The Daily Echo from Sleath Towers – Day 157

It did a lot of raining today. I was pleased about that because it means my lovely plants are at last getting a decent drink. However, the garden was a little bit sodden and then I worried about the plants drowning as the water table rose and rose. But I think they are OK, and they are certainly looking fresher than they have been doing in recent times.

As a result of the rain, we stayed in for most of the day and ‘played in’. Do you remember those expressions? “Can we play out, Mum?” When the weather was inclement it would be, “No, it’s raining, so you’ll have to play in.” And our hearts would sink, although if we’d recently been to the library I’d be happy with a book to read.

I don’t think William’s heart sank at having to play in. We had a great time, firstly with the toy cars, and then with the Duplo. It’s amazing how quickly time flies when you are playing and having fun. No sooner have you immersed yourself in one scenario than it’s elevenses time, then lunchtime, then nap-time and, well, will you look at that? It’s tea-time already!!

Part of the pleasure for me is playing with the toys that belonged to my own boys all those years ago. William wonders and wonders why a car is broken and asks, “Where are the wheels, Grandma?” and, in response to the answer, it’s often followed by the question,”Why?” Mostly the answer is that the item is so very old, whatever the question.

The highlight of the day though, was ‘The Roller Coaster’. Michael took a break and came wandering through to the kitchen. Have you got a wash basket, Mum? Yeees…..? We emptied out the strongest one, and Michael disappeared into the lounge. I was cooking the tea, and John was making banana bread. We were busy, and took not a lot of notice of the washing basket’s journey into the room next door.

A few minutes later, John popped into the lounge for something. He came back laughing. “You’ve got to go in and see what they’re doing,” he chuckled. I put my head round the door, and there was Michael, washing basket on his knees, William inside the washing basket and a video of a roller coaster ride on the telly.

Honestly, I can’t do it justice, but up, up, up they climbed to the top of the coaster, William squealing in delight, clinging on and anticipating the drop as he got to the top. The basket tipped forward and then down, down, down they swooshed, with the imaginary wind rushing through William’s hair as he swept down the coaster, leaning hard round the bends, still clinging on and still thrilled with the ride. Whooping with delight and eyes sparkling, he braced himself for another climb to the top and a swoop down to the bottom and then round again. What absolute fun.

Michael was loving it too, as he orchestrated the moves, and Danielle, giggling her head off, filmed the ride for posterity. The whole experience left us all grinning from ear to ear. No need to play out at all when you’ve got a Grandma, Grandpa, Daddy and Mummy to entertain you!!

Before all the excitement of the roller coaster, John had spent some time in the garage, keen to solder together the electrics on the rear window of the Lotus. He’d bought a soldering iron especially for the event. Unfortunately, the window didn’t play ball; the bit of copper he was soldering onto dropped off, the soldering iron fell and John went to grab it, burning his finger in the process. He was miffed. It hadn’t gone as he’d hoped and now he was injured. And he hates sitting around with his finger in a bowl of water for ages on end……

John was also a feeling a bit flat, having had a chat with the consultant immunologist. For many medical consultations, the doctors are now resorting to telephone discussions, so John spent a good half an hour chatting on the phone. The consultant revealed that John has no ‘B’ cells, which imprint and retain the antibodies of viruses and bugs. The pneumonia vaccine he’d had a couple years ago was clearly a waste of time as there was nothing to show for it in his blood. John asked me if I knew about the ‘B’ cell situation. I might have done at one time, but I don’t remember being told about it at all. I think the news has hit him hard and he is left wondering about the consequences.

Otherwise, everyone behaved themselves impeccably once again today – even Chester, who only barked once at the cats, when he found Rio in the utility room. Rio scarpered extremely fast and looked at me accusingly.

Little Thomas, whenever he was awake, was grinning from ear to ear too, gurgling at us and staring, wide-eyed at his surroundings; Danielle cracked on and shot home to collect some shopping and a few bits and pieces, and planned meticulously for their trip to Jersey; and Michael worked hard all day and all evening and wasn’t sure if he was coming or going.

And me? I was just full of that feeling you get when you spend time with your family. Love. Fabulous.

After we’d eaten our evening meal, it was Quiz Time. We settled ourselves in the lounge, and joined in, a little late, on John’s laptop. William was asleep in the computer room so we weren’t keen to disturb him with our raucous laughter and shouting as we yelled the answers to each other across the airways. As always, we had fun. Poor Danielle had to watch ‘Downton’ on her phone perched at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.

We didn’t particularly think about the virus today as we stayed in, but the figures seem stable (812 people confirmed as infected today and 16 deaths in the community, with 7 deaths in a hospital setting on Monday) and Malcolm had reassuring tales to tell from a recent gathering of GPs. He did, however, remind us that every precaution still needs to be taken. OK – will do.

And so concludes another day for which I thank the Lord. Take care everyone – God bless.