Home…..

So the ol’ man came home yesterday. The medics had decided that the antibiotics, administered through his nebuliser, could just as easily betaken at home rather than in hospital. Ah… OK. Nice.

He was chipper in the car, and we even talked about trundling down the M40 to visit Christiana on Sunday. Should we go? Too early? No, we thought, we’ll make the trip!

Ha! That was on the way home. By the time tea-time had set in, John wasn’t feeling quite so chipper. In fact, he wasn’t feeling the best at all. Never mind, perhaps an evening with Pete and Dawn would perk him up and do the trick.

Of course, it was lovely to see them and we really enjoyed their company, but even they could see that John was beginning to struggle as the evening went on, so they didn’t stay too long. After they’d left, I wondered, out loud, if it was wise to make the 230-mile round trip to Christiana’s on the morrow? Hmm…. maybe we had been over-ambitious? Perhaps we ought to think again? John looked at me bleakly. Needless to say, we decided we’d stay home and be gentle with ourselves.

So, Sunday…….. We had a slow morning and just pootled about. After lunch, I planned to have a bath and a pamper while John watched the Grand Prix. We did both, which was lovely.

The Kenilworth Sleath Originals phoned mid-afternoon to see if we’d like an afternoon visit? Yes, we would. That would be very nice indeed. So they came and stayed for tea. Lovely to see them and it cheered John up a bit. Here they are, the beautiful people, listening to John intently!

Unfortunately, John wasn’t feeling great and, although he did enjoy their visit, he found it hard, and was struggling with a hefty downturn in his mental state. Oh joy. A bout of depression? Hmm, we think so. Grrr…….. poor John, it’s very, very tough on him.

Anyway, can we re-wind? To something else lovely and positive?

While John was in hospital, I was, naturally, just pottering at home minding my own business on Friday when the doorbell rang. It was Rachel, from church. With a bunch of flowers! Wow. Wonderful to see her and have a fabulous door-step chat. She was sorry that John was in hospital and thought we needed a cheer-up. Not only were flowers on the list of ‘cheer-ups’ but there was a voucher for afternoon tea at Oakes’. Could’ve knocked me down with a feather. Such generosity. Such a thoughtful act. My, oh my. I was overwhelmed. But so, so grateful. Brought tears to my eyes. There aren’t half some lovely people in the world, aren’t there?

Friday felt autumnal to me. I don’t know if it did to you, but I decided, in the absence of the warmth of John’s company, I’d light a fire to stave off the chills. I loaded the fire with some of the coal that we’d recently had delivered. Too much, do you reckon? Hehehe! It was lush!

So, hey-ho, here we go. Fingers crossed for a better week ahead. Oh, but hang on a minute!! What’s this? A phone call from Orchard Blythe where Mum resides….. there’s Covid in the camp. Oh, OK, thank you for letting me know. Yes, but half a bit…..another phone call from Orchard Blythe….. Mum has now contracted COVID. What the heck? Oh, Lord…….

And would someone at the solar panel company please come and sort out our system? Anyone. Just someone. For weeks, nay months, we’ve been on and on to them to let them know that the system keeps tripping and setting off an alarm. But are they doing anything? No!

Tips on how to make them sit up and take notice, please…… ‘cos we’re being trampled on right now. Well, at least, it feels like it anyway……

Such are the ups and downs of our lives. We’d be disappointed though if it wasn’t exciting, wouldn’t we? The trouble is, I am not sure that this is the sort of excitement I was after!!

Take care everyone. God bless.