​We have had a number of dramas and a few other things going on.  I have hardly mentioned the granny flat of late.
Our new kitchen has taken up a lot of our thoughts in recent times.  We had no place to put anything in the kitchen while the old one was demolished, and the stages of the new one were taking shape. That has changed now.
Merril went to hospital and the guy making the granny flat (cabin) also did.  When the guy doing the Cabin was ok again, he recommenced work.  Merril had had another stent put in her artery and I had ended up staying the night in hospital with her.
So the builder has been beavering away at the cabin and it is taking shape.  Once the concreting and some of the groundwork was done, I said to the guy “you must like this stage” (making it look pretty).  I was surprised at his answer.  He said something like, “I actually like working it all out and how to do it the best.”
Anyway Merril and I have been wandering in to have a sneak peek after the worker goes home each day.   It has been taking shape.  Recently giant strides were made in the bathroom/toilet area.  As were strides made in the washer/dryer area.
I must admit I have been very pleasantly surprised.  It is amazing - we live in a joint for more than 10 years and little changes - and then big changes happen.
Our goal with the granny flat has been to make it an independent living space.  Visitors can use it, and it contain all that is required.  I can actually see that our plans for the place are turning out as we had in mind.  We did not want it to be so pokey that anyone felt claustrophobic, and although there is seemingly a heap of stuff to go in there, it does not feel like it will feel spacious enough.
Its funny but I really feel like I am seeing what encouragement does.  Merril and I tell the builder we like what we are seeing, and he seems to go the second mile.  It is not finished yet but for sure so far so good.

I have a friend that said, “if you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.”  For someone who does not like heights that was a bit of a challenge physically.  But I feel emotionally and life choice wise that is pretty right.  My only proviso is there are times to pull back from the edge and take a rest.  That is a rest to regain perspective and strength.  Not a pulling back and withdrawing from a fight worth fighting.
I was looking up speeches yesterday.  I sought out one by Samwise Gange that moved me at the time and still does.  It was at the end of the Two Towers.
“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something. FRODO: What are we holding on to, Sam?  SAM: That there is something good in this world Mr Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.”
I was reminded of living life on the edge by a James Clear email. "The key is to enjoy hanging out on the edge. That is, you find it interesting to attempt things one step beyond where you are right now. It could be the edge of your ability or the edge of your knowledge or the edge of your network.
If you reach — but just a little — and you do it every week, then you'll take on challenges that are manageable enough that you win most of the time, but meaningful enough that you improve as well."
I am a great believer in taking on manageable challenges.  I have no desire to set myself up for a fall.  Been there done that.  Asking of myself something that has been unrealistic in the past and a “to do” list does not change.
I am big on lots of little victories equalling a big victory.  It means leaving my comfort zone but if I am honest with myself my comfort zone very easily becomes my discomfort zone.  To me a life without challenges is existing rather than living.
I may find the road challenging but I am up for an adventure and I have company.

What a day yesterday turned out to be.
We had great plans.  We had done heaps the day before and had decided to do two hours each together working on the front.  Which happens to look like a jungle at the moment.  The sort of place where elephants go to die.
Anyway that was the plan.  The day had started out blue and clear.  We had a few things to do before we started outside and by that time it was very overcast.  In fact the rain told us maybe indoor activities were the go.  It was not raining so bad, but enough to make us feel venturing out was not such a good idea.
Good decision really.  Later on it really rained.  I have not seen rain like it before.  No wonder places flood in a hurry.  I emptied out the rain gauge at 110 mil.  I reckon we had 75 mil in 30 minutes.  I was on patrol around the place making sure water was not getting into the home.  It was not.
So what did we do?  We declared it a day off.  We watched tele and had a sleep.  Of course when we were asleep it was not raining.  But when we got up it was.  Go figure.  We watched a movie.  It was a bit of a tearjerker and I have determined that since the stroke I cannot disguise tears well.  I chose to look away and pretend I  was unaffected, but I reckon noises I made and the tears gave it away.
I did some writing, reading and listening to music after that.  It was a good day but nothing like we originally had in mind.
Of course today dawns beautiful.  There was blue sky everywhere but it is closing in like it did yesterday.  We are told today will not be as bad.  But honestly who knows.  There was no warning of what transpired yesterday.
But today is another day that has its own challenges.