The Blues…. lifted a little

There was no reason to get up early this morning, so we dawdled in bed for a while, taking our pains aux raisins back to bed for breakfast. Time went by and we suddenly thought we ought to get up. We’d promised to drop in on Michael for a cuppa about 11 o’clock. John got up and got dressed and I decided, at the last minute, to get a shower, so we were delayed in setting off.

Michael had warned us that the children were under the weather so he gave us the option to cry off. John was keen to go, however – he expected that the grandchildren and Michael would bring light relief to his continued darkened mood. We planned to sit out in the garden, avoid kissing and cuddling the children and, fingers crossed, we hoped not to catch whatever lurgy they’d got lurking in their runny noses.

We had a lovely hour with them, sitting out in the very warm sunshine and chatting to the family. We upgraded the bird feeder from a vessel that was sprouting the seed to one where the seed was free-flowing; we watched a snail make an interesting journey from a plastic bucket to the grass; and listened carefully to all the tales the children had to tell – including Oliver, who was shouting at the top of his voice to be heard.

John had a nice gentle chat with Michael and I think it helped him get a slightly different perspective.

Regrettably, an hour was long enough. John’s hip/leg was starting to hurt and the low garden furniture wasn’t brilliant for his sitting position, so we came away blowing kisses to everyone.

Home, and it was rest time. We had some lunch and considered what we might put on the telly to sleep through. Rugby was on so that was favourite. Fortunately, Pete came round with the gubbins he’d had another shot at mending for the Lotus. John had declared earlier in the day that, come what may, he was going to take the car for a spin – so Pete fitted the piece; John fired up the car; and off they went. Smashing!

They arrived back with a flourish, pulling onto the drive, with the engine sounding as sweet as a nut, purring beautifully. They were both smiling from ear to ear. Pete grinned, and said to me, “There you are. I’ve proved the car is safe to ride in, so now it’s your turn.” John took me for a spin then and very lovely it was, too. Nice to sit alongside hubby in the car of his dreams and remember our youth!!

Jack had come along with Pete to visit us, too. Not wanting to be rude, but wanting to get on with mowing my lawn, I asked to be excused from the car conversation. “Perhaps Jack can help you?” Pete proposed. “You can teach him how to use the lawnmower, if you like.” Well, what a cracking idea! Jack and I toddled out into the garden and Jack did the mowing while I ambled alongside to help identify the bits of grass that still needed cutting. He did a good job and in record time, too, so we were done and dusted and back in the house just before the boys set off for their jaunt.

The car being roadworthy has helped lift John’s mood a bit and the fact that he’s taken two passengers out in it has definitely made him feel it’s been worthwhile.

John completed his usefulness today by getting the weed killer out and having a go at the drive which is threatening to grow a jungle. He was amusing though. He sat on his four-wheeled walker and propelled himself along to all the bits that needed doing. And he didn’t fall off today! Result!

I also did a bit of weeding in the front garden, trying to remove a very pretty row of thistles that have taken hold. But they are little b****rs to get out, aren’t they? They seem to have very tenacious roots. “They’ll be back,” I observed to John as we went back into the house. “They’re still lurking under the surface of the soil….” Well, it’ll give me something to do, won’t it?

Take care everyone. God bless.