A Day Out

John was on a roll. He’d got the tickets, he’d got the car ready, he knew the route and he was keen to get going. Time to pick Peter up and set off up the motorway to Ambergate, to the The Great British Car Journey. He’d had to duck out on the trip when the Centre Stage boys went, so he saw a golden opportunity in offering the trip as a birthday gift for Pete – and going along himself, too, of course.

By all accounts, it was a great day out. The journey went smoothly, the displays were interesting, because most of the cars were the types that John & Pete, their parents, or people they knew, had owned in recent history. They found a nice restaurant to eat in at lunchtime, and the journey home was another smooth one. Well, I was pleased. So nice for John to take himself and a mate out for the day.

And here’s one type of car we used to own… one of my favourites. A bit blurry but a Triumph Toledo nonetheless. Yes, yes, I know….

I was also pleased that John took Pete out for the day because it gave me and Dawn an opportunity to have a day together, nattering away to our hearts content. Oooh, it were lovely!! We had a proper catch up without the boys interrupting us every five minutes – tee-hee! We also had a mooch round their garden too, which was an unexpected pleasure – ooh-ing and aah-ing over all their lovely plants and brand new shed, nestling in the corner of the garden. The shed, as yet unfilled, smelt wonderfully of fresh wood. I love that smell.

And, whoosh! That was it! The day was gone, just like that. Doesn’t time fly when you are enjoying yourself, eh?

John was tired when he got home and had a snooze while I watched the last hour of the cricket, and before we ate our evening meal. Then this evening, both of us have just slobbed out in front of the TV. Lovely. What an enjoyable day.

Nothing much else to report. The Afghanistan situation is still fraught and Priti Patel has told those fleeing to ‘wait for safe, legal routes’ out. I paraphrase, but honestly! I think we are on the verge of shutting all safe legal routes out, aren’t we – and where does that leave all those poor people?

The COVID situation is still grim, too. 38,046 people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours. 100 people have died in the community. 47 people died in hospitals on 25 & 26 August. 948 people were admitted to hospital with the virus today.

I’d like to think I am catastrophising. I’d like to think so…. but this is what I wrote on 27 August 2020…..

‘So the government reports that there are 1,522 people infected with COVID-19 today and there were twelve deaths in the community – and three deaths in hospitals yesterday. The infection rate seems to be creeping up, no? Bring on the Test, Trace and Track app, that’s what I say!!‘

Ha! Catastrophising….? Moi? Boris Johnson’s suggestion that he’d rather ‘let the bodies pile high’ than have another lockdown is being fulfilled, I think – and we seem not to care any longer. We are numb to the numbers. Well, some of us seem to be anyway…..

All for now folks. Take care whatever you are doing. Stay safe. God bless.