Monday, 11 August 2025

“Just when you feel you have no time to relax, know that this is the moment you most need to make time to relax.” ― Matt Haig

 I've been spending far too much time in the hospital carpark, visiting a relative daily. It's an hour away from me so the stress and the exhaustion was really beginning to hit. I sort of had a moment of mental collapse on Sunday while trying to order food at a pub. I didn't want to eat anything on the menu and I sort of became mentally paralysed. Guessing that's some sort of transference. Anyway, I snapped out of it but when I next hit the carpark, which is costing so much money*, I decided I may as well have a little fun.

To adapt a Mother Teresa quote inner 'peace begins with a smile' and it did make me smile.

I know many of you will find this odd, but taking these photos, playing around with the framing, really put a spring in my step. It was a quick way to shake off the mental load. And as Jane Austen said "One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other." 


Do you find joy is strange things?

The car park shots made me think of Jeffrey Smart, an artist whose work I love. So there's a little nod to him in the last three.

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #HappyNow #HappyTuesday #WWOT #TheRandom #SundayBest #SundaySnapshot #WeekendReflection #TrafficJamReboo #Keithsramblings


*I hate that hospital carparks are some of the most expensive in the country. It's bad enough you have to visit people with cancer or have cancer but then you need to drain your bank account with each visit. There's something morally offensive about that. I know that's probably how they had to pay for the carpark to be built but there should be a better way....

13 comments:

  1. Hello,
    I have been there when my hubby was in the hospital for 8 days.
    The parking lot cost and the so so food. Thankfully he is home now.
    Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.

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  2. You found great reflections in this parking garage. Wonderful photos.

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  3. I'll need to rethink taking pics of a parking garage. Amazing shots!

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  4. As someone who had both parents in the hospital at the same time, and lost both within four months of each other, your post hit a responsive chord in me. Yes, I agree, way too overpriced, and to drive an hour would've been very hard. I'm glad you had an uplifting moment taking photos. I find it relaxing to walk around everywhere I go with a camera in hand.

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    1. It is one of the best things about the phone (also a curse I guess, but for me the camera is such a wonderful thing!) And sorry for your loss. That's so hard.

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  5. Love the Austen quote. So very true.

    Hospital visits are most tiring. I did a lot of that last year.

    Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday, Lydia. ♥

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  6. You find interesting subjects in the most unlikely places! Nice.

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  7. Anything that works to get you through these traumatic times is well worth it. Such interesting snapshots too. Thank you for sharing your snaps and taking part in #MySundaySnapshot.

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  8. A lovely set of photos, Lydia. That is why I like looking at photos taken by other people, they make me look at the world through their eyes, discovering new things I wouldn't have noticed before. I'm sorry about your sick relative, I've been through a similar experience - it's not easy. Be strong! Thanks for taking part in the "My Sunday Best" meme.

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