Wasn’t it just a beautiful day, today? A perfect day for a walk. Ah, yes, a walk….with Chester the dog, who has taken up temporary residence for the week while the Sutton Sleaths take a holiday.
I did wonder how I would get on walking the dog. I didn’t feel quite so fast as normal, with my legs still clearly full of the champagne I’d imbibed over the weekend. However, I needn’t have worried. It turns out that Chester isn’t quite so fast either, so we complemented each other very well. Especially as he spends an awful lot of time stationary, sniff-sniff-snifferty-sniffing the hedgerows and verges along the way. It suited me very well indeed.
After the hectic weekend, John was still tired and spent the early part of the morning in bed. But we had decided now was the time to be clearing up the garden and taking the gazebo down. “Let’s wait until Andrew gets up,” I suggested. “He can give us a hand.”
I finally winkled Andrew from his bed about mid-day with a cuppa. “Two things to do today,” I warned. “Yes? What would they be then?” he wondered. “Firstly, go and get your COVID jab; then help Dad and I take the gazebo down.” Righty-ho – he’d do that. Although the jab bit wasn’t quite what he wanted to hear, really.
We tucked into bacon butties and then Andrew set off to see if he could be vaccinated today. I set off with Chester across the fields; and John set off to the Land of Nod for half an hour.
When Andrew came back, having been successful in his mission, we duly cleared the garden of all the chairs and tables we’d had out, and then dismantled the gazebo. Mind you, the gazebo fought back and refused go quietly. Just as we were about to remove the cover, there was great ripping sound. “Whaaat the…..?” The pressure of the material on Andrew’s head was too great and it tore apart at one of the seams. Oh, bother. “I tell you what,” said John, ever the problem solver, “Let’s stick it back together with gaffer tape.” So that’s what we did, and a jolly good job we made of it, too.
Once we’d cleared the garden we thought plum-picking was in order. We managed quite a haul and I made several plum crumbles for the freezer. There were still some plums left over, so Andrew plans to take them back to Cambridge and pickle ’em. Well, at least, that’s the plan today. We’ll see how he feels in the morning. The COVID jab might say otherwise…..
Paul called in after work this evening to collect all the ‘left-behinds’ from the weekend. It was lovely to see him but he didn’t stop long as it was tea-time and he was keen to see Freddie before his bedtime. Freddie’s that is, not Paul’s.
The Sutton Sleaths had set off for their week away this morning, but called in at mid-day on their way to collect a few clothes and a parcel from the Kenilworth Sleaths for William, whose birthday it is today. I had to laugh though – Michael sent a WhatsApp message to say they hadn’t yet set off….. then another message with a mini-video in it….. imagine the scene: empty boot; camera pans round to the floor behind the boot…. there are piles and piles and piles of suitcases, bags, toys, picnic stuff, coats and the buggy…….just enough for a week away, but far too much to fit in the boot of the car. I am not sure how they fitted that and themselves in….
On the COVID front today there are 36,100 people who have tested positive for the virus; 49 people have died with it in the community and 17 in hospitals in the last 48 hours – although that’s likely to change with today being Monday. 930 people were admitted to hospital with the virus today.
Hospital admissions are putting pressure on the NHS – and we know real people, not imaginary ones, who are affected by the fact that treatments are now having to be delayed. If we could all spread the word about wearing masks, keeping our distance and ventilating indoor spaces appropriately rather than spreading COVID, it wouldn’t half help all those who have what you might call ‘regular’ ailments, wouldn’t it?
I am pleased to see, however, that the vaccination is now being taken up by those in 12-15 year-old age range. It will all help.
Take care everyone. God bless. Am off to walk the dog…..