Fun and games

So the ol’ man seemed much better today and was on top of asking the right questions. Questions like: ‘When am I going home?’ The nurse had a look at the notes and said, encouragingly, “The proposal is to send you home on Sunday.” Well, that’s welcome news, isn’t it? Might have to take the car out for a spin tomorrow then.

We didn’t chat long this morning because I decided to colour my hair. I have been putting it off in the spirit of ‘I can’t be bothered’ and, ‘You can hardly see the grey’, but I began to think I ought to smarten myself up for when John comes home. The stars must be aligning, because that was my thought before he told me that he might be home tomorrow.

I had also decided to take myself a walk over to Lavender Hall Park this morning where I might, just might see Michael and the children, and Christiana and Gloria with Alexander, who thought they may be passing through the village today and visiting said same park.

The plan was for Christiana to park on our drive and walk to the park, but Gloria’s hip was giving her jip so she baulked at the idea of walking and drove to the park while Christiana, Alexander and I set off, using Shanks’s pony. Alexander (nearly two) said, “Hello,” very brightly to me on arrival, but after that, every other bit of conversation was met with a “No!” I wondered if he’d like to hold my hand? Christiana wondered, after she’d picked him up, whether he’d like to walk some more? At lunch, she wondered if he’d like some more hummus and sweet pepper? I think ‘No’ must be his favourite word – it is said extremely firmly. I think we know who’s boss.

We had a wonderful time at the park – saw lots of people I knew and chatted to them along the way, and we finally made it to the playground, where we had the best time. I played on the swing, played Tig, see-sawed, crawled into a hidey-hole under the climbing frame as an adventure and looked for bears in the woods…….oh, pardon? You were expecting to hear about the children playing in the park? Well, yes, they did, too….. all of the above and more…..in fact, they even had a picnic and were quite busy wearing their lunch at times…..

After our goodbyes to Christiana and Gloria, whom it had been a delight to see after such a long time, I walked with Michael and the boys to La Delicia for a hot chocolate and a Cornish pasty. It was yum. And then it was home time. Once I got in, I collapsed in a heap. All that running about is exhausting. But, I have to say that, all in all, it was an amazing day with fun and games throughout, and I wouldn’t have wanted anything less.

Exhaustion though, is something else and, as it happens, I haven’t felt awfully well myself this week – exceedingly tired and clearly run down, one way or another. Not only that, I didn’t sleep very well last night – probably got about four hours sleep. So, instead of preparing and eating my tea at tea-time, I found myself fast asleep at that time for two and a half hours, and was then eating my tea at eight o’clock this evening. Ah, well, perhaps I’ll feel better tomorrow?

And in that spirit, I am hoping lots of people will feel better tomorrow. Certainly the COVID figures are looking a bit healthier – although it is the weekend and figures are never quite that reliable on a weekend.

• 4,715 people tested positive for the virus today
• 58 people died in the community with the virus in the last 24 hours
• 26 people died in hospitals with the virus on 24 & 25 March
• And it’s Day 80 for Lockdown 3; Day 369 since Lockdown 1; Day 374 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless.