A weekend away….. just!!

We started packing our suitcases for a lovely relaxing weekend away at Sue and Chris’s. John set his alarm and started getting ready early, so that we could set off in good time on Friday morning.

However, before we had got very far in the packing and setting off stakes, I took a phone call in the middle of Thursday night. “Hello, It’s Joe from Orchard Blythe. Your Mum has had a fall and hurt herself.” Oh, crumbs. “We’ve called the paramedics and I’ll let you know how we get on.”

I managed to get back to a shallow sleep awaiting said phone call but, by the morning, there had been not been one. I phoned the home to find out what was happening. Apparently, Mum had been taken by ambulance to Heartlands Hospital at about four in the morning and they had forgotten to let me know. She was in A & E. Ha! Well, I spent ages on the phone trying get through to A & E to find out how she was and what her injuries were.

Naturally, my first thought was that I needed to get down to the hospital to see what was what. But, as it turned out, there was really nothing I could do that would be of any use if I went. The staff reassured me that they were treating her with pain relief, she was due to have X-rays and would be going to a ward soon. Nothing serious as far as they could tell.

She was complaining of pain in her ribs but there were no broken bones, simply bruising, and she had taken the skin off her arm. No-one at the care home knew how she had fallen, all they knew was that they’d put her to bed about 12.30 and twenty minutes later found her on the floor.

Mum spent the weekend in hospital but went back home today, Sunday, at tea-time, pleased to be back and greeting the care staff very cheerily. That’s a relief!! I shall go and see her tomorrow and see how the care home plan to look after her with her injuries. The District Nurse is going to be asked to dress her arm, I understand.

Meanwhile, we did eventually pack up our suitcases on Friday morning and, having taken advice from several sources – John, Michael, Harriet – I concluded that we would set off for Sue and Chris’s, on this, ‘the third time lucky’, after all…..

We had a smooth journey down to Hampshire and arrived mid-afternoon. And what a warm welcome we received! Oh, it was so lovely to see them.

And that was it then – we were off. Chatting away and laughing together all weekend. Relaxing. Sue and Chris were just the most perfect hosts. Aaaand……breathe……

We planned to do very little – other than eat, drink and sleep, of course – and perhaps wander into the village and browse the shops. Or maybe a walk over the heath. One point of interest, as always though, was Christopher’s car…….

Chris, over the years, has been restoring a 1939 Riley 9. Every time we have visited, we have inspected the progress on the car. And, of course, with lockdown and retirement, Chris had a bit more time to work on it, so…… it’s finished! And working! Just look at this!!

What a stunner!!! We couldn’t wait to try it out! Chris gave John a ride in it on Friday, not long after we arrived, and then gave me a ride in it on Saturday. It was very exciting! We absolutely loved the car and take our caps off to Chris, who has clearly done a fabulous job on it.

Other than the excitement of a car ride and, for me and Sue, a leisurely walk into the village on Saturday morning to meet up with Chris, we did nothing else. John was very tired and a touch under the weather on Saturday, so slept quite a lot. The carefully charged-up new wheelchair languished in the garage, unused.

This morning, as it was raining and a trip outside was out of the question, we all marvelled at the London Marathon as we watched the various races on TV, and reminisced about our various family members and friends or acquaintances who’d taken part in previous years.

John was disappointed that he hadn’t had more energy over the weekend to get ‘out and about’ – and that his trip into the village didn’t materialise due to the rainy weather, but he very much enjoyed everyone’s company and was delighted just to be away from our own four walls.

Aren’t we lucky to have such dear friends? It was just what we needed and we were so glad we managed to make the trip. Our thanks to Sue and Chris for their calming and delightful company. Here’s to the next time!!

And that’s all folks! Take care everyone. God bless.