Author: anniesleath@hotmail.co.uk

We have tried to have a ‘doing’ day today. Instead of sitting, curled up on the sofa, goggle-eyed, we have been out.

This morning, it is true that I left John in bed while I went to yoga, but he was more or less up when I got home. My yoga class was very gentle, being all about somatics – the mind-body connection survey. We mostly lay down on the floor to check ourselves out, and I was conscious, at one point, that I might drift off……

I did feel better for the exercise though and felt ready for a trip out when I got home. “Shall we go for a bit of lunch and a walk at Baddesley Clinton?” I asked John. Yes, he was up for that.

In the end, we didn’t leave home until about one o’clock what with faffing about with one thing and another. Soup in the café, therefore, was orf……Ah, well, never mind, I had a lovely hot chocolate instead and John had a panini. Here he is, enjoying it!

We didn’t manage the walk though. John felt a bit wobbly after lunch, so we tottered to the National Trust shop, bought a bird bath, and came home.

The member of staff serving us was kindness itself. I had enquired as to whether the bird baths were available on line as I didn’t think I’d be able to carry it to the car. Not only did he carry it out for us, but he allowed me to bring car right up to the door so that John had a simple hop, skip and jump to get into the passenger seat.

We thought we might go over to the Kenilworth Newbies to drop their ‘left behinds’ in this afternoon but, in the end, we didn’t do that either. Oliver has a bit of a cold and it looks like I’m going over there tomorrow anyway. Not only that, but the afternoon slump overtook us and we ended up comfy on the sofa.

I managed a walk to the shops, however, in the pouring rain, to buy a few bits for tea. And then this evening I’ve finished the quiz. So it’s definitely been a ‘doing’ day, today. Go us!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Ay up! It’s Monday. New beginnings, eh? Well, let’s hope so anyway!!

Both John and I had thought we might make an effort to get going a bit today. John succeeded, but I didn’t. Although it was a sluggish start, John managed to get out of bed in time for me to take him to his exercise class at lunchtime today. “Do you want me to stay and watch, John, or shall I go shopping?” I asked. John said he was keen for me to stay and watch so that I had a bit of an idea of what went on in his class.

He did very well, cycling for what seemed ages to me, but he wrote it down as just ten minutes, before moving on to some weights for his arms and legs. He had a chat to the instructor who offered him some advice, which he hopes to follow at home. All in all, although it was a struggle, he managed to do what he’d gone for.

I was pleased because success is so affirming, isn’t it? I was also pleased that his ailments yesterday must have been related to fatigue from not having slept the night before, so my worries lessened.

I had intended to get up and go for a walk this morning, but it was pouring with rain so I baulked at the idea and snuggled back into bed until nine o’clock. I feel rather burnt out just at the moment, so bed is very inviting indeed. In fact, anything other than the jobs I’ve got lined up seems very inviting! I am sure I will get onto them sometime though – maybe tomorrow? We’ll see.

John, of course, is very encouraging in his comments, “Oh, dear, you look a bit pale and pasty,” he said to me today. Gee…. thanks. Yes, yes, I know I am, but I am a bit out of sorts, so what can you expect? Hehehe. Perhaps I’d better slap a bit of make-up on!

Anyway, I didn’t get my walk because this afternoon, instead of taking myself out and about, I set on to write some Quiz questions for this week’s challenge. I managed to get a few rounds done and only have one or two to think of tomorrow, so that was a good job done so far.

Paul and Harriet called in for a cuppa at about half past three, to collect the Mini that they’d left here when they came for Paul’s birthday lunch. They had been over to Birmingham to Selfridges to buy a rather fancy pair of shoes for Harriet, lucky girl. Mind you, it is her birthday this week! It was lovely to see them and they stayed for a good hour and a half. Paul, however, was busy playing a game on his phone so we didn’t get to chat to him much today!

Michael phoned at tea-time and had some wise words to offer to help me feel a bit better. He’s always helpful, that boy. Sons! What a blessing they are.

Take care everyone. God bless.

John woke up early this morning and brought me a cup of tea in bed. Lush, eh? “You’re up early,” I said. Yes…. he hadn’t been able to sleep. Oh, dear. So he went back to bed for as best a snooze as he could get.

I also stayed in bed, scrolling through social media and doing online puzzles, and I was just contemplating whether to get up or not, when Paul rang. “We’re going up to the Informal Service at church, do you want to come? We’ll pick you up.” Well, I thought, why not? How lovely to be in company at church – especially that of Paul and Freddie. So up I got and whizzed round to get ready just in time for the doorbell going just before eleven o’clock.

We had a very pleasant time at the service – there weren’t many of us, so it was quite intimate and easy. Lots of songs that I didn’t know but that didn’t stop me singing! Lots of people I did know though, and, of course, I stopped to chat to them all.

All that chatting meant that we were quite late out of church, so I wasn’t sure whether Paul and Freddie would want to come round for a cup of tea – but they did. And that was really lovely, as we sat together for a good long while, gently chit-chatting and enjoying each others’ company. Freddie and I had a game of chess which Freddie played very well. We could do with a ‘short version’ of chess, though…. anyone know one?

Soon it was time for them to go and we waved goodbye, having made arrangements for Freddie to come for tea on Wednesday and then for a sleepover on Friday, all being well.

I say all being well, because John is not yet best. The lack of sleep overnight seemed to have done him in today and he really wasn’t at all well. He slept most of the afternoon, although he did manage half an hour of the rugby. But I was quite worried about him and on the alert for the possibility of medical intervention. Anyway, he perked up at tea-time and feels a bit better this evening, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.

Some of the un-wellness is due to John having hurt his back when he fell, a few weeks ago. They did an x-ray and claimed that there was nothing to see, so my theory of cracked or broken ribs was dispelled. However, whenever he coughs, his back is very painful, so it may be worth investigating it again……..watch this space!

This evening, I enjoyed the final of Dancing on Ice and my favourite won, so that pleased me. Then we watched the last episode of ‘Endeavour’, which we both thought was very well done and we thoroughly enjoyed it – especially the closing scene…….

And that was us today. A quiet day really, mostly relaxing, despite the coughing and the anxiety.

Take care everyone. God bless.

John looked forward to today. A day of George and Sue calling in for a check-up on John’s computer, then an afternoon of watching The Six Nations rugby tournament.

We lazed in bed until nearly mid-day, when George and Sue were due to arrive, supping the cuppa John had made and brought upstairs. It was lush. Having a little natter and a little snooze on a Saturday morning has to be one of life’s little luxuries, I think.

We tottered downstairs in time to greet our guests and then that was it! We were off.

Sue and I talked and talked and talked. George and John puzzled and puzzled over the computer. We drank tea. We drank Prosecco. We drank red wine. We ate cheese on toast. Later on, we ate Spaghetti Bolognese. It was all lovely.

We settled down to watch the rugby, prosecco and nibbles to hand, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Italy v Wales match. Then along came the much anticipated England v France match, at home at Twickenham. But oh, groan… What a disappointment! France pounded the England players and ran out easy winners, with a score of 10 to us and 53 to them. Ouch!

Although we were all disappointed with the match and the score, it didn’t stop us enjoying each others’ company and we rounded our evening off with some lively debate about this week’s current affairs – particularly focussing on the government’s policy on immigration, Gary Lineker’s tweet and the ins and outs of how we treat people. Fascinating stuff – and we all came away having learned just a bit from each other.

I am not sure what we did to have such fabulous friends, but whatever it was, I am very, very grateful for them. Their kindness and their company is just wonderful.

John managed the day pretty well – especially enjoying the after-dinner debate – but he is still a bit wobbly and coughing well. Not sure if we need to administer more antibiotics…… we’ll see how he is tomorrow.

Take care everyone. God bless.

And… oh! Just realised that, once again, we were too busy enjoying ourselves to take photos…… ah, well, maybe next time?

We lounged in bed this morning with a cup of tea that John had made, just chatting a bit before I winkled myself out from under the warm covers to get a shower and prepare myself for a private yoga lesson at 11.30.

I was lucky, Jaime had a spare slot at the last minute this morning and offered it to me since we were not travelling down to Dunstable for Terry’s funeral, after all. We had agreed with Gloria that the journey and standing in church would make it a long day and probably not the best thing to do, as John is still under the weather.

As I got ready to leave, John also winkled himself out of bed and declared that he was going to have a shower. Ah….. OK. “Will you be alright on your own, John?” I wondered. He said he would. I trusted to judgement, kept my fingers crossed that there’d be no fainting in the shower cubicle, and set off on my way.

I had a wonderful yoga session. It was just right. I had told Jaime that I am still feeling less than able to do the power type of yoga, and that even gentle yoga might be too much. As it was, she created a brilliant lesson concentrating on breathing, stretching, somatics and Yin yoga which suited me down to the ground. Oh, yes, getting back to the old, familiar and fundamental poses of yoga was spot on.

Once home, I fearfully opened the front door to find out whether John was still upright. He was. He’d had his shower and no funny turns. He’d come downstairs to make a cuppa and only had one funny turn. Fortunately, it was when he was holding the water jug full of cold water, rather than when the kettle was full of hot. Phew!

We had a bite to eat and watched a TV programme about a plane lost at sea. Part Two rolled on from Part One, by which time I was fascinated and kept on watching. Bless him, John was so tired after his shower, he missed it as he nodded off on the sofa.

I tapped his shoulder just as the programme was coming to an end to remind him that last night we had arranged to call on Pete and Dawn this afternoon. It took him a few minutes to work out where he was and what we were doing, but he soon picked up his wits and his marbles and we were on our way. “Do you want to get the scooter out, John, or shall we drive?” I asked. “Let’s drive,” came the answer. I concurred – use the bit of luxury we’ve got standing on the drive, eh?

Ah…. familiarity… to sit comfortably with dear friends whom we’ve known forever; and to relax, chat and laugh together did us all the power of good. We may have been laughing at misfortune some of the time, but laughter is definitely the best medicine in getting things into perspective.

We got to talking about wills ‘n things and bemoaning how much we’re fleeced for creating our end-of-life documents. John said, “Yes, its the same old thing… The solicitor told me it’d cost 300 quid and I’d just got two questions for the price. ‘Two questions?’ I gasped. The solicitor replied, ‘That’s one question. Next?'” Ber-Boom-Tish! Hehehe. The old ones are best, aren’t they? Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.

A fish ‘n chip supper on the way home; a lovely video chat to Michael and the children, and that’s us done for the day.

Take care everyone. God bless.

I was keen to go into the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham this morning. After two years of not doing anything much on Mum’s stuff other than having stored it, I thought I’d check out a few strings of pearls to see if they were real or not. I had found a small box with an inscription in it, written by my Dad: ‘Pearls for a pearl’, and I was hoping that at least one string of the pearls might be the one. Unfortunately, no. All the pearls were simply modern costume jewellery. Ah well.

We had decided to brave the journey, despite the gentle fall of snow from the sky. “Do you think we are foolish to go, John?” I asked. “No,” he replied. “It’s just a smattering and not going to last long.” He was right, of course, and our trip was uneventful.

On the way home, we called into a warehouse in Tyseley which dealt in all things e-movable. He’d seen them advertise a wheelchair that he thought might be better than what he’d got, for transporting in the car. It turned out to be the case, so we’re thinking of getting one. We’ll have a different wheelchair for every season then…..hehehe……

Home again and, because of the miserable-looking sky which had started to drop heavy snowflakes, I thought I’d light a fire. Something to cheer us up. John had gone very quiet on the journey home and I’d wondered if it was something I’d said. He told me that he was just fed up of everything. Nothing is easy; everything hurts; and life is very difficult.

The open fire was warm in a cool house and John had a nap. I hoped he’d feel better for having a sleep but he didn’t really. Despite the blues, he perked up a little bit when the Kenilworth Sleaths arrived at tea-time. While their kitchen is being built, they’ve scheduled a Wednesday for tea at our house. Paul prepped and cooked the meal which was a very nice fish pie, thank you.

After the Kenilworth Sleaths had departed, we got ready for Quiz Night. Neither of us were sure that John would stay the course, but he did – right to the very end. Not only that, but he had plenty of the answers too, which was rather good. Mind you, we’re all at the stage of, if in doubt the answer required is going to be Robert Walpole; or the name will be Dave; or the organ is likely to be the brain….

In the meantime, the family we busy on the WhatsApp sending messages to and fro and sharing photos. I was delighted that someone had captured Sunday’s birthday tea, so here we are – ‘happy birthday’ singing for Paul!

Take care everyone. God bless.

I was up early this morning. We had arranged for tree surgeons to come and remove dead branches from the large larch tree in the corner of the garden – and put paid to some ivy growing up the ash tree in the same area. They were also detailed to cut down a fir tree that had been losing its leaves over the last couple of years.

They arrived at 8 o’clock and I was ready and waiting. Three lovely young men, all keen as mustard to get on with the job.

Naturally, I monitored their work all morning as I was keen to make sure that they didn’t overdo it, and supplied them endless with cups of coffee as they worked. It was fascinating to watch as they scaled the heights with their specialist equipment and sawed the brash ready to take it away. But honestly, just look how precarious it is!!!

In the end, there was no real evidence of disease in the tree they felled, but it definitely needed to come down as it was clearly on it last legs, with just a few leaves remaining. The wood, though, has been saved for burning in the open fire next year.

They did a really good job, tidied up after themselves and were finished just after 11 o’clock – a touch too late for whizzing up the road for the chair yoga session that Jaime had offered me.

Not to worry, I took the time to continue with some more tidying of the kitchen….. just as soothing, maybe?

John was up in reasonably good time, and was able to keep his eye on the work going on in the garden too. However, after the lads had left we sat down with a cuppa and it wasn’t long before we were both feeling a bit sleepy. John fought the feeling and did some work on the computer. I succumbed.

This afternoon Nigel came to visit. He was on his way to help out with baby/childcare duties if needed and had promised to call in on us on the way. We had a smashing time together, nattering away for a good hour and a half before he set off to catch up with Linda and Brendan.

Andrew made an appearance about five o’clock, wondering where the day had gone. Bless him. He made us a sandwich for our tea before he went on his way back to Cambridge.

I had planned to go to my Exploring Faith group this evening but I was tired and I still didn’t really want to leave John on his own. He’s still not quite up to snuff. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.

Take care everyone. God bless.

The dishwasher has worked overtime today and it’s still not finished!! I think we used every plate, bowl, knife, fork and spoon we had yesterday, when the family were round, and today we’ve been shoveling them into the dishwasher at a vast rate of knots in an attempt to have something to eat off today.

Mind you, I wasn’t fussed about how fast we did anything at all. I was all for catching up on the TV programmes we’d recorded and intermittently toddling into the kitchen to do a bit of a tidy-up. Watch this space folks. It’s still ongoing…..

This morning we emerged from our beds just before ten o’clock to make our way down to the doctor’s surgery for our shingles jabs. That may be one reason why John’s feeling under the weather. Who knows?

We were a little while at the surgery because the nurse wanted to know whether John is/was immunocompromised. I wasn’t sure how he is classified these days, and so it took a few messages backwards and forward to Dr Horsley to get permission for the ‘non-live’ dose to be administered. Ha! Lucky me – I had the ‘live’ dose and so one visit necessary. John had the ‘non-live’ dose and has got to go back for a second dose in May. Tee-hee.

We made our way back home and John settled onto the sofa for a snooze. I did a bit of mooching in the kitchen in amongst the pots and pans to try and find a bit of work surface, before slothing back to the sofa myself for afternoon TV.

When John woke up he snacked on the lovely chocolate biscuits I’d liberated from the drawer in the dining room, advising me that this was his lunch. My delve into the box of biscuits was my ‘afternoon tea’……

Andrew finally came downstairs about four o’clock, grinning at us sheepily. He cooked our evening meal, which was really difficult, requiring skilled ‘chefing’…… cold beef and chips.

Then this evening we watched the ‘Elvis’ film that I’d recorded at the weekend. I wasn’t sure whether it was as good as the critics had said, but Andrew said he enjoyed it.

John was struggling by this evening and wasn’t sure he’d even make it upstairs to bed. However, with a puff or two on the inhaler and encouraging noises from me, he made it. Oh, my poor man. It’s very hard and distressing for him that he can’t leap about as he used to. He and I are both hoping that he’ll feel much better in the morning.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Wow! What a day! One big, fat family day from start to finish.

The Kenilworth Newbies had slept over last night, so it was an early start this morning. At 6.30 two snuggly, wriggly little boys were cosied up in my bed. “I want my breakfast,” said one. “Is it time to get up yet?” said another. I told them we’d get up at seven which, in my book, is a civilised get-up time. “Another half an hour,” I said and closed my eyes, hopeful that my stillness might rub off. One of them started chattering. The other followed. “What do you think, Grandma?” I groaned. Clearly, we weren’t going to get to seven o’clock before it was get-up time.

We bustled downstairs and had our breakfast. But the early morning start had a purpose. “Shall we make the cake now, Grandma?” I gave them my stock answer which was, “We’ll do it in a bit.” We were going to make Paul a birthday cake. Grandpa had to get up to help ice it. “Let’s get the things ready,” said William, excitedly.

We made the cake and left it to cool. “Shall we ice the cake now, Grandma?” Well, no, I was leaving that to the expert – Grandpa. “Can I go up to see him, Grandma?” Yes, we’d take him a cup of tea. And so it was that I left William chattering away to Grandpa to keep him company.

After about fifteen minutes, just before 9 o’clock, a message from John pinged into my WhatsApp chat. ‘Can you come and rescue me. I need to get dressed.” Made me chuckle. Poor John has so many medical things to attend to in the morning that he does like to be a bit private.

Michael and I left the children behind to ice the cake with Grandpa and we went to visit Mum. She was on top form and delighted to see us. She wasn’t quite sure who we were to start with but knew she was comfortable in our company and enjoyed our visit.

We browsed through an album of photos that had been taken during lockdown a year or two ago, which she thoroughly enjoyed but, from one page to the next, she puzzled as to who everyone was – including herself! Bless her. We had fun though.

When we got back home, we set the table and all sat down to the brunch that Danielle had prepared while we were away. Paul and Freddie arrived, having been to church this morning, and Harriet came a little while later, in order to join in, and we had a very yummy meal – bacon and eggs and all the trimmings! It was lovely.

Next up was the prep for the special Sunday Roast for Paul’s birthday. John went for a nap, having got up so early this morning, while the rest of us all milled about either looking after the children, making cups of tea, peeling potatoes, hauling the old table up from the ‘Man Shed’ or pouring glasses of wine. Harriet fetched Ellie and, just as we were about to serve up, Andrew made it home too. Ahh……. what family bliss…..

Mind you, the bliss soon turned to chaos as the children finished their meals before we did and there were choruses of “Please can we get down from the table?”. They went off to play, and our conversation got a touch louder as the wine flowed. Grandpa felt a bit overwhelmed. He still hadn’t quite caught up on his beauty sleep.

Birthday cake, with candles, was presented in a darkened room, accompanied by the traditional ‘Happy Birthday’ singing and Paul obliged the tradition by blowing out the candles in one breath. As per usual, I was too busy enjoying myself to take photos……ah, well, maybe next time?

And then it was time to go home. A mad rush around to try and put a few things back into place so that we weren’t left with a big job tomorrow and lots of lovely kisses and cuddles as the family left.

We are knackered but full of family love. Can’t beat it, can you?

I am hoping that all that family love is healing. John hasn’t felt to so well today and struggled with his breathing in particular. Fingers crossed he feels better tomorrow.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Oooh, it’s Saturday already! Goodness me, this week has gone quickly. I have no real idea what we have been doing but obviously, we’ve tried to rest a bit – what with one thing and another.

So neither of us got up particularly early this morning, but when I did get up I was on a mission for another tidy-up. Story of my life – trying to get straight!! Not sure if it’ll ever happen but never mind.

The purpose of the tidy-up was to clear the decks ready for the family to visit this weekend. It was Paul’s birthday on Tuesday and we didn’t see him because we were still in the throes of recovery from John’s hospital stay. And not only that, but Paul had a cold and he wasn’t keen to pass it on.

So I have invited the family over for a Sunday Roast tomorrow, and I am intending, once again, to kill the fatted calf. More or less everyone is coming, so it’ll be the old table, with the extra extension piece, set up in the lounge – thirteen of us. Really looking forward to it.

In between times, we had a chat to the Kenilworth Newbies, who were feeling a bit ‘winter blue’ and they thought they might come and stay over. The day wore on and we weren’t sure whether they would come or not, but by mid-afternoon, it was confirmed. “Think we will come over if that’s OK’ Of course it’s OK. It’s always OK.

The delight of having family around us is just beyond anything, so we had a lovely time – William was keen to help me with the cooking, which was marvellous; Thomas entertained Grandpa, sitting next him all snuggled up watching a TV programme; and Oliver ranged from the lounge to the hall to the kitchen and back again, grinning at everyone he came across on his travels. Smashing.

We had a take-away this evening and lovely conversation. Nothing raucous, you know, but just easy. So busy enjoying myself that I forgot to take any photos….. ah, well, maybe tomorrow?

Take care everyone. God bless.