Contractions

Hello folks.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been blogging for a little wee while; the old Oxcliffe Fox has been in semi-retirement – oh, all right, yes, complete retirement.

Most of our day-to-day activities is being covered by My Good Lady and it seems a bit pointless for me to go over the same ground.

I’ve also been troubled by one or two health issues – none of them major in themselves, but tiresome nonetheless.

I’m diligently performing my physiotherapy exercises to relieve the arthritis in my hips; my upset tum comes and goes periodically; and I’ve now been diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture in my hands – whereby my fingers slowly curl up inwards into the palms.

And somehow all these maladies begin to seem like a metaphor for growing older. Life seems to slowly contract, both personally and socially, until one’s consciousness becomes focused on one’s miseries.

The outside world ceases to become of great interest, and certainly, for me, the itch to communicate has faded rather badly.

Whereas once writing was not merely a pleasure, it was a need. Now it has become more of a chore.

That’s not to say I’m not getting out and about a bit – be it the library, the pub, the golf club; I’m still doing the cooking two three times a week to give MGL a break; I still get pleasure in my wine.

And even as I write, MGL and I are planning a holiday in France for September.

So, yes, I’m still creaking along. It’s just that the energy levels have depleted to such an extent that just making the effort to express myself is more than I can cope with.

Writing is more than just an effort of will, it is the product of a life lived at a peak of mental and emotional stamina.

It is precisely this that I no longer seem to have.

Oh, I’m not saying I shall never post a blog again; something might just crop up which excites me enough for me to put fingers to keyboard again. It just won’t be all that often.

I shall ask MGL to put a mention in her post if and when I do, so any kind readers who wish to can visit again.

So until such a time, I shall bid you adieu.

The Oxcliffe Fox has left the building!