The Lost Chord

The Lost Chord is a song composed by Arthur Sullivan. For me it evokes distant childhood memories the details of which evade me. I also remember a clever play on words which amused me, from some radio show: 

Seated two days at the organ, I was weary and ill at ease...

The concept of a lost chord fascinated me, still does in fact - I love to explore new harmonic relationships. Like as in Frank Lloyd Wright, all of the nights we'd harmonize 'til dawn. But this post is not really about a lost chord but rather a lost key albeit with its similarly seductive effect on me. It happened after this wise....

I can identify with Earl in Pickles cartoons like this. To combat my wobbly short term memory I have learnt to designate places where certain items belong. The Kia ignition key, for example, is either in the ignition or in my pocket when I'm out. When not in use the key lives in a little basket in the office.

My alternate pair of glasses (I have one for close work and another for long distance) goes in my shirt pocket, or stays in a drawer in my bedroom if not in use.  My hearing aid goes in my pocket when I need it, otherwise it lives in that drawer.  And so on: wallet, passports, senior travel card...

A couple of weeks ago I had to go out in the evening unexpectedly to help a friend install his new washing machine. So I took my tool bag. On coming back home I remember returning my tool bag to my office where it belongs, filling in the log book (we record all car usage) and was pretty sure I then locked the car and returned the key to the basket.

Several days later I needed to use the Kia again, so went to get the key and it wasn't there. Fortunately we have a spare key which I was obliged to use. And so the first key remained lost until last night, despite my repeatedly searching my memory and every possible place - what exactly did I do with the key? I wasted a considerable amount of time and heart ache hunting for it. After several days of these shenanigans Alison advised me to leave it be - we'd have to buy a replacement - but I couldn't leave it.

I checked the log book - yes I was the last person to use the Kia. I checked the odometer and there were no missing kilometres, so it had to be my fault. I asked other folk here to join me looking for the key, to no avail - doubtless they imagined - "it's just Michael again, the key will eventually turn up".

And then, on top of this, I lost my long distance glasses. Not to mention the daily minor fights like - where did I put my phone? Did I put my wallet in the drawer where it lives? The glasses likewise remained lost for several days, despite my looking "everywhere". 

And so I was beating myself up cruel about this ridiculous state of affairs. It's one thing to misplace something for an hour or two, but when the things have considerable value or nuisance factor, and the loss persists for days, weeks, despite repeated hunting... Or one's memory turning up something that did not happen. False memory syndrome? I began to doubt my sanity. Or was this the onset of dementia?  Seriously.

Whilst all this was happening I had an appointment with my GP for a routine check-up and learnt that my blood test results showed a higher than normal PSA reading - with all that implies.

And then a few days back A found the glasses (broken) in the washing machine. Phew! And last evening my daughter found the Kia key in her coat pocket, a coat she didn't often wear. Apparently she had used the Kia to drive to the barn, not far enough to have incremented the odometer. She had considered it unnecessary to record such a short journey in the log book.  

And on taking a second blood test the PSA value had reduced to well within the normal range, although the doctor wants me to schedule a third test and examination "to be sure to be sure" as they say over here.

Phew and triple Phew, perhaps I am not so senile after all! What relief! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

The lesson?  Of course I know the theory: "have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds..." but when you're in the battle it's not quite that easy. If lesson there be, clearly I have not learnt it.

First warm day of the year

As Met Éireann reckoned it would stay at 12°C all afternoon together with it being the first day without any rain for so, so long and having finally recovered from the flu and it being Saturday, all this spelled the first bike ride of the year. Nothing special and not long enough to warrant the title Foray but all the same at my age even 33.6km and elevation gain 501m seems like a challenge. So it was off to the Wicklow Gap, a good practice run as it has plenty of ups and downs. I took some Galaxy chocolate with me as a reward at the summit. 

My photo was taken on the return and shows my trusty steed, the Valleymount peninsula, blue sky and, oh how beautiful the gorse is when in full bloom.

The flu

OK, so I have blogged for ages - I know. Part of the reason is that we have both been down with a nasty bug - probably "the flu". We are not vaxxed for "the flu" for what that is worth. Anyway it was nasty the first week: unable to function in any positive manner... and it dragged on for almost four weeks. So I haven't felt like blogging and had nothing of consequence to say anyway. The only "fun" thing since ,my last post was a quick trip down to Rosslare on the train from Connelly station - such a beautiful ride - and back again as far as Wicklow to catch the new "local link" (Arklow to Sallins) 183 bus service which goes past the bottom of our road.

Oh, and biking to intercept and then walking the new Ballymore loop - full marks to whoever conceived and executed this walk.

I wish I were running fast and free

It may be the cold, but more likely my age (but I know I mustn't let my age dictate my actions) but I do often find running hard work. I tend to limit myself to c. 5 miles during the winter (ok so I'm soft) and that is not enough to get runner's high. But I can dream.

Not me! But it reminded me of my dream

Last night and the night before I dreamt I was running fast and free. Free from aches and pains, free from loss of breath, free from tiredness, able to speed along without growing weary. I don't know where I was running: it hardly matters - suffice it to say I was not familiar with the route but it was beautiful. Amazing how the brain can supply 3D landscape imagery - where does it get its data from? It took me along a rough footpath on one occasion, along a track in another. At one point I stopped abruptly with a fast flowing river ahead, too fast and too deep to ford. There were a couple of other runners there contemplating what to do next. But the path opened up on the left, alongside the river - and then I woke up.

More on seventy

 

I opened a new box of Shreddies this morning and too my surprise saw that Shreddies were a similar age to myself. Is this significant?  Yes, I think so in as much as Shreddies is at least one of my most favourite breakfast cereals. Yes, I know there are cheaper look-a-likes on the market but they don't taste as good.

And whilst we are on the subject, on February 28, 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA.  And (if you believe in such things) it was 70 years ago that the danger of carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere first travelled around the world.

For what it's worth...