Busy?

I should say so!!

We had a busy planned today and it didn’t disappoint. Not only did our plans come to fruition, but we had unexpected visitors, too!

John was still a-snoozing this morning when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t actually up, although I had been up and was just contemplating getting dressed. I threw on a pair of jeans and tanked down the stairs. An unfamiliar face was waiting at the front door. I unlocked Fort Knox and wondered what he wanted?

It turns out that he’d come to fix our roof!! Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather!! This was a most unexpected, but happy event. “You’ve had a damaged roof?” he said, “From scaffolding? I’ve been sent to repair it.” Well, sir, you are very welcome!!

He set about the repair very professionally and, from what I can tell, has done a nice job. He wasn’t at the house very long – probably about two and a half hours – but I think it took him longer than he thought. He had to winkle out the old, broken tiles which were well-entrenched, but he managed it and we now have a smooth roof. Yay!

Meanwhile, I had already assured the Kenilworth Newbies that I was up. “Am up and plan to be at yours for 9,” I texted. I was on babysitting duties while Danielle worked on finalising her project. Michael texted back that that might be awkward. Danielle was planning to come to us. Oh…. ah!!!!

Danielle arrived about 9.15 and we were off for the day. John was up and getting ready for his Pulmonary Rehabilitation Class; and I was raring to go to play with Oliver.

I had a delightful morning with Oliver. I won’t say it too loud, but honestly, he is the easiest baby to look after. He just plays. And coos and chats a lot. When he is not doing that, he is crawling all over the floor to reach any toy that happens to be out of reach. Such a pleasure.

Just before lunch, John was still out; Danielle was beavering away at her computer; and I was dandling Oliver on my hip when the doorbell rang. Another man at the door. This time, it was someone I knew. Someone I knew, but hadn’t seen in years. Richard Bones, no less. He was in the area and decided to call in. Well, how wonderful!!

It was very exciting to see him after all this time and we chatted away as if we hadn’t been away from each for years on end. “I’m sorry, Richard, but do you mind if I carry on with getting lunch ready?” I said. I was going out later to visit Mum and had just started getting some rolls cut and buttered. He didn’t mind at all. So we nattered as I prepped food and looked after Oliver.

John arrived home and couldn’t quite believe his eyes. And there we all were in the kitchen, mulling over times gone by. Lovely.

Regrettably, I had to leave about 2.30 to set off to Mum’s. I left Danielle to mind the baby, and John to entertain Richard. I think they managed OK……. hehehe.

Mum was very well, but clearly losing even more of her memory. She had no idea who I was when I arrived. I could have been anybody. She was just toddling out of the lounge as I went in to find her. “Hello!” I said, with a twinkle in my eye. “Hello,” she replied, as if I was just A.N. Other. “I’m just going to the loo,” Right. So off we went.

Once she was sat down in her her chair, I asked her if she knew who I was. “Oh, yes,” she said firmly. I waited, expectantly. But there was no proper recognition in her eyes. Eventually, I pulled my mask up and said, “It’s Anne!” She still had no proper recognition and replied, “Anne? Anne?” puzzling over who I might be. “Your daughter!” My daughter? Oh, dear…..

We talked some more and I told her about my upcoming birthday. “Well, I’m older than you!” she said triumphantly. I laughed. “Well, you will be older than me, because you’re my Mum!!” I replied, giggling. “I’m your Mother?” she exclaimed. “Yes, you are,” I said, gently.

Anyway, she seemed to accept that I was her daughter – although, apparently, I reminded her of someone. “Hazel Dawson?” she said, calling to mind her lifelong friend. “I wonder where she is now?” I hadn’t the heart to tell her that her very dear friend died a couple of years ago.

But we had a very nice afternoon and she pored over all the family photos I shared with her and she was very happy to chuckle over the younger members of the family, saying how good-looking they all were.

I came away at tea-time, taking Mum into the dining room to have her tea. As I left, she was being upbraided by one of the ladies at her table because, it seems, she was about to use her blouse as a hanky. “Hazel! Use your tissue!” came the refrain I had been using all afternoon. I think it’s a lost battle…….. ah, well, she’s happy.

Take care everyone. God bless.