Age and ageing

Cousin Janet married Brian, 60 years ago, on this day. Janet sent me these photos of me as her bridesmaid…..regrettably, I haven’t been able to fish out my own photos of them on their day, so can’t treat you to those.

But, it was April 1st – and it doesn’t look cold, does it? But it does make me feel old…..I was 8 and a half years old in these photos. Heavens.

Anyway, this morning, I popped round to visit them on their wedding anniversary and was very excited to be sharing this momentous day with them – even if it was only for a few minutes and socially-distanced. It was so lovely to see them and congratulate them on achieving a Diamond Wedding Anniversary milestone! And, as I walked up the path, their son, Peter, noticed me and recognised that I was the bridesmaid, even though we think he was a child and it was a very long time ago since he last saw me. Clearly, I haven’t aged a bit…… Oi! Stop laughing at the back!

While I was visiting, I had left John at the dentist’s surgery to have his broken tooth dealt with. It was a bitterly cold morning and he wasn’t in the dentist’s chair as long as we thought he might be, so he had to wait outside in the cold for a good quarter of an hour while I whizzed back to collect him. The poor man was frozen! Well…… if you will cast a clout afore May is out and wear your light coat on a cold day, what can you expect? Bless him – we’d neither of us thought of essential outerwear this morning before we set off. Brrrrr!

After the trip to the dentist, we drove the short distance to Paul’s new house to have a look round. They haven’t moved in yet, so it was a safe viewing. We were wowed by what we saw. It is such a lovely Edwardian house and I think they will be very happy there. It has three storeys to it, but I am delighted to report that John made it up to the very top of the house and back down again without feeling too out of breath.

We agreed that this was exactly the sort of house we’d have loved to own years ago if we’d had the money – and we are not jealous at all. In revelling in its loveliness, however, we were reminded of how quickly the years pass and how you can’t go back in time – felt old all over again for the second time today. Can’t wait until restrictions are over and we’re allowed to go and stay, though.

Once we were home, we grabbed a bite to eat, and then it was the trip across to Solihull Hospital for John’s daily infusion. While John was being attended to, I chose to do nothing very much. I am still tired, so I wrote a few Easter cards and posted them before starting to read a new book that had come in the post this afternoon.

When I collected John a bit later on, he had good news to tell (mind you, it’s all relative, isn’t it?). The infusions would be administered by the community team over the Easter weekend and so we could stay at home!! Also, the treatment will finish on Wednesday. Yippee!! Not as bad as we originally thought.

This evening, I had a lovely Zoom chat to my dearest friends from college – ‘Old Salts’, so named, because we were at Saltley College. And, do you know, every time we meet up, I feel blessed all over again – they are a delight. I thank the Lord for such wonderful, wonderful friends and fifty years of their friendship. Feeling my age again…… We were missing two of our number though, this evening. Sue D was busy with her granddaughter who has come to stay – how very exciting – but we are yet to hear what held Lizzie up. Nothing untoward, we hope. Both girls were missed.

And how quickly the days pass. I had intended to join in with the prayers this week on-line, with it being Holy Week, but have not quite had the right schedule here at home to be tied to a specific time. I’ve had to do a bit of DIY prayer instead but I baulked at the washing of feet today…..

Finally, I popped round to Mum’s to ‘tuck her in’ tonight. She was feeling very miserable and a little unwell – and had given the carer the run-around at tea-time. The carer had had to phone me a couple of times to be sure she was doing the right thing. In the end, I suggested she offer Mum some paracetamol and I’d see how she was when I got there. She soon cheered up when she saw me and I managed to cajole her out of her misery and into bed. Fingers crossed, folks.

I am still monitoring the COVID figures – to quote a phrase: “I’ve started, so I’ll finish….” and see that they are still steady. I am watching them like a hawk and checking the experts’ opinions to establish whether the figures look stable and so far, so good.

• 4,479 people tested positive for the virus today
• 51 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 25 people died in hospitals with the virus on 30 & 31 March
• And it’s Day 4 of the lifting of Lockdown 3; Day 374 since Lockdown 1; Day 379 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless.