A full day

Some days are like that, aren’t they? Full from beginning to end. And it was a good full from beginning to end, so we are quite happy as we get ready for bed.

John was particularly looking forward to the day because Richard was coming to visit. “What shall I do for lunch?” I wondered, offering a few alternatives. “I thought we’d just go out to The White Horse,” said John. Right – well, that would save on cooking!

This morning then, I pottered about doing the standard things before I popped over to Leamington to Mum’s solicitors. I had been having fun and games in trying to get one of her pension companies to take note of her new address. ‘We need everything in triplicate and originals.’ Of course, I had sent the ‘original copy’ of Mum’s Power of Attorney document to someone at some time and found I no longer had it. “Cough up another tenner for a duplicate” is the standard response from the solicitor. Ah well, it’s only money after all, isn’t it?

Once I had collected the relevant documents and signed several others – ‘here’s one to take to your Mum’ – I was on my way and home in no time at all. The process made me smile though. I mean, Mum no longer has any interest in formal bits of paper, but I still have to hand her the document and let the solicitor know I have done so. I will, of course.

When I arrived home, Richard was already settled in. A couple of cups of tea and a big chinwag later, I checked with John what they were doing for lunch. “How about bacon butties?” said John. “Did you buy bacon?” I asked. No, came the reply. “Or bread?” No……. “It’ll have to be the pub then,” John grinned. So off they went.

I took the opportunity to do a bit of a clean-up of the fridge while they were out, to see if there was anything edible in there for my lunch. I managed to retrieve some sad salad and ate that before they were home again. And then it was more chin-wagging ten to the dozen. Richard was so enjoying himself that he postponed his visit to the gym and stayed on beyond his original planned departure time. “I’m not outstaying my welcome, am I?” he wondered. No, of course he wasn’t – we don’t see him so frequently nowadays, so it was just delightful to enjoy his company.

Richard left at tea-time and then, this evening, it was Quiz Time! Fun, as always. A cracking quiz with some really good questions – and some great questions that engendered debate, which we all love to do. Lots of laughter and wonderful camaraderie. Here’s us thinking hard……and giggling, too.

And thus we slipped from one activity to the next as smoothly as you like today, with barely a pause for breath. And pretty much all of it involved the pleasure of socialising and friendship. Great stuff.

Talking of socialising – the PM is still saying ‘there was no party’ at No. 10 last December, despite the chuckling of the then press secretary, Allegra Stratton, and other aides about the gathering, in a rehearsal for a journalists’ briefing. Let’s face it, it feels like an Orwellian scenario, doesn’t it? What next I wonder?

Nothing to see here. No rules broken. No crime committed……

51.342 people infected with COVID to day. Nothing to see here.

161 people died with the virus in the community today. Nothing to see here.

729 people admitted to hospital with the virus today. Nothing to see here.

45 people died in hospitals in the last 48 hours. Nothing to see here.

All animals are equal.

Take care everyone. Keep up the good work on the mask-wearing, distance-keeping and lateral flow testing. God bless.