leukaemia-limbo-dance

What excitement to have eldest son come over and help us put things back in our dining room cupboards this morning! What a blessing, too!

It wasn’t exactly like the Stacy Solomon ‘Sort-Your-Life-Out’ show, although Paul did suggest that we cut our belongings by 50%. I couldn’t quite do that, but he was able to persuade me to part with some of the stuff and take a bootful away to the charity shop. I mean, how many liqueur glasses do we really need? “But those were Nanans!” I pleaded, to no avail. Sentiment? Pah!

So, we’re nearly there on the dining room front. I won’t be boring you with it for much longer – just an additional coat of paint on the cornice, then the wallpaper to hang – and boom! It’ll be done!

Mind you, we’re also waiting for the electrician to come and finalise the plugs for us and hang the light-fitting……. wonder when that will be? ‘I’ll phone you tomorrow,’ he texted yesterday. Still awaiting the phone call, of course.

So that was my day – fiffing and faffing about in the dining room while John pottered on with some technical jobs. For example, he began to mend the wheel/tyre on the tricycle Paul had brought over. Thwarted on that though, as the pump has lost its end bit – he’s waiting for a new one to arrive in the post now.

He then set up the water butt that we’ve had for ages in anticipation of rain….. and we’ve actually had some this evening. I don’t know about John, but I am quite excited to go and have a look in the water butt tomorrow morning to see how much it’s collected!

Disappointingly, as he was doing the job, John moved one of the bistro chairs out of the way and one of the legs promptly dropped off! I wasn’t actually surprised. It had felt wobbly to me this morning as I sat on it. Ah well, another hunt will be on for a replacement, no doubt.

I think John also had a tinker on his car this morning, too, so he’s had quite a busy day!

We both collapsed at tea-time, having worked hard all day, and we settled to watch a bit of TV. I like to watch the athletics and swimming at the European Championships – John not so much, but he allowed it – and we had a comfortable hour or two just sitting in front of the box.

That is, until John reminded me that he’d mislaid his hearing aid. He was sure he’d lost it in his chair when he fell asleep yesterday. Could we find the darned thing? No….. we spent a good while hunting all around for it until, in the end, I said I’d do a methodical search tomorrow morning while he’s at the hospital for treatment.

One last push to find it? “Help me lift the chair forward,” John said. I helped, not expecting any result at all. “No,” I shook my head, “it’s not under there.” But eagle-eyed, John exclaimed, “There it is!” And sure enough, it was nestling at the very base of the chair just inside a fold of leather. Phew!

That’s what we call a success story these days……. finding something that is lost!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Another scorcher today, wasn’t it? So much so that I decided to get up at a reasonable time and do a little bit of painting before the paint clagged together again. Frustrated that I am so slow but determined to get the ruddy thing finished. Ha! Just got second coats, plus one more wall to paint and one to wallpaper……oh, Lordy! Finished? Ha! Maybe next week?

Anyhow, I finished the spot of painting by 9.15 and thought I’d ‘go to church’. Haven’t done a streamed service for ages. It was really good, with a great sermon from Moira; some rousing hymns; and some quiet time for prayer and reflection. Felt refreshed afterwards.

The service done, I suggested to John that we go over to the Kenilworth Originals. They are back from their holiday and we’ve missed them. Paul said ‘yes, come on over’ so we hopped in the car, whizzed the roof of the EOS down, put our hats and shades on, and set off in the sunshine as if we were twenty-somethings.

It was so lovely to see Paul, Harriet and Freddie that we quite outstayed our welcome and Paul had to offer us lunch…… then he offered us a paddle in the hot tub. Well, it was a cool tub. I mean, who wants it hot on a day like today? Apart from Harriet, that is! Hehehe. We even got the old man to dip his toes…… smashing.

I mean, in the end, we stayed pretty much all day until we had to leave to get John to Solihull Hospital for his CT scan. It was so lovely to spend some family time together. And Harriet and I picked loads of apples from their tree, which I have brought home to freeze. They are early, of course, just like every other crop right now. Looking forward to some tasty apple crumbles, apple pies, and apple turnovers in the winter. Yum!

John was quiet as we drove over to Solihull Hospital and, although I am not a mind-reader, I could feel his mood. ‘Here we go again’ runs through both our minds and we wish we didn’t have to. But the scan went reasonably well – although John thought, given his past experiences, that only two passes of the machine may be pushing it to get a good image. Fingers crossed we don’t get to the appointment with the Oncologist in a couple of weeks’ time for him/her to say ‘do it all over again’……. (grits teeth and adopts the prayer position).

Despite it all, John is an amazing patient. Although he rails at fate and the ongoing nature of procedures, pills, hospital appointments and invasive investigations, he mostly gets on with it all very philosophically and has to remind me to be patient.

But really, although we do try to keep our chins up, it’s hard for us both just now as we watch others swanning off on their hols seemingly relatively care-free, fit enough to run into the sea, leap on a quad bike or brave the swell of the sea on a fishing trip. Only a little bit jealous.

Never mind, we have loads to be thankful for and plenty of wonderful friends and family who keep our spirits up repeatedly, for which I thank the Lord.

Take care everyone. God bless

Personally, I like the heat. Mind you, I only like it when I am swanning about on holiday and dipping myself into the sea…. or perhaps, as we did à la trip to OZ, in a lake on Fraser Island, maybe……. Regrettably, we aren’t doing that just now. But I am doing the second best thing, and I had another go at open water swimming today. It’s getting a bit better each time I go, but I am still a wuss at getting into the water. Never mind, once I get in I am fine.

Anita and I took a tutored session today which was very enjoyable. However, the poor instructor had a dicky fit when she saw me! She exclaimed that I looked just like her Mum. Not only that, I had the same Christian name, too….. spooky eh?

I was longer at the swimming session than I planned, but it didn’t matter, John was ensconced in front of the TV when I got home. As it happens, he had been in the garage and done some tinkering, so he was just having a rest, so I let him off.

After lunch, we went about our separate ways again. John into the garage and me to the dining room with the painting pot. Now then, John’s decision was OK, but mine was a mistake. It was too hot, wasn’t it, for painting? Eeeh, the paint clagged up like nobodies’ business…….. so now I’m rethinking my approach…..maybe get up at five in the morning? Or maybe leave it until Monday? What say you?

In the meantime, John has been pondering his life, as you do, and the other day came out with the observation that his luck isn’t great: “If I fell in a barrel of bosoms, I’d come out sucking my thumb!” he declared, mirroring his Dad’s little saying, which caused us much amusement many years ago. Not so sure John is feeling amused by it just now though. He thinks it’s true…..

Life, of course, has its ups and downs and John has been also reminded of the Irish song, ‘The Sick Note’ or ‘Why Paddy’s not at work today’**, in which he identifies himself as Paddy half way up, meeting the barrel coming down! Oh dear!

Mind you, he wasn’t saying that when he looked very chipper having a very nice McDonalds on Tuesday!

We had a nice meal out on the patio this evening in the warmth of the evening though, until we we thought we were so tired we perhaps ought to go to bed early. Ah… OK. So that’s what we’re doing.

Night, night everyone God bless.

**If you don’t know the song, I’ve copied it here for your delectation and recommend the Dubliners Lego version of it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/66cxc9emQgY – it made me smile anyway!

Dear Sir, I write this note to tell you of my plight
And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
Me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray
And I write this note to tell why Paddy’s not at work today

While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear
Now to throw them down from off the top seemed quite a good idea
But the gaffer wasn’t very pleased, he was an awful sod
He said I had to take them down the ladder in me hod.

Well clearing all those bricks by hand, it seemed so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in me haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks is heavier than me.

So when I had untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
Well, I shot up like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.

Well the barrel broke my shoulder as on to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head
Well I clung on tight, though numb with shock from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below

Now, when those building bricks fell from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope I sped towards the ground
And I landed on those broken bricks that were scattered all
around.

I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I’d passed the worst
But when the barrel hit the pulley wheel, that’s when the bottom burst
A shower of bricks came down on me, I knew I had no hope
In all of this confusion, I let go the bloody rope.

The barrel then being heavier, it started down once more
And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor
It broke three ribs and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you’ll understand why Paddy’s not at work today.

By heck, but it’s warm, isn’t it? We came back home this afternoon from a wonderful afternoon out visiting Richard and Jill in Malvern, in which we ate and drank well and nattered to our hearts content, when I realised my swimming costume from the open water swim on Wednesday was dry, but not washed. Oh…. and I need it for a 9a.m swim tomorrow!! Even though it was seven o’clock, I quickly popped the items from the washing machine onto the line and bunged the cozzie in the machine on a quick wash. By the time it was finished, an hour later, the previous load on the line was dry and ready to put away. Howzat, eh? A dry cozzie’ll be along any minute now!

We had a good journey down to the Malverns this morning, no-hold ups and great scenery on the way, of course. It is ages since we’ve been down to Richard and Jill’s and I was looking forward to it. Jill has master-minded a wonderful garden over the years and I was keen to see it. It didn’t disappoint. A fabulous wetland area in the front garden and lush vegetation in the back garden, including lots of fruit and veg. Wasn’t half jealous of her green fingers!

She also cooked up a lovely picnic-style lunch, while Richard found just the right drinks, and we tucked in with gusto. Lovely afternoon with old friends. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

I had had a lovely time last night with another old friend, too. I met up with Sue Wakeford at The Folly at Napton. She was down in the Midlands for a few days, catching up with friends (including me, yay!). We sat outside in the balmy evening air and were treated to the Mikron Theatre Group (specialists in presenting to canal users, apparently) performing their play in the gardens of the pub. Not that we concentrated on the performance, mind you. We were too busy gassing….. very, very nice to see Sue, I must say.

Winding backwards to Wednesday, it was another exciting day with an open water swim for me with Linda and Anita and then, for us both, Quiz Night. Once again, lots of lovely laughter among dear friends.

Meanwhile, in between times, we have had some lovely chats to the Sleaths-who-are-holidaying and been envious of their time at the seaside. It looks like they are having a whale of a time one way and another! Splashing in the sea and the man-made splash pools, mackerel fishing and cream teas – can’t be bad, eh?

Freddie on the fishing trip all smiles and very hopeful at the beginning of the trip, and looking very dapper……. but apparently they didn’t catch anything. Shame!

In other news, it has taken a trip across to Jersey to see Granny and Grandad over there to get a photo of the Kenilworth Newby boys together all smiling! Wonderful!

Back at the ranch, John has continued his quest on the car and, despite some setbacks, he is making progress. Oooooo…. I hear you say! About time, too, I say! Hehehe. He is especially enjoying his new piece of equipment he bought last week, which he says is worth its weight in gold.

And John’s new motto is to greet each new day as a mayfly does. Taking it one day; and one day; and one day; and one day at a time. I’ll drink to that! Mind you, I’ll drink to anything! Where’s that Prosecco?

Take care everyone. God bless.

Susie Dent’s Word of the day yesterday was ‘mafting’ (18th century): overpowered by stifling heat and an oppressive lack of air. Phew!

A day or two since I wrote a few words in the Blog. We have naturally been busy, but we have also been preoccupied with our visit to the oncologist on Tuesday, 9 August – a date that’s now prominent in our minds. What were they going to tell us?

Yes, the biopsy confirms it’s cancer. Yes, there’s an enlarged prostate. Yes, more treatment is necessary. Probably radiotherapy. But before we do that, lets have another look at it under a microscope to see what’s happened since the last CT scan nearly six months ago….. oh, and we’ll do another bone scan, too.

The young man we saw was very nice. He was thorough and explained everything very well. But we can’t get away from the fact that earlier in the year, John’s PSA reading was 42, and now? It’s 92. Can’t get away from the fact that the Gleeson score is 9; and it’s a T3 cancer.

As always, we hope for the best. We’re both frustrated at the delay, but relieved the oncology team are at last involved and seeing John face-to-face, eye-to-eye.

The young man consulted ‘the boss’ after our discussions and came back with a plan of action: “We’ll make an urgent request for a CT scan and bone scan,” he said, “and, in the meantime, take this pill. It might make you feel a bit tired. Carry on with the hormone therapy.” Righty-ho. So, we await more tests and more results before anyone will actually do anything……

Home again and what are the choices? Sit in a chair and wring our hands while we wait? Or carry on with the life we’ve whittled out for ourselves? We chose the latter of course, and John was back at it, working on the Lotus, while I picked up a paintbrush.

A letter arrived on the mat yesterday for a CT scan on Sunday at ten past five in the afternoon. Well, that’s quite a quick turn round! Good. We hope that the rest of the plan is as quick and the appropriate treatment can be agreed and started. Otherwise, we might be doing a little bit of agitating……

I am not sure what our current mood is. Exhausted, mostly.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Ah, yes! It’s so good to take some time out, isn’t it?

Of course, we continue to potter along with our projects – John beavering away on his car most days, and me, labouring on the decorating of the dining room. Not much to report on either project, other than we work at them but nothing much to show for our efforts just at the moment – but in between times, we have taken a little bit of time out.

On Friday, we spent a lovely afternoon round at Pete and Dawn’s to wish Dawn a very happy birthday. Such a lovely afternoon – not only with dear friends including Alison and Peter as well, but also with Lizzie and baby Arthur, and Lucy – the recently married ‘Mrs Henshaw’. We oohed and aahed over Arthur who determinedly held fast to any finger on offer to take him for a walk throughout the house; and over his speech. Boy, that boy can talk!! Marvellous.

More time out yesterday, too. After a hiatus in visiting, it was time to go and see Mum. Bless her, she is much the same and was absolutely delighted to see me.

She had a nasty bruise on her arm though – and she had no idea from whence it came. She shrugged. “No, it doesn’t hurt,” she said, “it just looks unsightly.” And it did – but I was relieved she wasn’t suffering. When I left at tea-time, the staff were on their drugs rounds, so I didn’t get chance to speak to them about it. Might give them a ring tomorrow and ask about it. Although I doubt they’ll know where it came from either!

We spent our time together singing ‘Que sera, sera’ (quite a lot), looking at photos, and a bit of light chat. Mum also spent some time folding, unfolding, refolding, pleating and un-pleating a tissue that I’d given her. By the time she’d twizzled it round and round to her satisfaction and popped it in her pocket, she was exhausted….. then she started on another one. Oh, the concentration……

Of course she didn’t want me to leave, looking anxiously at me lest I fail to return at some future date. In the end, it reminded me of when I was handing the children over to the childminder/nursery staff/infant school when they were little. I had to peel her from me and ask one of the carers to take her for her tea. Heart-wrenching really.

After the visit to Mum on Saturday, we gathered ourselves together to go over to Michael and Danielle’s for a barbecue. What a relief to have something other than jobs to do. And to have someone else cook. Lovely. Food was delicious (just as I like it) and the company great. We enjoyed it and came home just after the boys had gone to bed. We were as tired as the boys, I think!!

This morning was another bash at those projects. John was excited on his – he has bought himself a new toy – a drill press, so that he can punch holes into pieces of steel. The drill, and his unsteady hand, had failed to provide the finish he was after, so off to Machine Mart we went. Apparently, it’s a wonderful piece of equipment and works just as he’d like it to.

He tells me that ‘he who dies with the most toys wins’……. I think he’s definitely winning…….

This afternoon was another time out. We went over to Dave and Chris’s to see how they were doing after Chris’s knee op. Oh, it was lovely to see them. And Chris is doing very well and making good progress. Lots of exercises and rest and she’ll soon be as good as new!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, chattering about this and that. In fact, I was so relaxed that I just closed my eyes for a moment to concentrate on the conversation….. apparently, I didn’t snore.

Replete with coffee and walnut cake we stayed on until just gone six o’clock. Wow! How time had flown! I had been anxious not to outstay our welcome and tire Chris out, but not a bit of it. “No need to rush off, ” Dave grinned. So we didn’t. Smashing.

Had a lovely phone call from Paul in Port Isaac this evening where he and the family are enjoying some rather good weather and some R & R. So glad for them all. It’s been a stressful time one way and another – not only in recent months, but over the last few years. They all deserve some respite. Fingers crossed they all come back refreshed.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Yesterday was a ‘William day’ as he had slept over, so me and him spent the whole day playing, or baking, or mooching in the garden, or reading.

The day started early, at six o’clock, and I knew I had to get up because William was loudly declaring that he was hungry. He was very excited to see that we had those little packets of cereals and he could hardly wait to choose which one he wanted. In the end, he opted for a mix of three of them……. made me smile. Of course it was allowed. It’s Grandma’s rules, isn’t it?

Naturally, we spent some time space travelling in the ‘Harry Potter’ cupboard, along with a clutch of cuddly toys and Glo sticks – and, of course, the obligatory snack. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of ‘whooshing’ to another planet? I had a special ‘booster’ cushion that I think I was supposed to use for all the ‘controls’ on it, but I sat on it instead – floorboards ain’t half hard these days! William didn’t mind – he’d got enough controls inside the ‘space ship’ to keep him happy.

Here we are, hatch door open, having landed on Mars and about to get out to investigate the unknown territory……

Later on, we made some butterfly cakes and had great fun doing that – William chattering all the while about the lovely butterflies we were creating. Afterwards, he asked if he could have an episode of one of his TV programmes. As we’d had a good hour and a half of TV in the morning (I was just resting my eyes on the sofa after breakfast) I thought not. William pulled a face. “I always have an episode when I am bored,” he stated. Oh.

Well, we can’t have boredom, can we? We spent a little while in the garden investigating the pond and the insects and bird feeders – both of us shocked at the damage the blooming squirrels had done; and then, once inside the house again, we got out a load of books and had a happy three quarters of an hour browsing through them. Ah…..bliss. Just the way I like to spend my day. Heart full to the brim with love.

Bless him, William didn’t want to go home and would have stayed another night if he could. But I had booked into a trial of open water swimming at Cliff Lakes with Linda and Anita, so another overnight stay wasn’t possible.

Open Water Swimming? Moi? Erm……. that was something different!! I have to say, it wasn’t too bad. Anita and Linda took to it like ducks to water, but I had to make a fuss. Oh, Lord, if only I could take things in my stride…… anyway, I did a partial submerge but decided the water felt too chilly and I wasn’t confident in my swimming all of a sudden, so I ran to get a wet suit.

A bit of acclimatisation with a helping hand from one of the lifeguards (well, shouting, actually……”Lie on your back! In a star! Lift your hips up! Put your head back! Hips! Lift your hips! Stop moving your hands! Keep still!) and I managed to swim fairly reasonably, up and down the lanes we’d chosen to swim in. We’re going to go again.

Last night was Quiz Night and I arrived half-way through, much to John’s disgust. Without me there, he’d been having a whale of a time and was a very happy bunny. “I’ve been free…..” he said. Hmmmm…. right…… I offered a tart reply. Freedom? That’s not allowed is it?

Today, neither of us has felt great. I hit a low a mood – not sure why – and John hit a stumbling block on his car repairs. “I’ve been trying to do the trim,” he said, “but it’s not gone well. I can’t see, I can’t breathe and I’m dizzy when I cough or stand up.” Off to the doctors tomorrow then.

Meanwhile, the original Kenilworth Sleaths are enjoying themselves in the summer holidays. Yesterday, they had the obligatory visit to A&E for a repair to Freddie’s head, which he had clonked on the radiator. He’d been bouncing on the bed. Now what have I told him about little monkeys bouncing on the bed?

However, he’s better today, and a very happy chappy taking a turn on a quad bike with Daddy. Honestly, his helmet is almost as big as him! Just wondering if I should suggest he brings the helmet home with him for when he is bouncing on the bed……. gosh, I love that boy.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Just poddling along y’know – then, out of the blue, one of your grandsons bats his big blue eyes and says, “Can I have a sleepover at your house, Grandma?”. Well, not today I suggest, because we’re all in a bit of disarray. “The ‘Blue Room’ where you sleep is full of stuff.” I reply. He sidles up to me and says silkily, “I could help you tidy it up?”

I’m afraid I am no match for a smooth-tongued, blue-eyed boy. Obviously, William has come for a sleepover….. and……..ooooh, I love it!!!

For the last couple of days we have had the cabinet maker in, fitting the new cupboards in the dining room. Sawdust everywhere. And, in response to last week’s carpet fitting in our bedroom, I have spent a little while cleaning and putting furniture and clothes back in place in there.

Of course, I had a mad moment and thought I’d wash all my scarves (of which I appear to have many), so that they’d be nice and fresh in the chest of drawers. Bedding and last week’s clothing to wash, too, so I was busy. But never, ever too busy to say ‘yes’ to the grandchildren coming to stay/play. It’s what grandparents are for, after all, isn’t it?

And here’s the blue-eyed boy himself, saying ‘night, night’ to Thomas, Mummy, Daddy, Chester….oh, and Oliver.

Meanwhile, John is also poddling along, but not feeling quite so chipper. His back is hurting him; his breathing is currently shot with an extra infection of pseudomonas; and a change of catheter today introduced some pain that he’d not had before. All in all, John isn’t feeling great. Didn’t stop him welcoming William with open arms mind you, and begin the initiation on the intricacies of car restoration……

Take care everyone. Count your blessings if you can. God bless.

It’s been a few days since I blogged. Mostly because I have been feeling weary and too tired at night to tap away at the keyboard – and had no inclination to start the blog earlier. Ah, well – I am sure I’ll feel better again soon. Fingers crossed.

I suppose weariness is no surprise given that we’ve been moving furniture out of our bedroom ready for a new carpet to be laid, and been painting the skirting board and the windowsills. Not only that, but the upstairs seems to be in a permanent muddle and I’m overwhelmed with it now!

Anyway, the carpet was successfully laid on Thursday and we are delighted with the result. John thinks I should repaint the walls now though, to match……

I spent a little bit of time putting furniture back into the bedroom on Friday, but I abandoned the job half way through the day because I had an appointment at ‘The Spa’ in Leamington. Hehe. How very lovely. Courtesy of Harriet and Paul’s Christmas gift of a voucher, I took myself off there to have my hands and feet sorted and a splash of paint put on my nails.

It was really lovely. Ellie, our granddaughter, works there as a receptionist and it was smashing to see her all professional in her workplace.

Meanwhile, John had been tinkering with the car a little bit, watching TV a little bit and then running me backwards and forwards to the garage while the VW was in for a service. Things are very expensive these days, aren’t they? And about to get more expensive as the chap at the garage had some ‘advisories’ for me. New brakes and tyres…… eeesh.

Yesterday we dolled ourselves up to the nines to go to my friend, Anita’s daughter, Jo’s wedding. What a lovely time we had. And how beautiful everyone looked. Gorgeous dresses and suits everywhere in evidence. But in particular, the bride – and Anita herself – stole the show.

Jo came into the hall on Anita’s arm and how poignant that walk down the aisle was. So dignified, elegant and proud. I don’t think I was the only one who had a tissue to hand.

The ceremony wouldn’t have been complete without a mention of Jo’s Dad, Ian, of course, and on the back of the order of service there was a tribute to him, ‘In Loving Memory’, with a quote from Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s ‘Good Omens’:

"Don't think of it as dying" said Death.
"Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush."

Crikey – that brought on a few more tears. Memories of a very dear friend and knowing how proud he would have been of his very successful and beautiful daughter.

Regrettably, as now seems to be the usual, I failed to take loads of photos. We were so busy nattering to people that I quite forgot to get the camera out until the last minute, so no photos of Jo in all her beauty, but I did manage to snap Anita, in all her beauty, with Ian’s aunty and cousin……

However, lots of people did take photos of Jo, didn’t they? Here is the happy couple, Jo and Rob, both looking radiant.

We stayed overnight at a Premier Inn near the wedding venue and on the way back home today decided to call into the Heart of the Country shopping mall on the A38, where I happened upon a Seasalt shop and bought myself a few new tops. Nice.

“Straight home now?” I asked John, as I joined him in the car where he’d been patiently waiting for me. “Yep,” he said, “Getting tired now.” I agreed. Me, too. So we set off…. only to think that the furniture shop we wanted to visit was in Tamworth and, as we were nearby……. well, shall we call in?

We did. And bought ourselves a new dining table and chairs. Delivery in 8 to 10 weeks. “And that’s good.” said the salesman patting himself on the back for such a swift delivery time….. really? Fingers crossed it all works when we get it in the room!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Happy Anniversary to us! We can’t quite believe that we have been together for 55 years and married for 48 of them, but here we are. Goodness, we’ve seen and experienced lots of things along the way and we’re still making the most of it as best we can. Marvellous.

We celebrated with breakfast in bed this morning and cream cakes this afternoon. Paul bought us a bottle of champagne to imbibe this evening while we did our quiz, but we decided to keep it for another day. We’ll prolong the celebrations as long as we can!!

Our plans for the day were not really much in the way of high jinks – more ‘more of the same’ really. My plan was to paint the door surrounds in our bedroom so that they’ll be spruced up and in keeping with a brand new carpet that the carpet fitters will bring tomorrow.

I did get on with that job, but abandoned the idea of trying to get a second coat on, despite having said to John that I’d stay up to finish it ‘even if it was two o’clock in the morning’. And the reason I abandoned it? The opportunity to spend time with Paul and Freddie, of course!!

Oh, bliss. Paul phoned to say they were on their way and we set aside everything else to spend a lovely afternoon together. We all nattered and played and laughed and were just beautifully companionable.

And how Freddie is growing up. So articulate, explaining what he’d done and seen at Legoland where he’d been yesterday. So lively and lovely, as he worked out how much pocket money I would give him for his upcoming holiday. So interesting, as he played some more on the calculator and discovered that the phone in portrait showed the standard calculator, but what fun to turn it sideways for the scientific one!

We had a game of chess at which he beat me and was thrilled with his efforts, before we went upstairs to the computer where I was still setting up the quiz. Amazingly, he knew the answers to a few of the quiz questions. I mean, do you know what an axolotl is? Apparently there’s one in Minecraft, so Freddie did.

When we’d finished putting the last few questions into the quiz, I showed Freddie the e-jigsaw I like to do and so he had a go, too. He thoroughly enjoyed the fun of pitting his wits against the clock. Oh my, I did enjoy my time with him and Paul, and feel so grateful for the years of marriage which have given us these blessings. Lucky, lucky us.

This evening it was Quiz Night and we were Quiz Masters. I’m always nervous about getting the balance right in the quiz and wasn’t sure if I’d got this one right. It turned out that one or two questions had clearly been chosen from left-field. But, despite that, the score was pretty respectable at the end. And we stayed on, chatting long after the quiz had ended. We had fun. Thank the Lord once again, for friends and family.

Take care everyone. God bless.