Alfred to me was notable in one particular way.  The waiting.  It had a devastating impact in some areas but here it had scary moments for sure, but apart from high winds at two particular times, it was the waiting I found hard.  One day we were all prepared to unpack all that had been packed up in readiness, only to experience the worst night of the event that night.
The event was bad enough, but it was the waiting I found hardest.
I thought of that because I looked up the meaning of the phrase “in the meantime” today.    The meaning I found was “IN THE MEANTIME is during the time before something happens.”  I found that Dictionary.com described what I was thinking about. “The phrase in the meantime goes back to as early as 1340 and is based on meantime (“an intervening time“), also first attested in the 1300s. The mean in meantime is “average,” from a French and Latin root for “middle,” making meantime literally a kind of “in-between time.”
What I have found and hear more and more people attesting to, meantimes seem to be getting shorter and shorter.  Never have I felt so acutely the sense of “what’s next” after an event.
In many ways that is by the by and simply an observation of the times in which I find myself.  In a very real way, it is the “meantime” I find hardest.  In the meantime I am most likely to goof off.
For some reason I thought of lions in Africa.  Hunger drives them to action.  When not hungry they rest and do what lions do.  Eventually though a feed becomes paramount.  All activities are necessary and good, but for a lion there is nothing like hunger to motivate.
It really is the same for me.  When I am not hungry (not talking in a physical sense) I cruise.  And the thing is I reckon it is similar for us as it is for lions.  Satisfied hunger satisfies only until the next bout of hunger.
I have found myself wishing that eating heaps set me up to not need to eat again for longer periods.  But alas before long I am hungry again.
To me hunger is good (not talking the body needing food).  Hunger motivates.  It is when hunger is sated I am most inclined to cruise into oblivion.
So for sure I do not enjoy adverse events but it is in those times I grow stronger.  “Meantimes” are preparation times.  I continually draw on a source that provides all I need when I need it.  As someone I know used to say, “I am satisfied with an unsatisfied satisfaction.”

This is a continuation of assume from yesterday.  There is a different emphasis.
The bottom line is basically to say what I mean and not to assume the hearer understands what I am saying.
I was reminded of a guy who wanted a Ferrari for his birthday.  Rather than tell his wife straight out what he wanted, he decided to give hints.  The opportunity arose for him when she asked, “what do you want for your birthday?”  Rather than tell her straight out what he wanted he coded it in the belief she would understand what he wanted.  He said, “I want something that goes from 0 to 100 in seconds.”   She nodded and said, “say no more.”  When he opened presents, she had given him a set of scales.
That is the danger of assuming someone understands.  I had someone do me a favour by cutting back some growth.  I had not conveyed what I wanted, and it was cut back to the point of looking like a desolate land.  I had not been clear.  At other times my dad and I discussed what needed doing and we were so glad we explored it fully.  We discovered we had totally different things in mind.
So often what needs to be said in love may seem harsh, but it is not and satisfaction is only gained when something is told as it needs to be.  Both are happy.  I had a situation like this recently and after saying it the response was, “that is exactly the way it is.”  I was hesitant at the start, and we both were glad at the end.
A true friend will say the way it is, rather than say what may be perceived as what is wanting to be heard.  A situation can only be dealt with when the truth of the matter is conveyed (so often it is how something is said, not what is said).
I am really hesitant with this one as I do not want anyone thinking I condone mouthing off.  I can think I know best, but I am wasting my time telling another if I have not earned the love and confidence of another.  What I say may be right, but I am wasting both our time if the way I say it is perceived – rightly or wrongly as judgemental.
But even when the time comes that the time and methodology is right, I need to be clear and ensure the message I am conveying is the message that is heard.

It was while I was still working in Townville and a lot of years ago.  I remember a guy saying, “never assume.”  It is funny that I remember that, but it has become my standard operating procedure.
When I write and state something I always check it out.  I have no desire to put anything down that I have not found to be true for myself. 
It does not matter to me how well meaning or trustworthy a person is, it is important to attempt to find out something for myself before I quote it.  Where possible I do that.  Some things get stated that I have no fool proof way of verifying.  In those instances I will consider the weight of evidence and the reputation of those holding a particular point of view.  I may have no way of verifying something for myself (for example scientific experiments perhaps using expensive equipment I do not have access to).
Even where I cannot prove something or otherwise, I need to be satisfied for myself that what I am saying is correct.  Otherwise I just do not say it.  I find it is better to leave something unsaid rather than go down a path evidence contradicts.
For me a counter argument needs to be evidence based.  Often the proponent simply has a disposition one way rather than proof that that way is correct.
Often in such situations I will remain silent.  There are those closed to any though to the contrary of their own.  Presenting a differing point of view is often a waste of time as nothing presented will change a persons perspective.
Again though I will not assume that is the case.   Each situation needs to be taken on its merits.  Some of life’s biggest surprises are light bulb moments.