get the faster the years pass by. Very strange.

I still have quite a lot of naughty food l got in for Christmas that I haven’t eaten yet. I suppose I could get rid of it in another way other than eating it but my upbringing won’t allow me to waste food. So I will just have to eat it – before I go on my diet (which is more like a sensible eating plan). How dreadful!

Every morning and several times a day l pick up my brush to brush my hair and both of my cats come and sit next to me for me to pick up their brush and brush them. I used to try using a cat brush but they didn’t like that so I use a bristle human brush which they love, both sticking their noses up in the air for me to do under their chins. Sheer heaven!

I am feeling pretty low today. Perhaps l should keep my opinions to myself, be apathetic, and leave those who believe the world is flat to their own beliefs – it would certainly be easier.

Last night I polished off the bottle of red wine l opened over Christmas. I drank quite a lot of tap water as well and feel the need to stick to that over the next few days. I actually do like the taste of water (as long as it is chilled). It is what l usually drink most of the time.

I had a lovely boxing day. It didn’t start too well because I completely overslept having drunk the best part of a bottle of wine the day before. But my son and his partner arrived late morning bearing gifts which was very nice. We went to Coast to Coast for lunch and I enjoyed a burger which was very filling. We browsed through a few shops and then they drove me home. They stayed till evening and then I came up to bed to watch Doctor Who and have an early night. A really nice day.

One of the things that really annoys me is when people call their car or a boat or train as ‘she’. What they can see that is feminine about it l don’t know. It is an inanimate object and therefore has no gender. That is why I had such difficulty learning French, l couldn’t get over the fact that the window and door had a gender.

I just want to wish you all a very happy Christmas.

I saw the doctor on Monday. I have a little lump at the base of my thumb and I didn’t know what it was so I took it to the doctor. The first time I took it it had disappeared that morning and I was terribly embarrassed but this time I didn’t make the appointment until the last minute. Apparently it is a floating bone called a sesamoid bone which has formed near the joint and although it hurts sometimes they don’t do anything with it.