Month: April 2022

A new baby!! Marvellous and thank the Lord for his safe arrival.

Michael and Danielle went to the hospital this morning to await the allocated slot for a caesarean section and then this afternoon welcomed Oliver into the world. We are, as you can imagine, very excited to have another grandson and can’t wait to meet him in person.

All being well, Danielle will come home tomorrow and William and Thomas will say goodbye to their cousin Freddie, with whom they’ve been staying, and make their way home to say ‘hello’ to the darling little chap.

Michael, naturally, has been at the hospital all day, so we went over to their house to let Chester out for a run and, in the end, brought him back with us because, equally naturally, Michael isn’t keen to leave Danielle on her own overnight.

Gosh, I am delighted that attitudes have changed with regard to the support needed for a woman after childbirth these days. Thank goodness we are out of the dark ages……

Take care everyone. God bless.

Alleluia! Excitement in the church calendar with a celebration on Sunday, to commemorate the day that Jesus rose from the dead. So I went to church. My friend, Moira, had suggested that the service would be streamed into the church hall and not many people would be in there, so it would all be socially distanced.

In the end, I went into the church because it was socially-distanced there, too, and many people were still wearing masks. It was a good service with a good sermon, brilliant singing and friends to acknowledge. Naturally, my mind wandered back to the heady days of many years ago, when the whole family bundled into church and chased Easter Eggs down the aisles and hugged fellow congregants to wish them a Happy Easter. Nothing like that on Sunday, but uplifting nonetheless.

I was in such a flap beforehand because most of the family were coming for lunch, and perhaps sleeping over. However, I was motivated by Martin Luther’s comment when he said, “I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.” By the time I came back from church my flap was over.

We had a wonderful day with the original Kenilworth Sleaths and Andrew. The Kenilworth Newbies stayed home to convalesce but joined in our celebrations remotely via WhatsApp video.

John and I did the lunch prep and then Andrew arrived home to cook everything and deliver the most delicious turkey dinner – that would be the frozen turkey I had bought for Christmas just in case we couldn’t get a fresh one….

The weather was wonderful and we sat out on the patio to eat our meal and generally enjoy both the sunshine and moonshine until it was bed-time. The wine rack was raided and glasses of wine enjoyed by everyone except Lily, who doesn’t like it, and Freddie, who is too young.

This is us, except for Lily who took the picture, trying to get a sensible family photo…….

We didn’t get chance to do our traditional egg-rolling yesterday, so we scheduled a little run out to Abbey Fields in Kenilworth today after we’d eaten our brunch. Once again, we were blessed with the weather and we were able to sit out on the patio to eat, before sorting the hard-boiled eggs out to take with us.

Well, I say that, but we were a couple of eggs short as two of them had cracked in the pan. Harriet put two more on to boil to replace them and later on, I took them from the pan and popped them onto the table with the others. Harriet was merrily decorating her egg when it slipped from her grasp…….. it splatted on the floor and over her brand-new trainers…….oh, dear. Well, that one wasn’t cooked, was it? It transpired that Harriet hadn’t actually lit the flame under the pan and I’d mistakenly thought they’d been boiled….. Ah, well, it made for an ‘eggs-citing’ moment……

Grandpa won the egg-rolling, with Ellie coming in a close second. The rest of us were nowhere as our eggs smashed up at varying intervals down the hill with Mac busy trying to eat every single one as it whizzed past him on the way down.

We continued onwards towards the park and the café for coffee once we’d finished the competition and had congratulated Grandpa on his victory. There we sat, for a very long time, chatting, drinking coffee and soaking up the sun, while Freddie played in the park supervised by the egg-rolling victor. It was lush.

Alas, all good things come to an end and I thought we ought to get going because we had yet to drive to Cambridge and back to drop Andrew off. So we said our goodbyes and came home for a refreshing cuppa before we set off up the A14. We had an excellent journey there and back; hugged Andrew hard before we left him and had a quick turn around home again after we’d inspected his new accommodation.

All in all, an Easter as it should be – en famille and plenty of chocolate…….

Take care everyone. God bless.

A little list of jobs to get through this morning which I ended up doing all before I took Mac out for a walk. One of the jobs was to mop the floors. There are muddy footprints everywhere. This, we think, is because Steve, our milkman/lawn cutter/hedge cutter, has very kindly dressed the lawn with some feed. It is obviously sticking to Mac’s paws and he’s wandering it in and out with no apology whatsoever.

I was grateful to John, however, as I scanned the list and sighed a bit about the things to do. “I wouldn’t mop the floors today,” he said, “wait until Mac has gone home.” I brightened up a bit. Now that seemed a good idea – so I crossed that job off the list. The floors are still muddy – as are Mac’s paws….. ah well….

It was mid-day before I wandered out of the house across the fields. Another glorious day in which I didn’t need a coat or a cardigan even. We had a fabulous meander and I took time to admire the flora in the fields and hedgerows again.

This is the posy I mentally picked to adorn my table: celandines – all milky yellow and arms open wide; cowslips – their heads nodding gently as we brushed past; cow parsley – their frothy heads just beginning to emerge; ladies’ smock – so very, very refined; daisies – little rosettes of fine, white petals; dainty dead nettles – their flowers peaking out from under their pointy leaves; and dandelions.

The dandelions were absolutely stunning. Mini-suns turning their faces upwards to drink in the sun’s rays – and I’ve decided that they are my new favourite flower. I mean, would you look at that? I challenge you to find a bonnier, jauntier, happier-looking flower than this….

John, having stayed back at the ranch, was tinkering in the garage again and trying to get the car started. It didn’t like it much and point-blank refused to get going. More tinkering required. It may be frustrating, but this is what John likes. He loves a challenge and loves the thrill of getting a section finished and ready for the next one. Even engines…..

Having tested negative for COVID, we went round to Pete and Dawn’s this afternoon. We sat out in their lovely garden – some of us in the shade and others – well, me – in the sunshine, all of us drinking pink Cava and eating super-juicy strawberries. Some of us had ice-cream as well. Not me….. oh, and cake. Gosh, it was yummy. The diet starts on Tuesday…..

We had a great time. So lovely to see them in the flesh at last after they’d enjoyed the delights of COVID, which they refused to share (and for which we are very grateful). Everyone is better and Dawn actually managed to dodge the little blighters that had infected Peter and Jack.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that the hour we promised to spend with them turned into two, and then a bit more, as we admired their new car and learned the intricacies of the specially-adapted wheelchair system.

Another dog-walk this evening and then John and I both agreed an early night is in order. We both feel a bit tired – must be all the sunshine.

Once again, I have avoided watching the news with its hype about the Sussexes, the horror of the war in Ukraine, and the plan to send refugees to Rwanda. Heaven help us – the world has gone mad.

On the Coronavirus front, Danielle is feeling a bit better, but cases are still 1 in 15. After this weekend, I am wondering whether it’s be higher than that again as people congregate over the Bank Holiday. What say you?

Prayers and positive vibes still welcomed if you are so inclined as the baby is due on Tuesday….

Take care everyone. Happy Easter and Peace be with you all.

We have lived in the village for over forty years and, in all that time, we have not discovered all the paths there are for an enjoyable walk. To be fair, we haven’t been strong on taking walks so it’s not surprising. However, today I went on a walk of discovery with Mac and took a route I hadn’t taken before. It was lovely. I walked miles.

Not only was the route enjoyable but the sights I saw were amazing. Spring has properly sprung and every hedgerow was bursting with blooms, buzzing with bees and positively perky. Wildlife was abundant with rabbits, loads of birds everywhere, including a jay which I always get excited to see, and butterflies – yellow brimstones, orange tips and red admirals. Cracking stuff.

The sun was shining brightly too, and it was very warm. Here is Mac taking a bit of shade early on in our walk…..

Later on, as we neared the end of the walk, Mac was trotting along very nicely on a long lead, half length, but he was obviously feeling the heat, so what should he do but launch himself, in full belly-flop style, into a very pretty stream running by.

Oh boy! Did he enjoy that!! He had a good rummage around for fish and frogs, burying his nose deep into the muddy water. He didn’t half look pleased with himself as we walked home. Not a contrite muscle in his body.

Our early evening walk was a simple one around the ‘new’ estate i.e. the Kemps Green Estate, which was established in 1981-82…… However, this was also a brilliant walk with the flowers on trees, shrubs and in flower beds pumping their pollen out like nobody’s business. Not only did they look beautiful, but they smelt beautiful, too. And the bees were still a-buzzing. The sun was setting, a full orb, like a bright tangerine in the sky and opposite, was a creamy full moon, as massive as you like. Glorious.

My favourite season? It has to be Spring. It’s just so lush, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John has been pottering in the garage for most of the day or scrolling to and fro on the internet for spare parts, which seem to cost far more than they should do. But what can you expect for a classic car, eh? Ha! Another discovery – the cost of things.

When he wasn’t tinkering with the car, John was sleeping, bless him. He’s worn out. We’re not sure exactly why this should be just now but I suspect it’s post-cold fatigue. He keeps saying he’s ‘done’……..however, there’s plenty of life in the old boy yet in my opinion and, anyway, he’s got to get the car finished, hasn’t he? I wouldn’t mind having a spin in it this summer…… “Yes, yes,” he says, “it’ll be ready by summer.” Ah….. but which summer, eh?

On the COVID front, Danielle is still feeling poorly, but no worse, so fingers crossed that she’ll be on the mend soon. Thomas was poorly yesterday with a tummy bug and spent most of the day throwing up. I think it generated a lot of washing and necessitated Michael taking the day off work. Ay-up! Never rains but it pours. However, he is on the mend today so that’s one blessing, at any rate.

I nipped over to the Kenilworth Newbies to drop off some masks for Danielle and the Easter Eggs. Me at one end of the path and Michael and the kids at the front door. Thomas was clearly excited to see me, making high-pitched little noises to make sure Daddy had noticed exactly who it was at the door….. so cute. Fills my heart – but also breaks my heart that I can’t go in and help. Ah well……..

I’d like to comment on the current affairs, but find myself switching off the news, unable to stomach what’s happening and the likelihood of an escalation of hostilities in Ukraine. It’s just sickening. However, one pinprick of light is that the Ukrainian family, who are going to stay at Linda and Brendan’s, have arrived. I saw the wife today, shopping in the Co-op with Brendan – I do hope they can make a good life here in the UK.

Take care everyone. There but for the Grace of God……

This was us, on Monday, cuddling up to the children:

This was Danielle’s Lateral Flow Test result yesterday….

Oh. Errrr…… hmmmm…… Danielle was feeling poorly and, being pregnant, sought the Midwife’s advice. ‘Get to hospital to be checked,’ came the response. So late last night, Danielle took herself off to Walsgrave to be checked out. Fortunately, they were happy with her observations, so sent her home with an oximeter for her to monitor herself at home.

Meanwhile, John and I did LFTs, also late last night, which were clear. Will keep checking now until Sunday, when the family are due to come and eat a turkey roast with us. Fingers crossed that we have avoided infection after our day with Danielle and the boys on Monday. But, honestly, where does it come from? Michael and Danielle have been as cautious as can be and have taken extra precautions this week to be safe. But no-one’s safe, are they?

Meanwhile, we have plodded on with dog-walking, car-building, washing, ironing, hospital visits, quizzing, eating, drinking and sleeping (at all hours of the day).

On Tuesday we were up early for a visit to the QE. I dropped John at the entrance to the building, went to park the car and caught up with him just as he arrived in the Imaging Department. The radiographer had John’s papers and was welcoming him in. Two minutes later, he was out, we went back to the car and we were on our way home. Boom! Now that’s what I call a hospital visit. In and out, just like that.

Yesterday, our spirits were lifted with Quiz Night. Linda and Brendan weren’t able to join us, having a busy day today with a drive down to Suffolk and then turning round quickly to come back to welcome a Ukrainian family arriving at Birmingham Airport. However, everyone else was on top form and it was good fun. I was in a funny mood and seemed to hog the the discussion early on, but I learned my lesson when it was pointed out to me.

In fact, I was in such a funny mood that, when Michael phoned mid-quiz with the important news of Danielle having contracted COVID, I was still high on Quiz excitement and it was agreed that we’d speak later. I regret that now but I can’t undo what’s done.

The funny mood has carried on into today and I am short-tempered with anyone who crosses my path….. John and Mac……. they have had to watch out today – as did the man in the car who failed to indicate that he was turning left, as well as the lady in the fish and chip shop, who jauntily suggested that COVID was ‘just the flu’……. Hey-ho.

Take care everyone. 1 in 15 people with COVID now – it’s coming down, but it’s still a high incidence. God bless.

If you are so inclined, please send positive vibes and prayers to this neck of the woods – they would be appreciated.

How to keep going? That’s the question. I mean, as I said to John, the trouble with a ‘blue mood’ is that your thoughts turn to trying to find something to boost your mood, don’t they? Chocolate or alcohol or a walk. Even mid-morning. Not that I imbibed alcohol or scoffed any chocolate during the day mind you, but I did go for a walk (twice) with the dog.

My sensible head clicks in, of course, which says, “Don’t be daft, alcohol is never the answer. And chocolate makes you fat.” But, you know, a ‘blue mood’ can be b****y law unto itself…..however, I did wait until this evening before I had a glass of wine with my evening meal and filled my face with half of an (early) Easter Egg. I am pretty sure that’s OK…… but I will let you know if I start eating a bar of chocolate for breakfast and downing a glass of wine mid-morning!

We had no particular plans yesterday, so when Danielle texted to see if we wanted to spend a day with her and the kids, the answer was a resounding ‘YES!’ And, gosh, didn’t we have fun. Now there’s a mood booster, if ever there was one – grandkids!

In the end, I suggested that the Kenilworth Newbies come over to us – that way, I could still look after Mac and not leave him on his own, and Michael would have some peace and quiet to do his work at home.

Danielle suggested we might do Easter ‘crafts’ with the boys, and maybe some baking. Before they arrived I toddled up to the shops to see if there were any crafts to be had – hmmmm…. not much, but I did manage to buy a ‘Happy Easter’ colouring banner, which I thought might keep the kids entertained for a while.

We were also blessed with a carrier bag of goodies that had been left on my doorstep yesterday by, it transpired, Livia, my friend from church. ‘I know,’ I thought ‘we can hang the decorations onto a branch for an Easter Tree. So ‘ere it is – with William rather pleased to be taking it home. It’s got chocolates on it!

While Thomas was fast asleep, Danielle and William also made Easter Nests, made from Shreddies and chocolates with a mini egg in the middle. The boys were thrilled with those, of course.

In addition, although I don’t have any photos, the boys coloured in their ‘Happy Easter’ banners and made maracas from rice inside a plastic egg all encased in bamboo spoons. Yep, they had fun. As did we…..

William and I had a walk up to the park and we enjoyed ourselves on the new apparatus that has recently been installed – except I couldn’t get on the swings because there were other children on them…..darn it!

Today was a day of trundling across to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this morning early doors, for John to have a CT scan of the chest. This, we think, was a check-up and we are not expecting anything untoward.

Once we were home, John battled with the intricacies of the heating, which seemed to be on the blink last night, and also with posting an advert on Facebook MarketPlace. I, meanwhile, drank copious amounts of tea and watched whatever came on the TV until lunchtime.

After lunch, I thought I’d better get on and set to with a bit of a tidy-up in the downstairs shower room, utility room and kitchen, But why does everything seem to take so long…..? Goodness me, what I thought I might achieve in an hour took me three!

John was tired after his busy day yesterday, so spent much of the afternoon asleep. I am hoping it will set him up for doing some more walking now that his cold has almost gone. Obviously, it will depend on the weather…….fingers crossed we’re in for some sunnier and milder weather as the week goes on.

On a totally different topic, Mum is apparently a bit better. The doctor has prescribed antibiotics and the staff are making sure she has paracetamol and plenty to drink. She is still sleepy and staying in bed, but offering a bit of a smile when the girls talk to her now. So that’s good news and there’s someone who keeps going……. and I note that it’s only with chocolate to fortify her.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I had originally planned to go to church today, being as it’s Palm Sunday, but I baulked at the idea when I heard that the seating had been reassembled so that people are now sitting together, masks are no longer required and, obviously, no-one is doing LFTs any more. I know it seems like I am making a big thing of it all, but with John unlikely to have much more immunity to COVID than when it all started, it still feels like his life depends on us continuing to be careful.

Instead, I thought I’d watch the service on YouTube, but when it came to it, I didn’t seem able to find it this morning……(ha! found it now though!!!) and so took the dog a walk over the fields. It was a glorious morning again with the sun shining, the sky as blue as blue and the air quite warm. Mid-field and mid-walk I heard the church bell tolling, calling people to prayer just before 9.30, and I thought of everyone remembering Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The congregation usually parades in the streets on Palm Sunday with a pony and I wondered this year if they had mustered one. I don’t know, but I expect I shall find out.

When I got home, there was a paper bag of Easter goodies for the children on the doorstep. I don’t know who brought them, but again, I expect I shall find out. I was very touched anyway by the gesture, whoever it was who left the bag.

John was watching the Grand Prix when I came in and it looked quite an exciting event. We reminisced about our time in Australia, John having been to the Grand Prix in Melbourne with Andrew and Graham, and one of Graham’s friends, Rod. It’s lovely to re-visit these experiences even if they are remote and via a TV channel.

Before the race ended, I decided to sort my hair out and cook the Sunday lunch. Lunch at lunchtime for a change…..

I had originally planned to visit Mum this afternoon, but I took a phone call from the home to say ‘don’t come’. Mum has a cough, had stayed in bed all morning and told the carers that she didn’t want visitors. The girl who phoned me blithely told me that ‘several of the residents have a cough…..’ Hmmmm……. They are going to get the doctor to check Mum out tomorrow. That’ll be interesting – I wonder how the doctor will do that remotely?

As I wasn’t going over to visit Mum, I thought I’d have a glass (or two) of Prosecco as an aperitif before lunch and a glass of wine with lunch. Naturally, I slept for much of the afternoon…… John slept too. Oh, and I think the dog joined in.

Mac and I went for another little walk around the ‘new’ estate early evening, but we had a bit of a kerfuffle when we came back. Mac thought he’d like to eat the cats of course……

He’d had such an idea already this morning. The cats were outside, sunning themselves when I opened the back door; I had Mac on the extendable lead but hadn’t notched it short, so he galloped out and chased Shadow while Rio watched on, disdainfully, from the box where we store the cushions. Needless to say, by the time I’d taken Mac back in the house, the cats were long gone and I wasn’t able to pop them up in the attic room for safety.

Half-way through the day Rio came sauntering in so I scooped him up and put him upstairs. Shadow was nowhere to be seen – until this evening when John was doing the washing up. Shadow, having had nothing to eat all day, came in for his tea; Mac obviously smelt his presence and starting woofing and scrabbling at the kitchen door. Fortunately, John had had the forethought to put a doorstop under the door because Mac can open every single door in the house. As I shooed Mac away, were those some bared teeth I saw? Hmmmm……. a rolled up newspaper to show him is called for, I reckon. I mean, we can’t have that sort of behaviour, can we?

Sunday. A day of rest. And that’s more or less what we did today. Just rest. Nice one, eh?

Take care everyone. God bless.

We have Mac here for the week and one of my pleasures is walking the dawg……

When he was a younger dog, Mac was a terrible puller on the lead, but he’s been trained well since I last looked after him and now, he’s as good as gold. We trotted along on the pavement as leisurely as you like this morning, and then we made a bid for the fields. Oh my!! He was as happy as happy. And I wasn’t far behind either. Although the frost was just clearing, the sun was shining and it was the most lovely walk. so we made the most of it and took the long way round. Bliss.

Here’s the happy dog, half way round:

and here he is, post-walk, flat out…….. good job there’s no picture of me!!

Other than dog-walking, I am not sure quite what we have done today. John has spent a good while in the garage. When I asked him how he’d got on, he replied, “Not bad. I put two bolts on, anyway.” I think he might have been playing down his achievements – although he did say that it took him 45 minutes to find the actual bolts…. so maybe not?

I tackled a bit of ironing this afternoon while I watched trash on TV, and then it was the Grand National. I love this time of year in some ways. It’s bitter-sweet. My father was staying with us after he’d had his stroke and we sat and watched the Boat Race and then the Grand National together. He wasn’t able to speak, but I definitely knew which team he wanted to win the Boat Race and which horse he’d have had his money on. So it brings back memories and reminds me of how I miss my Dad.

Mac and I had another little jolly round Katharine’s Wood just before tea-time and he made me laugh. There were two collies, both chasing after a ball that was being catapulted from a dog-ball-launcher, and he was desperate to join in. I am sure he would have been fine but, because he’s not my dog, I am loth to let him off the lead, so he had to watch instead. He was a very good boy though, and came along when I told him.

This evening, we all crashed out in the lounge and watched what I call quality TV. It was a documentary about Morecombe and Wise. Fabulous. They were an amazing double act, weren’t they? We had a laugh as we watched the programme.

Take care everyone. God bless. Avoid the crowds…..

It’s been a funny old day. One in which neither of us wanted to get out of bed, but when we did, there were deliveries to manage on the door step before taking delivery of Mac at the end of the day……

In the end, John brought me a cup of tea about ten o’clock. I’d been awake since 7, but read my book, Kate Atkinson’s ‘Life after Life’, for the next two and a half hours, consoling myself that I was under the weather and a rest in bed was absolutely in order. John just said he was tired so was definitely entitled to stay in bed.

We had our bacon butties and cup of tea out on the patio though, as it was such a lovely morning. The sun was shining brightly and the air was warm, so it was just the most delightful thing to do. John told me about the rough night he had had, and how he’d been struggling to breathe. “Let’s do your oxygen levels,” I said, and ran upstairs to retrieve the oximeter. John popped it on his finger. “The battery must be dead,” he said, “There’s no reading…” I tried it on me. It was fine. We tried it on several of John’s fingers. There was no reading at all. “It’s telling us that you’re dead,” I joked, “as there is nothing at all!” We laughed. “I think your fingers are too cold,” I continued, “Let’s go into the house.”

We tucked John’s hands into all sorts of areas of the body to try and warm his fingers up and, finally, we got a reading that satisfied me that he was still alive, and didn’t need to be trundled off to hospital. But, to be honest, his chest is giving him a bit of trouble just now, so inhalers are at the ready.

We took delivery of the Tesco shopping at lunchtime. John had done the order and it is always exciting when he does it because we never quite know what we’re going to get. But the ‘boy done good’ and we are set up again for a week or two now.

Soon after the Tesco delivery, we took delivery of paper goods. ‘Who Gives A Crap’ delivered loo rolls, paper towels and tissues. “Oh, blimey,” said John, “where are you going to put that lot?” I must confess, for a moment or two I was daunted. “I shall create space in the old utility room,” I said, stoutly. So I did, and it’s all good.

For five minutes, I had a sit-down. John went into the garage to tinker with the car, having been dissuaded from going for another walk until his chest is a bit better. Before long, (it seemed no longer than five minutes) it was time to go over to the Kenilworth Sleaths to babysit Freddie for an hour or so, and bring Mac back with me for the week.

Freddie was an angel and very, very good company. He played on Minecraft for a while until the parental controls kicked in on his tablet, and then he and I sat, companionably, at the table and drew pictures. It was fabulous. We had great fun.

Meanwhile, the Kenilworth Newbies had decided to pop over to see Grandpa. I got a phone call. “We’re thinking of a take-away…..?” Well, I wouldn’t say ‘no’, of course, so the boys had fish fingers and we had an Indian. Lush, eh?

At about half-past eight, Paul rang. “Do you have a suitcase we can borrow?” Well, of course!! “What size do you need?” Hahahaha. He’s a man! How would he know what size they needed? “Would you like to phone my wife to check?” he said. As luck would have it, the Kenilworth Newbies were just leaving. Paul was beside himself with glee. They could drop it off (please) and he didn’t have to come over and collect it!! Woohoo!!

Serendipity!

Take care everyone. Covid cases are estimated to be 1 in 13 people just now and this wave is almost at its peak. God bless.

Despite our colds, both John and I ploughed on today, through sheer determination.

I had promised to go to the Kenilworth Newbies to hang some wallpaper in William’s room and was keen to do it. “Mum,” said Michael, “Don’t come if you’re poorly.” But I wanted to go, so go I did, putting my cold to one side – and working in a well-ventilated room (“Don’t come in, Danielle, I’ve just sneezed.”) – as I enjoyed the paper-measuring, paper-cutting and then paper-hanging.

I did wonder whether I would get it all done in the day given my sniffles, but knowing that the young man would come home from nursery at tea-time, I didn’t want him to find a job half-done. So I ploughed on – and was delighted to get it done.

I didn’t stay to see William’s reaction to his newly-decorated room because John was at home and I was keen to get back to him, but Michael sent me video of William going up the stairs and seeing his room for the first time. Suffice to say, he was thrilled. You would be too, wouldn’t you, if you had dinosaurs adorning the wall and window in your bedroom?

John, meanwhile, having sorted out the energy bill situation in his mind to his satisfaction, braved the phone call to the supplier. ‘Ah…… ummmm…. right…. well…..’ they said. ‘We’ll have to look into it…….’ Hahahaha. I wonder how long that will take and what fanciful response they will come up with? Anyone fancy hedging a bet?

Once John had done that bit of work, he took himself off for a walk along the Yellow Brick Road. Now this walk is about a mile and, depending on which way you go round, depends on whether it’s mostly uphill or mostly downhill. Hmmmm…….. did anyone notice just how windy it was today? It took John over the hour to do the walk. Not at all surprised – he has a cold, which is a bit on his chest and it was very windy which buffeted him about…… However, he was pleased for having done it.

Next up, he texted me to ask me to give him access to the shopping list we’d put on Alexa. Regrettably, I wasn’t able to do that because the connection on my phone was poor at Michael’s. “No worries we’ll sort it out when I get back, but you can get started and we’ll add things to the order later.” I said.

Well, the poor man spent what seemed like hours trying to sort out the shopping – and heaven knows if we’ve got everything we need. He found the shopping list on my computer and used his laptop to do the order. What a faff. It’s going to be exciting when we get the delivery tomorrow!

Take care everyone. God bless.