Month: February 2022

I was at a funeral this morning, saying goodbye to a former OCR colleague, Amy. No longer being ‘on the circuit’ so to speak, I hadn’t known she’d been poorly so that when she died, it was very unexpected. It turned out that it was unexpected for others too, although they had known that she had been having check-ups to try and bottom out exactly what was the matter with her.

But funerals are funny events, aren’t they? People are sad; some heartbroken; some celebrating the life of the loved one; and some, like me today, just trying make sense of it all and put it all in some order. The funny thing is that it’s an occasion to re-connect with those people you haven’t seen in ages, but of whom you are very fond. And, odd though it may sound, I am very grateful to Amy for the gathering of those people today.

I loved seeing some of my old friends from work. It was delightful to catch up with their lives and to hear how their families are doing. Many of them are now retired (catching up with me) but some are still working – same old, same old – and had tales to tell of how it is now. Oooh, I am glad to have retired.

I came home to both John and Andrew just getting up out of bed. They’d both had a long lie-in and, much to his dismay for having realised too late, John missed a doctor’s appointment this morning for a routine procedure. Maybe tomorrow?

We tucked into hot cross buns for a bite to each across lunchtime and then, not more than a couple of hours since he got up, John had an afternoon nap. Andrew and I pottered about with one thing and another and sat chatting for an hour before deciding it was time for a walk. “Are you coming with us, John?” I asked. Yes, he was – another practice walk for his 30-day stint in March.

With the weather being unpredictable, we set off in the rain. Half an hour previously, the sun had been peeping through the clouds. But the rain soon stopped and we finished the walk under clouds, but dry.

Great excitement as we came along the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ though. As we sat on a bench for a breather, we’d chatted to a dog-walker with two Cavachon dogs, before she walked on ahead of us. Not two or three minutes later however, her dogs were running back towards us, being chased by a much larger dog – perhaps a labradoodle. Tearing behind them and shouting ‘Bentley! Bentley!’, we recognised the dog-walker. Cue: immediate images in our minds of Fenton* in Richmond Park – hehehe!

At first, we thought the dogs would circle back round behind us, but no, they tanked on towards the entrance to the park, the littlest Cavachon yapping frantically. The dog-walker was wild-eyed and panicking as she came running towards us…. “Do you need a hand?” I asked. “Yes! It’s not my dog!” she cried, desperately. I was about to run, but Andrew beat me to it. He thrust the walking stick/seat he was carrying to me and pelted after the dogs.

John and I carried on walking to the next bench. The chasing dog came trotting back to its owner, who seemed not at all nonplussed at what had just happened. It took a while, but eventually, Andrew and the dog-walker came back. The dogs had stopped at the entrance to the park fortunately, so the visions of them running in the road were not realised. But the thrill of it all perked our walk up no end, I can tell you.

I was also very perked up by a parcel that arrived today…. you gotta love that man, haven’t you? Look what he had delivered!

Apropos of yesterday and the fact that I said I hadn’t taken any photos ‘cos I was too busy……. I actually did take one or two. All of the same event, and one of which I share with you here. Chocolate chops, courtesy of Nutella on toast…… I think it’s cute, but you may beg to differ.

Take care everyone. May you all be Covid-free. Get well soon and may your illness be mild, to all those who have recently texted me to say they have succumbed…… God bless.

41,648 people tested positive for the virus today; 35 people died with it; 1,413 people were admitted to hospital. Hospital admissions aren’t going down yet, are they?

*Fenton: if you don’t know it, or want to have another laugh, copy and past this YouTube page into your browser to watch the Fenton clip entitled ‘Jesus Christ in Richmond Park’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRSbr0EYYU

We had an amazing day today. John had suggested earlier in the week that we invite the family round for lunch, so I was game. Then he said, “Let’s invite them for brunch about 10.30-ish for bacon butties and do lunch mid-afternoon.” So I put the proposal to the gang and they were all up for it – including Andrew who drove over from Cambridge, much to my delight.

What a cracking day we had. Everyone arrived about 11.30 in the end, and snapped up the bacon and egg rolls we’d got on offer. “Any seconds?” they wanted to know. Of course, there were seconds – and thirds if you wanted it. Harriet made a big pot of tea to go with them; Paul was my ‘wing man’ taking over the cooking of eggs so that I could eat mine; and we all chattered happily in the kitchen milling around eating our brunch. It was marvellous. Wonderful. Brilliant.

For ‘lunch’ – which was planned for about 4 o’clock – we had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. “I can make the Yorkshire pudding,” Lily piped up, as I started thinking about making the batter. “She makes the best Yorkshire puddings ever,” said Paul. And he was right. Gosh they were good. Not only was she involved with those, but also the cauliflower cheese. She knew how to make a béchamel sauce, Andrew helped, and the final dish was delicious. Another good cook in the family – what a blessing.

I had such a good day today that I didn’t have time to get the camera out. We were so busy cooking and chatting that I don’t have any photos to show for it, but I have had a very nice top-up of happy stuff today: listening to Harriet and Danielle chatting together; hearing Paul, Michael and Andrew reminiscing and planning ahead for some time together; watching the children playing and giggling, making potions, helping to make the pudding, ‘washing up’ and so on. Yep, all good.

John enjoyed himself too, but was interrupted in the enjoyment just as it was about to start. On the doorstep, arriving at the same time as the family, was the Community Nurse. The dogs greeted her very loudly, and John ushered her into the dining room for a chat, so disappointingly, he missed the excitement of the early arrivals.

John was the main man with preparing the breakfast until the Nurse arrived, and after that he was increasingly tired. No afternoon nap for him today with the family around. He managed to watch the first half of the rugby while we cooked the meal, and then the second half after the meal, so he was happy on that count because England won. Hurrah! Mind you, it was against Italy, so we were expected to win, but the team defended well and kept a clean sheet.

It wasn’t long after everyone left that John thought he’d take himself off to bed. He was worn out – he’d played with the children, he’d expended energy on watching the rugby and prepped food, so was exhausted. I was tired too, but I decided to catch up Dancing on Ice and watch a bit of telly.

What a day. It was so delightful to have the family here, after all the distancing. I do hope we can do it again and again. This is how Sundays are meant to be, aren’t they? Family time.

Take care everyone. God bless.

41,270 people tested positive for the virus today; 52 were recorded as having died; and 1,395 people were admitted to hospital.

…….our time away today. Once again we spent ages in bed this morning. There was sunshine, but it didn’t draw us out. Our focus was on the rugby this afternoon – no plans for anything else, at all.

Nevertheless, we got a few bits and pieces done in between times which whiled away the hours. And I mention a few of them, because this is what it’s come to – the thrill of doing ‘every day’ activities. Crikey, who’d have thought taking a delivery of shopping would have been exciting? Or mending a cushion whose seams were busy undoing? Or drying the washing on a clothes horse rather than in the tumble dryer? Or fitting LED bulbs in place of standard ones in the light fittings? Eeeh, but we’ve had such an exciting day!

And, to be truthful, the receipt of the shopping was exciting, because John had done the order and he can never quite remember what’s going to arrive. So, when I found ten, yes, ten bars of fruit and nut chocolate for me, I was very well pleased, as you can imagine.

We enjoyed the rugby, of course – well, mostly – John had his eyes firmly closed for a section of the Wales v Scotland game and I popped to the shops for one or two bits during that match. But the Ireland v France game firmly had our attention, going almost to the last minute of not knowing which side might pull off the win.

On the plus side, I do think John is feeling a bit better. He may not yet agree, of course, but I think his pallor is improved and he has found a little bit of strength, if not lots of stamina yet. For example, the washing machine decided to start walking across the utility room floor again, despite having had its innards sorted out a few weeks ago. It transpires that it was the very same lug falling out that we’d had to coax back into place once before. John was able to pull the machine out, turn it on its side and slot the offending article back into place, before you could say ‘Bob’s your Uncle’. I was well impressed.

Fingers crossed that our days of footling and faffing about, and frittering our time away may soon be over as the Spring rolls into view and John’s strength and stamina improves. Walking a mile a day in March should help with that, don’t you think?

I read somewhere that: ‘happiness is not all about getting what you want, it is about enjoying all you have.’ It would be helpful to me to remember that, when I’m grumbling about my lot and generally feeling the blues, wouldn’t it? Now that I’ve written it down, perhaps it’ll sink in.

Take care everyone. Sunday tomorrow – a day of rest. I’m sure we’ll be taking it easy…… God bless.

46,025 people tested positive for the virus today; 167 people died with it; 1,395 people were admitted to hospital. Better numbers? Yes, of course – fingers crossed they stay that way and reduce even further. After all, who wants to be in the ‘death’ column?

So, here he is, the ‘ol man – all set for March and walking a mile a day to support the Anthony Nolan Trust, T-shirt at the ready. So far, however, he’s exhausted himself just getting the T-shirt out of the box this evening!!

Mind you, we did have a proper walk this morning – another ‘practice walk’ in readiness for the challenge ahead. He’s banking these walks, just in case…. We did a mile round the park, enjoying the seating that every single bench had to offer on the way. Here’s a little example….

It was a beautiful day for a walk today, too, with the sun shining and the air crisp and cool but not cold. We enjoyed ourselves but it took a little longer than we anticipated. I spent a few minutes acting my shoe size and not my age in the children’s park, where they have installed new equipment. Great fun.

We were both supposed to be popping round to meet Harriet at her parents’ bungalow to have a look at a disability scooter this afternoon. I looked at John, settling into his chair, “Are you going to come with me?” Yes, yes he was. I started to get ready; he went to the loo. When I came back into the lounge he was back in the chair, “I’m not coming,” he said. Poor boy – he was too worn out to move. I left him to have a snooze.

Poor Harriet, too. It’s distressing to go back into your parents’ home and they not be there, isn’t it? We had a little weep. But we weren’t there long. We just did what we needed to and came away.

I came home thinking I might do a little sort out of the Christmas stuff which has never actually got up into the loft yet, but by the time I’d sat down and had a cup of tea and a bit of cake and watched a bit of telly, I was grateful that that horrible sensation of ‘doing something’ had worn off and I didn’t tackle it after all. Maybe tomorrow.

I rather liked Susie Dent’s Word of the Day today. It describes my situation exactly. She offers us: ‘arsle’ (verb, 19th century): to find yourself going backwards in a task rather than making any progress at all.

Maybe we’ll have better luck tomorrow. Take care everyone. God bless.

58,899 people tested positive for the virus today, which is good news as the figures are coming down; 193 people died with it; 1,395 people were admitted to hospital.

After the fun and games of the last two days, both John and I were exhausted today. Neither of us was keen to do anything much. As soon as I started beating myself up about all the things there are to do, I stopped myself and decided today would be a quiet day. A day of rest. Heaven knows we need it.

John got up just before nine to attend to a collection of the old washing machine drum, brought me a cup of tea and then went back to bed. I got up just after eleven, having had a nice, long lie-in. Another one of those days when getting out of bed didn’t appeal.

John had slept well and looked a little bit more refreshed than he has for a long while, so I am hopeful that the continued good night’s sleeps will be very beneficial.

Once we were both out of bed we had a couple of pains aux raisins to cheer us up before we sat down to spend the day goggle-eyed, watching the TV – and nothing else.

We chose programmes that were not at all challenging (well, I chose) such as the Winter Olympics; the programme about the Beatles; the Great British Menu and Breaking Dad. Lovely stuff, designed to send your brain to mush.

I managed to forget that I’d promised to Zoom with the college girls this evening after our aborted plans last week, and everyone was waiting for the invitation to join in…… regrettably, I was too busy concentrating on John to get going on that tonight. Next week – definitely next week. Maybe.

We did take a bit of a walk up to the shops at tea-time however, as a breath of fresh air was needed and the fish ‘n chip shop was calling. I left John to go into the fish and chip shop while I collected a prescription from the pharmacy. That took ages and John was home before I saw where he was, and then I had to sprint to let him in the house.

John decided he ought to start training now for his planned walk of a mile a day in March to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, without which he may not have lived to this ripe old age, of course. Hehe – that’s going to be fun. Watch this space, folks – I’ll keep you updated. If you have access to Facebook this is the link for donations: https://www.facebook.com/donate/308679097951059/?fundraiser_source=external_url

This evening, I was very excited for Paul, who’d been offered tickets to Anfield to watch the Liverpool v Leicester match. I think it’s the first time he’s been to the stadium even though he’s been a lifelong fan. He’s a happy bunny because his team won. Lovely – nice to see a happy face.

Meanwhile, the news is full of exciting things like the Met Commissioner, Cressida Dick resigning; Liz Truss inciting war; Prince Charles contracting Covid-19 again; and such like. However, what the news is not full of is scientists, who might explain how the decision to withdraw mitigations for the protection of the population from the coronavirus, was arrived at. In fact, they are very conspicuous by their absence. Anyone? Oh…. it’s old news now and the pandemic is over, isn’t it? Silly me.

Take care everyone. Despite what they are telling you, it’s not over – well, not for us, anyway. God bless.

66,638 people tested positive for the virus today; 206 people died; 1,308 people were admitted to hospital.

So the ‘ol man put his feet up for the day in hospital but is now back home. They have patched him up, sorted out his waterworks difficulty and sent him back home with a ‘bag for life’. I am sure you can imagine that he is thrilled about that.

On the one hand, of course, it is thrilling, because it will mean he can actually get a full night’s sleep. That may help his life on a daily basis – perhaps he won’t be so wobbly; maybe he won’t be so breathless; possibly he will be a bit more cheerful. Well, we can but hope.

The doctors have suggested that there’s no intervention available to help on the prostate cancer – an operation and radiology being out of the question – but they have a little pill that they may offer him in little while. When he sees the oncologist. Could be as soon as in six months….. gee, that soon, eh?

Meanwhile, I was back at the ranch beavering away with jobs before John got home. There was the washing to be done; the disability scooter to be put away after our jaunt in a country park on Monday; the old washing machine drum to be dragged into the porch ready for collection; the bedsheets to be changed; the pots to be washed, and so on. I didn’t quite manage to mend the drawer in our bedroom that had collapsed on me. Maybe tomorrow.

However, I did enjoy myself this morning when Pete and Dawn came round and we had a coffee. Lovely to see them and it lifted my spirits.

All for now. Take care everyone. God bless. Hope you all stay COVID-free – unlike Sue, whom we saw on Monday and we now hear has tested positive for the virus. Fortunately, she is symptom-free at the moment. Being entirely selfish, however, we are hoping we don’t succumb.

68,214 people tested positive for the virus today; 276 people died with it today; 1,196 people were admitted to hospital with it. And Boris has just announced it’s all over and no more mitigations are to be in place from February 21st. Well, if he says so, it must be true, mustn’t it?

Like a Siren calling, the hospital has been beckoning John for the last few days. We have tried to ignore her insistence, but today she gathered him up for an overnight stay.

He’s been struggling with having to get up at night-time to go to the loo – and then struggling with the day-time call of nature, too. So much so that last night the poor boy didn’t get any sleep at all. Convinced that maybe a UTI may be at the bottom of it, he phoned the doctor himself and toddled down to the surgery with a sample this morning. The doctor phoned back. No, no infection but, given the situation described, John would be best to present himself at A&E accompanied by a referral letter.

Oh, bither, bother…. we’re on the hospital trail again…..

I did a silly thing when we got to the hospital and swung into the car park. Normally, I’d deliver John straight to the Emergency Entrance but I clearly didn’t think it necessary. By the time the ‘ol man got into the waiting room though, he had to catch his breath. He was leaning against the counter recovering, when a very nice lady came along with a wheelchair. Not only that, but she took charge of us. “Stand there,” she said to me, “so that you don’t loose your place in the queue. And what are you here for?” We explained. I showed her the text message from the GP in which there was the referral letter.

My goodness, but she was good. She whisked the phone from me and disappeared into the depths of A & E before coming back with an instruction for us to go to Ward 5, instead of hanging about where we were.

The walk up to Ward 5 was hilarious. We weren’t allowed to go through the A&E department to get there, but had to go round the outside of the hospital and back in through the front door. Well, you know what hospital wheelchairs are like…… Poor John thought he was on the Waltzers – spinning first this way, then that. And, at a difficult kerb, I made him get out of the wheelchair and walk a few paces, much to the amusement of a few nurses having a fag in the smoking shelter nearby. Hehehehe.

Naturally, I wasn’t allowed to stay. “Any idea how long he’ll be?” I asked the nurse, She shook her head. “Do you think I’ve got time to go into Birmingham?” Oh yes. Plenty of time for that.

I nipped into Birmingham then, to have another look for some material for Dawn’s wedding outfit. Nothing doing at the Rag Market, apart from buying a larger sample of one of the pieces of material we’d thought we liked….(although Dawn’s not so sure, now) and then I drove across to a couple of large fabric outlets to see what they’d got. Nothing much really, but it took me until 3.30 to find that out. By which time, of course, I’d had enough of Birmingham by then.

There was no indication that John would be released just yet, so I decided to go home and have a cuppa. He was hopeful, however, that they’d sort him out and be discharged by tea-time. When he posted pictures of his dinner of Facebook, I suspected that the Siren had wrapped her arms around him for the night. “No,” John said, “I think I’ll be out soon.” By a quarter past eight, I realised that I’d have to nip back and take his overnight bag.

So the unexpected today. I had planned to recount the fabulous day we’d had yesterday, out with Dave and Chris, and George and Sue, and the shenanigans and great fun we’d had with the disability scooter we are borrowing form Pete and Dawn – but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow. G’night, folks. I’m tired and off to bed!

Take care everyone, God bless. Hug your loved ones close. And, if you can, say a little prayer for John. Thank you.

66,183 people tested positive for the virus today but the science pudnits are suggesting from the ONS surveys that the figure is actually double that…..; 314 people died with the virus today; 1,421 people were admitted to hospital.

In the olden days, Sundays were days for lying in bed; lazy days with activities designed for recuperation after a heavy week. A day to look forward to and feel refreshed from for the week ahead. Such nostalgic memories of spreading the broadsheet newspapers out on the floor and poring over them before we ate our Sunday Roast en famille, and then a meet-up with friends in the pub.

Nowadays, of course, we lie in bed whatever day of the week it is; we no longer pore over the newspapers, being cynical about their veracity; and COVID has more or less put paid to meeting mates in the pub. However, today was a day for recuperation and ‘new beginnings’ – but differently.

We did our usual thing of ‘hurkle-durkling’ before we finally got out of bed and faced the day. “What are your plans for the day?” John wanted to know. “I’m visiting Mum this afternoon,” I reminded him, “and I’m going to tackle the ironing and also, I think I’ll go for a walk.”

It was a good job I’d told John my plans because, without him, I might not have made it out of the house for a walk. I did lots of procrastination – fiddling with this and fiddling with that before he finally pushed me out of the door.

I was glad he had – the wind was strong, but it felt good to be blowing the cobwebs away. The temperature wasn’t too bad and, among the trees in Katharine’s Wood it was positively balmy. I think the trees were pleased to see me, so I hugged one or two.

John’s plans involved garage work today. “I’m thinking I need more shelves,” he said. Well, probably. Most of the racking he had was transported to the Man Shed at the bottom of the garden for building things, while the tools for mending the project car remained alongside the house, very often strewn across the floor for want of a proper home.

I was delighted to hear that John was in the mood to be mooching in the garage. It is a Sunday, after all and that’s what Sundays are for – tinkering with projects.

Meanwhile, I managed to get the ironing done which was wonderful as it had been louring at me for over a week from the corner of the room. And then I toddled off to see Mum.

The Care Home opened its doors this week for the first time since the beginning of January, and I hadn’t been to visit since Christmas Day. She was on top form and very well. She had no memory of having been poorly, nor any concept that it had been so long since she last saw me. But she did recognise me and was delighted to see me.

We did the usual chat, including the excitement of a new box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers, before I fished out the photo album that I’d given her for Christmas. I had to hunt for it a bit and finally found it at the bottom of her wardrobe.

Mum loved looking through the photos and also did the usual of “Who’s that?” Erm… John/Paul/Michael/Andrew…… “Well!! I wouldn’t have recognise him!” on repeat. She didn’t always recognise herself either and looked wide-eyed at me before saying, “Is it me?”

But we had a laugh and enjoyed a rendition or two of ‘Que sera, sera’ and I felt cheered up by her company. Who’d have thought it, eh?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John was planning a strategy for a reducing diet. Carrying a bit of weight isn’t great for joints, and we’d still like to do a little walk together if we can without the threat of a hip or a knee giving way. Calorie-counting is what’s on the menu and a main meal at lunchtime – and I’m going to join in. Belly? What belly? It’ll soon be gone and there’ll be a new ‘us’. Fingers crossed anyway!

When I arrived home, John was still tinkering in the garage, so I unpacked the bag of veg that I’d just bought on the way home from Mum’s. John came into the kitchen: “Did Michael get hold of you?” “I’m afraid he didn’t. I was driving and then when I phoned back he didn’t answer.” Ah…. well, the upshot was that Danielle was cooking a Sunday Roast and did we want to join them for our evening meal?

I can never refuse such an invitation. So I stashed the veg away and we set off. We had a lovely, relaxed meal together and a gentle play with the children before bath and bedtime. They even let me read them a bedtime story which always goes down well with me. John was on hand to offer advice on one or two DIY projects the Kenilworth newbies have in mind so, all in all, we had a good time.

Recuperation complete today. Not like it was in the olden days, no. But paced to us as we are now, so I am hoping the January blues will soon slip away. February: a time for new beginnings. Bring it on.

Take care everyone. God bless

54,095 people tested positive for COVID-19 today, according to the government website; 75 people died; and 1,596 people were admitted to hospital.

The rugby season is in full flow and John has been following various matches on telly for several weeks now, but it was the start of the Six Nations today and hopes were running high this morning. We were looking forward to watching the matches this afternoon and some more tomorrow. The icing on the cake would have been if England had won but, by a hair’s breadth, the Scots overcame England at the end. Oh, bother…… still, it was a good game on the whole, and a good game is always enjoyable to watch. But that’s it now for a week or two – wall to wall rugby.

We had had a slow start to the day – which has now become a habit, neither of us wanting to ease ourselves out of bed very early – and nothing much was done before ten o’clock, apart from a lovely video-chat with Michael and Thomas. Soon after, I grabbed a shower and did a lateral flow test before heading over to Dawn’s to show her the spoils of yesterday’s trip into Birmingham. John caught up on his sleep after yet another night of interruptions and journeys to the bathroom. It’s beyond a joke now – and certainly beyond what’s tolerable.

Had a lovely hour at Dawn’s looking through the samples I’d brought back. We were after pink to complement her suit. “What about this one? With a swirly pattern? Or this one – with the flowers?” We set aside several as being unsuitable and kept back a couple that might do. Then I said, “Or how about this one? I know it’s not pink but…..” Ha! Ha! It’s always the thing you least expect, isn’t it? Like the mystery house on ‘Escape to the Country’. “Now that’s nice…..”

I think I’ll toddle off to the Rag Market again next week and get a larger sample. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to remember which stall I picked it up from and that they’ll have some left.

This afternoon I went over to Kenilworth to drop a pasta maker off to the original Kenilworth Sleaths. As luck would have it, they were planning a walk with the Kenilworth newbies, so I was able to take some bits and pieces for them, too.

“Are you coming in?” Paul asked. Yes, thank you – don’t mind if I do. A cup of tea, a nice chat and a play with Freddie while we waited for the others to arrive. We had to wait a while – the kids were having a nap. But that worked out well, because Harriet brought a McDonalds meal in with her, on her way back from playing hockey. Shhhh….. don’t tell John.

In the end, the Kenilworth newbies didn’t make it until mid-afternoon, by which time I decided that I would head back home and watch the rugby with John, instead of going for a walk. It was windy and the wind-chill factor wasn’t awfully attractive – well, not to me at any rate.

In relation to the rugby today – and many other things besides – Susie Dent published a good Word of the Day recently, which I think may be rather apt: ‘forwaked’ (14th century): weary from watching and waiting for something that never seems to materialise. That seems to be my life in recent times.

Anyway, we’ve got one or two things to look forward to this week, so fingers crossed that they’ll add to the pile of happy thoughts and overwhelm the unhappy ones. ‘Something to look forward to’ – that’s the trick, isn’t it?

In other news, my friend, Tim, is home after his surgery. Thank you to all those of you who sent positive vibes and prayers.

Take care everyone. God bless.

60,578 people tested positive for the virus today. 259 people died. 1,596 people were admitted to hospital with it.

Yesterday was a ‘meh’ day. We had a funeral to go to, but I wasn’t keen, so John went on his own. And then it was a trip to the hospital to have his eyes checked for an adjustment to his glasses. Prisms, don’t you know….. so that when he looks squinty-eyed at something it still looks straight to him, Amazing, technology, isn’t it?

I had been planning and looking forward to a ‘girls’ chat in the evening with the college crew but, what with one thing and another, not everyone was available so we decided to postpone our Zoom session until next week.

All in all, it was one of those days that felt like there wasn’t much to report.

Today, I did some more ‘hurkle-durkling’ (19th-century Scots), i.e. lingering in bed long after it’s time to get up (Susie Dent’s Word of the Day, of course). We had planned to take a trip into Birmingham to take a tour of the Rag Market. But, when it came to it, John wasn’t keen. With his hip and knee playing up, it wasn’t the ideal activity, so I went on my own.

I didn’t get off until lunchtime, but I had a good run into the town centre. However, they aren’t half pulling the centre of Birmingham about, so the roads you used be able to go up, you can’t, and detours are in place. I didn’t park where I thought I might, so had a few minutes walk to the market, in the end.

Had a lovely mooch around the fabric stalls though, looking for suitable material for a blouse for Dawn’s wedding outfit. I picked up a few samples, but I’m not sure how well they’ll look and whether they’ll suit. We’ll see. Fingers crossed there might be something – otherwise, I shall be making another trip out. Well, I don’t mind – it gives me something interesting to do!

Of course, on the way back, I wasn’t so lucky with the traffic and found myself sitting in the M6 Car Park for about an hour……. not far in front of me there had been an accident, so all traffic came to a standstill and we waited patiently as they cleared the road. It didn’t look too serious when I eventually drove past, so I hope no-one was hurt.

Once I was home, I had no energy to do anything very much, so we have just sat and watched the box this evening. Mind you, I do like a bit of Winter Olympics, so I feasted my eyes on ice skating and drank lots of Prosecco. It was lush.

John, meanwhile, not content with getting up every half an hour during the night to go to the loo, is now finding that the daytime and evening are following suit. It’s not great, so I phoned the consultant’s secretary this morning to see if we could get an appointment to discuss the situation. “Hmmm,” she said, leafing through the diary, “I’ll put him on the list for a March appointment. That’s the earliest I can do.” And I had to be satisfied with that. John wasn’t so satisfied, so I said I’d phone again next week and chivvy them along a bit – see if we can get something sooner. Poor John, he’s exhausted.

Take care everyone. Time’s short, isn’t it?

The government’s official website reports 83,053 infections of COVID today; 254 deaths and 1,596 hospital admissions.