Our day has offered us a bitter-sweet experience today. Cold, hard realities tempered by soft, delicious realities.
This morning we were up early, dressing in our mourning clothes, in readiness for Joyce’s funeral. Joyce was Dawn’s Mum, and someone we had grown fond of over the years as our families got to know each other so very well. Each Christmas Eve, and many a family celebration was spent in her company and, like my Mum, she was a Coventry girl, so there was a common bond; and Mum and Joyce would gossip together about their shared experiences growing up and living in that city whenever they met up, too.
The service was very well put together and beautifully presented. The music was especially moving, as we remembered Joyce’s very full and vibrant life. We felt the hurt that the family were going through and so wanted to hug everyone there. I think our eyes said it all. But, despite the circumstances, how wonderful it was to see people we love in the flesh, and offer them our heartfelt condolences personally.
Once we were back home we sat in the garden for a moment of contemplation and to take advantage of the sun. I, for one, was half-relieved that the intended visit by the Community Nurses hadn’t happened this morning and we had arrived at the funeral on time, and we were well enough to enjoy a gentle few minutes.
We had received a letter, earlier in the week, telling us that our COVID injections would be administered at home today. John phoned up to say, sorry, but we have things going on – we’re going to be at a funeral – can we arrange the visit around those things? Yes, yes – no worries, the nurse will come first thing. John told his contact that we’d need to be away for 9.15. OK, that’s fine – the nurse’ll come at 9.00.
Well, of course, no-one turned up at 9.00. The answerphone message, when we got back home, told us that the nurse had phoned up at 9.15 and she planned to arrive at 9.30. Too late – we had left the house. She phoned John’s mobile just as we arrived at the church. Basically, ‘where are you?’ And then – well, what time can you get back? I suggested 12.30. That was no good. Can you be back for 11.30? Hmmm….can’t guarantee it, no – we’re at a funeral. So her response (spiteful, I thought), was ‘Well, you’ll have to go back to the bottom of the list if you can’t do it then.’
I wasn’t best pleased. In fact, I was jolly angry at her response. We are naturally keen to have our second jabs, but crumbs, when you’re committed to another engagement there has to be some leeway, surely? I was all for phoning them back up and giving them a piece of my mind, but John said he’d rather I didn’t. “I mean, I rely on the Community Nurses quite a lot,” he reasoned. I shall phone them on Monday when I have calmed down.
However, the fact that we haven’t had the jab means that I have a weekend to do more on Mum’s flat without the worry of having a reaction to the vaccine like last time. Going to be ultra-cautious and do a lateral flow test before I go to the flat, however. Keeping my fingers crossed that being out and about today hasn’t exposed us to any of the dreaded lurgy.
This afternoon we popped into Solihull for John to have his eyes tested. He thought that maybe his glasses needed changing. Unfortunately, they don’t. The fact that he can’t see so well may be related to a nice little cataract that he’s growing. The optometrist was very thorough, but offered no solution other than offering to write to John’s GP and to one of the consultants at the eye hospital. Watch this space folks. (Ha! See what I did there?)
We drove from Solihull directly to Sutton Coldfield, having promised to grab a pile of washing from the Sutton Sleaths, to help them get their clothes ready for packing for their holiday to Jersey next week. “We’re planning to get fish and chips. Do you want to stay for tea?” Michael asked. The appeal of spending time in the garden with grandchildren pulled so strongly that naturally, we said yes.
We had a wonderful time with the family and, as usual, I enjoyed playing. To be part of the children’s growing-up experiences is just ruddy marvellous. The trouble is, we were having such a lovely time that William wasn’t keen for us to leave. I wasn’t keen for us to leave either, really……
The main news story today is the growing crisis in India. It is an absolute horror story. And, naturally, we are also concerned for our own country, having kept our borders open to people arriving from India until today. Prayers needed for those abroad and at home who are still exposed to, and experiencing, this horrid, horrid disease.
- 2,678 people tested positive for the virus today
- 40 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
- 11 people died on 21 & 22 April with the virus in hospital
- It’s Day 26 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
- Day 12 of our new, limited freedoms, where we can play in each other’s gardens;
- Day 396 since Lockdown 1;
- Day 402 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1
Stay safe everyone, and God bless.