A rude awakening this morning. The alarm went off at six-thirty as normal, but I snoozed it and the next thing I knew was that the front doorbell was clanging away and echoing around the house. Startled, I leapt out of bed, stuttering to John that it was the nurse arrived, as I struggled to pull on a pair trousers before hurtling downstairs to let her in. Not, however, before she had rung the doorbell twice more though, and was a-hammerin’ on the door when I got downstairs. Crikey! And it wasn’t yet seven o’clock.
I unlocked Fort Knox and, on opening the door, I said, “John’s still in bed, just getting up. He’ll be down in a minute.” I might also have made mention of the fact that she was early. She looked at her watch. Honestly, it was five to seven by then – but, I suppose, what’s five minutes between a patient and a medic? She was a bit terse, and replied, “Well, the appointment is at seven o’clock isn’t it? Is John coming?” All I could do was nod and repeat that he was on his way. Too early for an argument…… but I so wanted one.
After John had had his treatment, I dozed on for an hour or so and listened to some meditation and prayers, and John settled for a bit more sleep. Once I was up, though, I was fannying around. I couldn’t concentrate as I was still discombobulated from being woken up and from the nurse’s rather abrupt tones – despite the meditation and prayers.
I had a little plan of things to do before I was due to Zoom-chat to Sue W, all the way up in the Lake District, at eleven o’clock. I had planned to pop the washing in, put clean cushion covers on, pay Mum’s bills, get meat out for tea and clean the downstairs cloakroom. None of which got done at that time. I ate a leisurely breakfast instead, listening to Classic FM and browsing the Lakeland and Traidcraft catalogues that had come in the post. Before long, the time had passed and there was no time to do those little chores.
Had a great chat to Sue though. Absolutely brilliant. It was so lovely to see her and to chew the cud a bit. I think we both had thought we might natter for maybe three-quarters of an hour or even an hour, but one and three-quarter hours later we thought we’d better abandon our chin-wagging and get on with prepping our lunches in our respective homes. A great interlude in the day. Mwah!
I did do a few chores after our chat, and also sorted out some bits and bobs to take to Mums. John had been pottering in the garage when he came in for a spot of lunch, “What are your plans for the afternoon?” he asked, as he plonked himself on the sofa. I pulled a bit of a face. “Got to take that stuff over to Mum’s. Can’t decide whether to go now and catch up on the tennis later, or watch the tennis and go tomorrow.” In the end, I decided that I’d check on the tennis. If they’d started playing, I’d watch. If they hadn’t, I’d go to Mum’s. Ooooh, guess what? Had a lovely afternoon watching the tennis.
John spent the afternoon putting the final mending touches to the trailer which he’s planning to put up for sale, and then pottering in the garage and doing bits on the car. Consequently, he came in late and I was still engrossed in the French Open, so we didn’t sort out anything to eat for a while. In the end, I hadn’t got any meat out for tea, so it was up to John to sort out re-heated take-aways from the freezer. He’s an expert at that.
Before we sat to eat though, I took a lovely phone call from Catherine. They were at their home in Norfolk for a week and had just arrived, pleased see a bottle of gin on the table waiting for them when they got there. Had a great chat and I was pleased to hear all her exciting news. I was touched to hear that she’d been up to Coventry recently, too, to scatter Aunty Mollie’s ashes and to hear her say that her Mum and Dad are together now. May they rest in peace.
So, we were running late what with one thing an another. Neither of us had looked at the clock and I was just about to get myself a Magnum as a dessert, when the house phone rang. It was Dawn, wondering if we were OK. Gosh! Is that the time?? Yes, yes, we’re OK. Just hadn’t realised it was eight o’clock. It’s not – it’s a quarter past. Oh. We were supposed to be Skyping at eight. Sorry. sorry.
We ran upstairs to log on to Skype in the computer room – well, I ran, John puffed his way up and looked blue when he got there. Thought it’d be quick and easy upstairs as we hadn’t set John’s laptop up in the lounge. Ha! Quick and easy? No, it wasn’t. I don’t think we have previously Skyped Pete and Dawn from that computer, so it was a proper set up job. I panicked as usual, “I don’t know how to do it. I’m not sure I can get the link. It’s not working.” etc. But we did get it to work and what a lovely evening we had.
I know I am a soppy old soul, but I do so love my friends. Our evening was so comfortable and friendly and easy. No edge. Just being us. With laughter and sharing and comfort. Another mwah!!
And so to COVID. What now? In the last twenty-four hours, 13,864 people have been confirmed as infected. 87 people have died in the community. 38 people have died in hospitals on 7 & 8 October. The infection rate is doubling in some areas every week. One in 240 people have COVID (apparently). Lockdowns are a-coming. There’s going to be a North-South divide. That’ll cheer us all up, won’t it? Ah, well, HS2 will soon sort out the North-South divide I’m sure…….. and there’s no panic here, folks. Keep calm and carry on. (Never thought I’d say that.)
My daily diary: written with love and hope. Peace be with you all. Take care.