The best laid plans….

I had planned to go for a swim this evening. However, I was rather taken with wearing neoprene gloves and socks last week, borrowed from a fellow swimmer, so I thought I’d order my own. Unfortunately, they didn’t arrive in time. Not only that, but I was still busy sorting out my Mum’s financial affairs until nearly six o’clock this evening, so it all got to be too late. Disappointing, but there we are. Next time maybe…..

In other news, we have been busy with John’s medical appointments. On Monday, we were at the ophthalmic clinic, checking that the prisms in John’s glasses were the right ones before a referral for new bins. A good consultation and we came away happy. Well, as happy as we can be given the circumstances, anyway……..

In the afternoon, I shot over to the Kenilworth Newbies to do a spot of babysitting baby Oliver. Such a delight. He slept in his pram while we went out for a walk to drop off a parcel, and then he woke up to entertain me for the hour or so before Mummy came home again. He is such a chuckle-y little chap, with a slow grin and a twinkly eye. He’s got such character – and who knows what mischief he is going to get away with as he grows up with that smile?

Here’s a photo taken a couple of weeks ago, Oliver looking very pleased with himself because he’s sitting up! (…ish)

On the way home I called into the Kenilworth Originals to drop one or two things in and stopped for a cuppa. Nice. They are having an extension where the conservatory used to be, so there was a lot of noise outside and a pile of soil on the drive……. no parking there then! Exciting times though. Foundations are going in……

Yesterday was another day of medical stuff. A telephone consultation with the oncologist in the morning regarding John’s prostate cancer. After a bit of preamble, which I started to think wasn’t boding well, he said, “We’ve got the results of your blood test, John, and the new tablets seem to be doing the trick. Your PSA levels were 91, but this latest reading shows them at 20.” Well! I was relieved anyway. John didn’t react much, but as the news sank in and dawned on him, I think he was pleased, too.

In the afternoon, there was another telephone consultation – this time to assess John’s suitability for a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme. It transpires that he is suitable after all, and he will be trundling along to an exercise and education class, twice a week for six weeks, from the beginning of November. Fingers crossed it helps him. He could certainly do with something!!!

The physiotherapist also gave him some handy hints on breathing – helpful, eh?

I had a busy day today, with a stress management course online this morning. It is all things I have heard before but it is nice to be reminded of the tips and hints to help improve the way I look at things. Mind you, it’s hard to shake off the habits of a lifetime, isn’t it?

Mindful that I had admin on Mum’s affairs, which has been sitting glowering at me from the corner of the computer room for the last ten days, I thought I’d better get on with it. What was particularly good was that John joined me to help. And he was a real help. So lovely to have him there supporting me and making a fantastic contribution. We got it sorted in what felt like no time at all – although actually took us all afternoon! Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Susie Dent’s Word of the Day is a reminder of ‘latibulate’ (17th century): to find a corner somewhere and hide in it. Wonder how the Prime Minister will sleep tonight?

Le Weekend

What a cracking weekend we had! On Saturday it was full-on with the Kenilworth Newbies’ children – babysitting them for the day; and then, on Sunday it was (almost) full-on family celebrating Michael’s birthday, only Andrew missing the fun and games.

Michael and Danielle were meeting up with their college crew on Saturday and so were not keen to have three boys in tow. We arranged for them to drop the boys at our house while they went on their trip to Rutland. “Are you sure you’ll manage?” asked Danielle, anxiously, “all three boys and the dog?” Yes, of course we’ll manage, I replied confidently.

And we did. We had the most lovely day with the children who were as happy as sandboys playing with the toys, making birthday cards, napping, icing birthday cake with Grandpa, watching a bit of TV and playing with more toys. No trouble whatsoever. Until bedtime……

Oliver had had his nighttime bottle, but didn’t fancy a lie-down in his cot. I spent the time getting the other children ready for bed with a baby hitched on my hip. Both William and Thomas were fine getting ready for bed but, when Thomas arrived in his cot, he suddenly said, “Daddy………” and burst into tears. That was it then. There was no consoling him. Grandpa did a sterling job of telling him a bedtime story and lay down on the floor alongside the cot to cajole Thomas to copy him – which he did, eventually. Poor John, he was there nearly an hour…….but he did the trick.

Meanwhile, I thought I couldn’t read William a nighttime story with a baby clamped to me so I had an inspiration and popped him in the pram, in which I rocked him to sleep. Ah…….and breathe……. William and I did the bedtime story and a bit of patting. “Sing me a lullaby?” he wheedled. Favourite was The Animals went into the Arc, 2 by 2 (twice).

It was all quiet then, on the western front, when Michael and Danielle got back! We greeted them, wearing our halos.

On Sunday, it was Michael’s birthday. The cards the boys had made were presented to Daddy in bed, where all the glitter sprinkles were shed. Naturally, Daddy loved the cards, but wasn’t so keen on sharing his bed with the glitter.

A Sunday brunch was in order, with a full English and croissants to follow. Fabulous. Oooh, we do love a brunch! It was delicious.

Meanwhile, John was feeling the effects of Saturday’s excitement and the effort he’d put in to entertaining the children. He was tired, and struggling to catch his breath. Getting the Sunday Roast ready, he valiantly peeled the potatoes, but really couldn’t manage anything more. “Mind if I go and have a lie-down?” he said. Of course we didn’t mind.

Just before four o’clock the Kenilworth Originals tumbled in through the front door and everyone congregated in the kitchen. I wove in and out between them as I prepped the meal and set the table. It was lovely. Everyone chattering away, imbibing an aperitif – in Michael’s case, some kind of cocktail he’d concocted…….until I found I could not work out how many plates I needed, how many small knives and forks were required, where to sit the children at the table. In the end, I abdicated the responsibility. I called out over the hubbub: “Can someone tell me how many people there are, please? Can someone set the table? Can someone tell me how many children’s plates etc I need, please?”

Everyone mucked in and dinner was served. We went to wake John up and, with a sigh of relief, we all sat to the table to tuck in. Lush, eh?

Family. Just the best!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Progress?

John has had a busy day. Not only did he take himself to B&Q all by himself, but he trundled down to the GP surgery this afternoon and then went across to Solihull Hospital – all unaccompanied.

Ha! The boy done good.

We are having a little break away shortly and one of John’s appointments came through for that week. “No worries,” we said, “it’s a telephone appointment so that’ll be OK.” The medics thought otherwise and have brought the appointment forward by a week and made it face-to-face. “Ah….” said John, ” that means I’ll need to do my blood test this week.” So off he went, after a little bit of searching for the right paperwork, and voluntarily got himself sorted.

That suited me, I have to confess. I was at yoga this morning and a trip to B&Q didn’t appeal. I was having a clean-up of the house this afternoon and medical appointments didn’t appeal either. But I needn’t have worried ‘cos the boy was on it!

And in other, totally unrelated news, the Co-op has had a make-over. I vowed I wouldn’t bother going to shop there now because it seems not to have (what I would call) stock cupboard items any more.

However, I mention it because, this afternoon, I thought I’d nip across to buy a joint ready for the Sunday Roast. Having failed to order such a thing with the massive shop we did online earlier in the week, it seemed such a normal thing to toddle up there to buy.

Well, what do you know? The Co-op no longer stocks joints of beef. Nor does it have King Edward potatoes – an essential variety for a proper roast potato, in my opinion. And, greatest sacrilege of all, it no longer stocks Apple Strudel!!! Pah! I knew I shouldn’t bother going to shop there any more!

As it happens, I had already made representations to the manager of the store that if we couldn’t get John’s hazelnut milk there any more, we’d be likely to naturally do all our shopping in a store where we could get it. He had shrugged and said “If it’s not on the plan, we don’t get it in.” Well, how about if I ask the manager to get it in for us? You know, like you used to? Nah. He repeated the mantra that if it wasn’t on the plan we couldn’t have it. I wonder, do they think that this is progress?

Oh, gawd…… I’m feeling very old. This is just the sort of thing my grandparents and parents used to do! You know? The older generation? Always moaning about the modern way of doing things? Ah, well….. just got to accept it, I suppose……. but I ain’t keen on giving up my Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding on a Sunday!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Draycote Water

We were both mindful this morning of our planned trip across to Draycote Water to meet up with the Halls and Waterfalls. So mindful, in fact, that we both tried hard to get ready in optimum health.

John took his time to take his medication; I took my time to do my meditation.

John’s plan worked quite well and he was ready to go well before me. My plan didn’t work quite so well and I lounged in bed until the last minute before leaping out of it into the shower. And of course, hair drying takes a while…..

Nevertheless, we were ready with a few things packed into the car in good time. “I’ve just got to find the key to the scooter!” yelled John from the garage. Yikes! I wasn’t sure he’d ever find anything in there!!

Anyhow, it turned out OK. He was able to lay his hand on the key fairly quickly, so we loaded the scooter and we were off! Not only that, but we arrived on time. Now there’s a first.

The weather was lovely and we had a great walk around the lake, watching the great variety of birds that were there, and nattering away to our hearts content. Naturally, the boys played on their scooters, zooming here and there and generally having fun. Loved it, as usual. We had a bite to eat in the café at lunchtime and stayed there until almost four o’clock. We put the world to rights. Just as we should!!!

Here we all are, grinning and gawping at the camera!! Hehehe. John looks stern and I look like a cheeky schoolgirl!!

Just as we were about to leave, we could see a hot air balloon in the neighbouring field, just firing up and lifting into the air, so we walked along the other side of the lake to watch. Stayed there for another hour…… Eeeh, but it’s good to be among such dear friends, isn’t it??

Home again and we prepped some food before I was off to Zoom chat with more dear friends!! This evening it was the college crew and what a delight to see everyone. It feels like months since we last chatted together! What an eventful summer some of our number have had. Hair-raising stories of lost children; exotic tales of family holidays; accounts of a fabulous wedding; hospital stays and, of course, COVID…… oh, but it was good to be back sharing our stories and strong friendship. Lucky, lucky us.

Take care everyone. God bless.

An Eclectic Day

It’s been one of those days! You know, where all sorts of things have gone on and, crikey, whatever next?

John had to take himself across to Heartlands Hospital today for his immunoglobulin treatment, ‘cos I was glued to the ‘puter screen for my Stress Management Course.

“How have you all got on with your homework this week?” the facilitator asked. I texted into the Chat Room: ‘I didn’t do anything’. And it was true. I hadn’t really found a trigger to get me going at all last week, despite the great advice on offer.

“OK, so how do we break the cycle?” she asked next. I felt like those vultures in The Jungle Book, sitting on a branch: ‘Dunno’ I thought to my self, and inwardly shrugged my shoulders – but I said nothing this time. In the end, although the advice was none I hadn’t heard before, there was a repeated Mantra of to just do something. Even for five minutes. Hmmm. OK.

I’ll try.

John arrived home at lunchtime after a successful infusion, declaring that he wasn’t going to have a nap this afternoon. “Neither am I!” I also declared.

After lunch, we watched a spot of TV, each keeping an eye on the other in case the Sandman came. Just after two o’clock, John leapt up and said he was going to get on. I nodded. “Me, too.” He went to his computer to do more fiddling with figures on our utility bills. I went to my computer to sort out why some of the orders I’d made hadn’t actually arrived.

It transpired that my credit card had been rejecting my orders. I phoned the bank. It only took just over half an hour to establish that one transaction I’d made for abroad had triggered a fraud alert. Well, that was OK, but why didn’t they tell me? It was only after three more transactions had been rejected that I was actually made aware, by Amazon, who kept telling me that my card had been declined. Anyway, all sorted now and, to be fair, I am rather pleased that the bank is making the effort to keep our money safe, despite the inconvenience.

Meanwhile, John had finished tinkering with his spreadsheet and said he was going up to the shops to get some spark plugs for the Lotus and, while he was there, he’d call in at the pharmacy to see if we could book in for flu shots.

My phone rang. “Come now,” he said, “they can fit us in. And bring our NHS numbers.” I scrambled myself together and looked out the NHS numbers, carefully writing them on a piece of paper. Left the room to get something and promptly set off for the pharmacy without them.

Ah, well, never mind, the pharmacist wasn’t in the least bothered. He grabbed the pieces of paper we were supposed to be filling in and said, “I can do that for you,” before ushering us into the little room they have there. He rapidly got the vaccination kit together, we dropped our sleeves, and it was jab, jab and away you go. Boom!

We tottered home.

John said, “When we get home, I’m going for a nap…..”

John went to bed and I went back to the computer to carry on faffing about with purchases. Gosh, it’s an expensive time of year. Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!

About four o’clock, I started getting my kit bag ready. I had decided to do something. I was going for an open water swim at Dosthill Quarry.

John had said he was going to come with me to satisfy his curiosity and get a picture in his head of what open water swimming is all about. He was still snoozing. Should I wake him? I pondered. I wasn’t sure. And then, I decided I would wake him. If he didn’t want to to come, that would be his choice rather than mine. Groggily, he said ‘yes’ he was coming.

I planned to meet up with a group of swimmers called ‘The Blue Tits’. Hehehe!

Anna, the leader, said she’d lend me some neoprene gloves and shoes as mine had been held back by Amazon. What a difference they made! Gonna get meself some!

John was on Chief Photographer duty, plotting my progress round the lake, and here I am, looking chirpy as I puffed my way to the steps to get out after a circuit. My new-found friend, Elaine, who is alongside me here, opted to do two more circuits…… phew!

I am not at all sure what temperature the water was. However, suffice to say, that the air temperature, at 14°, and the water temperature weren’t very different, which made it much easier to actually get into the lake!!

Here I am, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, as I hauled myself back onto land…..

“You know what to do when you get out, don’t you?” Elaine asked, as we swam. “You’ve heard about The Drop?” Erm…. I wasn’t sure I remembered that from the lesson we’d had at Cliff Lakes. “Your body temperature continues to drop for 15 minutes after you’ve got out. So you need to get dressed quickly and wear warm clothes.”

What good advice. As it happened, I had thought about the cold before we’d set off so I was fully prepared. And you betcha, I certainly put everything I’d got on to keep me warm, including bobble hat and woolly gloves. Looked a bit of a sight when I got to the fish and chip shop though……

And tonight was Quiz Night. Great, great fun – as always – with lovely friends. And it was good to see Nigel looking pretty well and recovering nicely from his operation. He and Hazel were Quiz Masters and did a super job. Nigel, apparently, had had painkillers before he sat in hot seat to ask the questions and so was on top form. I bet he’s exhausted now though.

What a day!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Tuesday

Anything much happen on a Tuesday? Not a lot really. I woke up late and realised I was supposed to be at yoga, so shook off my dreams, leapt into my leotard, waved goodbye to John, who was still in bed, and set off.

We had a good session and, when I got back, John was up. He’d not been up long however, and was just about to have some breakfast, so we ate toast together. He hadn’t his medication though, so after he’d eaten he popped upstairs to do that. Late start for him, too!

Meanwhile, Steve, our milkman, was pottering in our front garden, hedge shears in hand and having a go at our very overgrown hedge and working his way round to the back garden.. Bless him – it’ll take another go at it before it’s finished!!

After a while, I could see him wandering about. Was he looking for me? Yes. He was. How far back did we want the hedge cutting? I checked with ol’ man. “You know it’ll have no leaves on it if we cut it back to give us more room on the patio?” I said. John nodded. Yes, he knew. I knew it, too, but we anticipated that they’d grow back. So we’ve given it a go, in the hope that next year we are not fighting the taste of privet with our barbecued burgers!!

John was still upstairs having his medication so I said I’d charge over to Heartlands to get his second prescription for the Tobramycin – you know, that Bobitoff stuff….. On my way back, I thought I’d drop into Marks and Spencer’s to see if I could get some trousers.

Harriet and I had been talking last week about my failure to buy new clothes. It struck home when she said that her Mum hadn’t been a great one for buying new clothes – “…….but not as bad as you,” she said, “she did buy some!” It made me laugh. Honestly, I’m a terror. If something hasn’t worn out, or isn’t at least twenty years old, then I won’t throw it out and will keep on wearing it!

I remember, many years ago, I actually knitted a cardigan. I was so proud of it that I wore it and wore it. Trainees I worked with came and went and, on one occasion years later, I met one of them in town. “Oh, my God!,” he exclaimed, “are you still wearing that old thing?” I was mortified. It didn’t change my behaviour though…… hehehe. Yep, still wearing that old thing.

But I did buy some trousers today.

John had been busy while I was out. He’d been glued to the computer, inputting figures to show the last four years’ worth of spend on our gas and electric bills. It’ll be interesting to see how they will compare to this year, won’t it?

I sat down with a cuppa and started to watch the last of the daytime TV before setting on to cook the evening meal. John sat down in his chair too, to join me. Erm….. afternoon nap, anyone?

Then it was a bit Bake Off this evening. Nothing better than a gentle programme to take you through the evening, is there? Lovely.

Take care everyone. God bless.

More Moonshine…..

……..and a bit of Jupiter, of course.

Once more, the moon is shining so brightly into our home that it feels like we should be outside playing outside in the garden. Jupiter too, has been making its appearance for the last few days and there it still is, a little further away from the moon now, but still very visible. Marvellous. Exciting.

In other news, we were up betimes this morning waiting for the shopping delivery at 7.30 a.m. Naturally, I’d ordered loads of stuff but there is always something you forget isn’t there? “Did you order any of the Paleo breakfast cereal (with no cereal!)?” John asked. “Oh….. no, I forgot that!” I exclaimed. There’s mountains of everything else, but not that. Darn it!

It took forever to put the shopping away. John abandoned ship half way through and went off to take his medication and have a shower – sensible chap – and left me to it. Just a modicum of re-arranging one’s cupboards required…..

John was busy on the computer this morning but I felt like I needed a breath of fresh air and threatened to go out for a walk. The walk never transpired, but I did get out into the garden and planted a root of horseradish that Pete had donated to me yesterday. Will it survive? We’ll see. Will I remember what it is when it comes up next year? Hope so! Will John think it’s a weed? Maybe….. but fingers crossed we have something harvestable next year! I love a bit of creamed horseradish with my beef, don’t you?

This afternoon we had the pleasure of babysitting Oliver for the very first time. Danielle was taking Thomas to a speech therapy group this afternoon and so left the baby with us. It was delightfully easy. He slept all afternoon and only woke up a nanosecond before Danielle walked back in through the door. John, too, slept like a baby this afternoon and only woke up when Danielle walked in through the door too! Hehehe!

Take care everyone. God bless.

The Moon doth Shine…

Crikey! I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but who needs electricity in the house when you’ve got a moon shining in through the windows as bright as sunlight?

It’s an absolutely stunning sky out there this evening. A few clouds floating through, but they are making it all the more interesting. Aah…… nature, eh? A wonderful balm for the spirits. And certainly the spirits in our household still need shoring up, despite all the exciting things that happen around us or we generate.

I’d like to offer you an amazing photo of said moon, but none of the photos I’ve taken have done it justice….. but I like this one with the cotton wool clouds enveloping it. Seems to draw you in, doesn’t it?

As I have said before, I think Susie Dent reads my mind. Her Word of the Day yesterday was: ‘ramfeezled’ (18th century): feeling worn out, used up, and particularly enfeebled. Ha! We recognise that!!

Because we are feeling worn out, used up and enfeebled, we both lay in bed this morning and stayed there until noon. John got out of bed and made a cup of tea, had his medications and watched the Grand Prix, then promptly went back to sleep. I faffed about on social media, did a few puzzles and read my book. I mean, I didn’t even want to get out of bed to watch the church service online today……. it just felt too heavy and overwhelming.

Michael phoned. “What are you up to today?” he asked. Erm…. our plan was just to swan about really….. which is what I did mostly. John, however, was halfway through repairing the guttering when he was interrupted with a hospital stay the other week, so he thought he’d have another go at it this afternoon. I wasn’t going to stop him. After all, we want to feel useful even in our enfeebled state.

He did well at the job but I have to confess I think he may have overdone it….. fingers crossed he feels better tomorrow. He was feeling particularly out of breath again this evening!

I had thought I’d go to yoga this afternoon but, after a lovely meal and a glass or two of red wine to accompany it this afternoon, I realised that alcohol and yoga don’t really mix, so I didn’t go. This is the second time this has happened……. must have a word with myself. Arrrggh!!

Take care everyone, God bless.

Oh, and in case I forget to mention it, stay safe – masks an’ all that. There’s another Covid wave coming, you know!

A few days’ worth…..

Mañana, mañana….. that’s what I’ve been doing this week. ‘I’ll blog tomorrow….’ I think to myself, and then tomorrow comes and I don’t and I didn’t and I haven’t! So here we are, with a few days worth of news!

After the excitement of shifting and cutting up the oak tree branch on Tuesday, it felt like life was going to be a little bit flat come Wednesday, but no such thing. Well, you wouldn’t expect it to be so, would you? Us being Sleaths?

I finally got to attend an online Stress Management Course (SMC) on Wednesday morning. Interesting! Homework? i) Use relaxation techniques ii) Increase exercise iii) Set yourself goals. Hahahahaha! If only…….. maybe next week?

Mid-course, my phone rang. It was the solar panel people. They’d got a slot for one of their engineers to come and unhitch the batteries and take them away. “OK to come in an hour and a half?” they said. I said ‘yes’ thinking that I’d have finished my course by then. Nah…….. the engineer arrived about 11.15. Had to break off what I was doing, leave the group chat and deal with him. Pffft! But I was pleased that the ball is rolling. Not heard a peep from them since, mind you!

We relaxed in the afternoon, had a bite to eat and watched a bit of telly when, just before tea-time, I had an episode with my eye. Nasty, dark-ish grey splodge in the lower part of my vision. Tried to shake it off, blinked my eyes a few times, ignored it for a bit. Was it a migraine? No. Was it a bit of sleep in my eye? No. Then I remembered I’d had a similar experience in 2015 in my left eye, with a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). I promptly lay down. Just in case, you know?

John phoned 111. They said a clinician would get in touch. The clinician said go to A & E. So, at 9 o’clock at night, Paul took me down to Warwick Hospital. Waiting time was displayed as 6 hours. Groan….. six hours? We saw the triage nurse a couple of hours in, however, and that turned out to be helpful….. ish. “The Registrar says there are no eye specialists on duty, so you’re better off going to the University Hospital in Coventry tomorrow,” she said. “Here’s the number to phone to get and an appointment.”

Honestly, Paul was brilliant. Organised everything for me and generally looked after me wonderfully well. “I’ll take you to the hospital tomorrow, Mum, if you need to go.” Wow. So grateful.

As it turned out, the lying down seemed to have done the trick and the symptom disappeared, so I stopped worrying.

Meanwhile, John joined in the Quiz evening. I am not sure how well they did, but I know that John certainly enjoyed himself. There was a wine bottle half-empty and nibbles to hand, so he’d clearly settled in.

Thursday dawned and we fulfilled our promise to Skype Graham and Gail in the morning. It was lovely – had a really good chat and really didn’t want to say our goodbyes. Half-way through the chat I took a phone call from an eye specialist to discuss the state of my eye. “Come down to the emergency eye clinic this afternoon,” she said, “and we’ll take a look.” Righty-ho.

Paul took me down as promised and was very patient as we waited to be seen. In the end, the consultant said that the eye was OK and that whatever had happened had resolved itself. Not a PVD then. Nothing to see here! Phew!

After all the excitement, we treated ourselves to an early night on Thursday, what with me exhausted and John still being a bit under the weather, although definitely making an improvement. His breathing is a bit easier so the antibiotics are doing their job. One suggestion from the consultant, however, was for him to try and build up some muscle, so that any effort or exercise calls for less oxygen. He ordered some weights for his wrists and ankles, so he’s wearing those now. Looks like he’s an escapee from prison…… hehehe.

Friday. Had planned to go to yoga, but decided against it. Didn’t want to be doing lots of down dogs with a dodgy eye. Instead, I went over to Michael and Danielle’s to babysit the little ones. No down dogs there! Both parents had work to do, so an hour or two of child care was required. As it turned out, it was lovely and gentle – a little bit of TV, some jigsaw puzzles, a bit of baby dandling and then sorting out lunch. Fab.

Meanwhile, John was off on a jaunt! He went with Pete for a joyride in a classic Jaguar. A gift to Pete for his 70th birthday to which he was entitled to take a guest. How nice that he thought of John, eh? Apparently, the car went well. I mean, Pete put his foot down from what I can gather……

And today? Nothing really. Not a lot going on. We faffed about a bit. John had a snooze this afternoon while I did a spot of ironing in front of the TV. Then, just before 5 o’clock, John woke up and thought he ought go outside and get on. Hmmm…. by then, I’d had an exciting exchange of messages and confirmation that a surprise delivery was due just then. “Drink your tea,” I encouraged John, thus delaying his desire to go outside. And then the door bell rang and the delivery was here:

Cool, or what?

Take care everyone. God bless.

An Exciting Day

Well, yesterday wasn’t so good, but we had an exciting day today!

John was feeling very under the weather on Monday – not only was he having trouble with his breathing but he was struggling with his mental health, too. There really wasn’t much I could do to cheer him up at all yesterday.

My feeble attempt at lightening the load was to offer to take him for a trip out in the car and go for a COVID jab. Ha-Ha! We were successful in our mission and came home suitably prodded and poked with resulting sore arms this morning.

Other than that, it was a miserable day in front of the TV mostly and, for me, tiddling with my jigsaw which is now finished! The 199 steps at Whitby. Nice, eh?

I did also add to the excitement yesterday by contacting the solar panel people and giving them a piece of my mind in the morning, however.

I was put through to the Manager of the Installations Team and she authorised the removal of the batteries for them to be inspected at Head Office. I doubt we’ll see those again. She promised to return them within the week if they could repair them. Hahahahaha. Otherwise, I suspect it is likely to be weeks, or maybe months, before we get new batteries. The fix would be coming from China, of course……

Not unreasonably, I thought, I said we’d be claiming money from them if the delivery of the batteries is delayed. Watch this space, folks. Name and shame? What say you?

This morning neither of us wanted to winkle ourselves out of bed. John was up before me though, and brought me a nice cup of tea about half past ten. Lovely. Then I had another snooze while he trundled off to breathe in his medication on the nebuliser. I finally got downstairs just before noon and had breakfast. Or was it Brunch? Who knows?

I sat in the lounge in front of the TV and flicked the programme on to Bargain Hunt. John came and joined me. It is such a gentle programme that, blow me! – there I was, drifting off to sleep again! Missed the last ten minutes and only woke up when Paul arrived an hour later. Ooo-er! I’m blaming the COVID jab for my tiredness.

What a fabulous surprise to see Paul. He’d been playing golf locally so thought he’d shoot in for a quick cuppa. Ha! We had other ideas, didn’t we?

Last week, the strong winds had brought a branch down from the oak tree across the road. The neighbours had dragged it onto the grass verge and there it lay. “Oooh, look at that!” we’d said to each other, longingly. “Look at all that lovely wood to burn.”

When Paul arrived, our thoughts turned to the very large muscles he has. “I wonder if you could drag it over to our house, Paul?” John said. Paul went off to try – and came back with a shake of the head. “It’s blooming heavy,” he said.

“What about if we all go and help?” I suggested. So we toddled across the road and inspected said branch. “We haven’t even asked if we can have it yet, though,” I observed. “Well, go on then – ask!” urged Paul. The lady-from-over-the-road-said: “Yes!” So Paul, all by himself and with John and me looking on, dragged the branch across the road and onto our drive. I wasn’t half impressed….. it wasn’t too heavy, after all.

After Paul had left, we sat and had a cuppa. I popped upstairs to check something on the computer when I heard the doorbell go. It was Michael calling in. Well, our cup was full. Two boys in one day! Boom! He’d been up to Staffordshire for work and was on his way back. How very lovely.

We chatted for a while and then he had to go. “Come for tea?” he asked. “Oh, that would be nice,” was our immediate response. And then, after a bit of thought, maybe not. I was going out to my ‘Exploring Faith’ group in the evening for one thing and, for another, I wasn’t sure John would be up to the hurly-burly. So we declined and said our goodbyes to Michael.

We were galvanised though, weren’t we, by the excitement of the oak branch? “I’m not feeling too bad” declared John, “Let’s get it cut up and shifted into the back garden.” Righty-ho! And away we went. John got his electric cutter out, I got my secateurs and a wheelbarrow out and quick-as-a-flash, there we were with a cleared drive and pieces of wood down in the Man Shed.

John assured me that the use of the electric cutter required no effort at all. But he was beginning to struggle towards the end of the exercise. Mind you, so was I! We both fell into the house for another cuppa and a glorious text message from Michael revealing that they were having roast chicken for tea….’just in case you want to come’.

Naturally, we couldn’t resist. Time with family is so, so precious, isn’t it? And we’re allowed a ‘U’-turn, aren’t we?

We were both tired when we came back so John rested, but I was determined to go out to the little Bible Study/Prayer Group, so I went and enjoyed it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the ol’ man hasn’t overdone it though…….. we’ll find out tomorrow I expect.

Take care everyone. God bless.