leukaemia-limbo-dance

We were up reasonably early today and, what was very nice, was the fact that we actually ate our breakfast together. A rare and enjoyable treat. The sun was shining, too, so we enjoyed looking out on the garden. Of course, such a view reminds you that there’s jobs to do though, doesn’t it? With very little rain in April so far, some of the plants are looking a little sorry for themselves, so a little watering was in order.

I was surprised just how long it took to do the watering. It took me nearly an hour because I needed to drench the lawn that had been treated recently, too. I enjoyed my hour outside and decided, while I had my cup of tea, that I’d leave the hose on the rhubarb to give it a good drink. Only went and forgot I’d done that though, didn’t I? Toddled off to Mum’s flat at lunchtime to really start the clear-out and when I came back, John nodded towards the rhubarb and said, “What time did you put the hose on?” Ah. That would be about five hours ago then….. the house was beginning to float away. I don’t think John was best pleased.

John enjoyed the Grand Prix this afternoon and when I got back was just about to go and ‘do a bit’ in the garage on the Lotus. “Do you need a hand, John?” No – he was fine, so I nipped up to the shop to buy something for tea – I had forgotten to get meat out from the freezer.

We enjoyed our tea and mulled over our day. I can’t actually work out how we fell out, but we did. Something to do with Mum, of course, and all the time it’s going to take to clear things out. Hmm…. Fingers crossed it doesn’t take as long as we think it might. There’s an awful lot of paper though. That, and hankies.

Although it is Sunday, I didn’t get to church today, but I did sit and watch ‘Sunday Morning Stories’ on BBC1 today, which was uplifting. Other than that, we didn’t do any ‘Sunday’ things. We didn’t have a roast dinner, or go for a walk, or read the paper, or go to the pub. Meh. Maybe next week.

In the meantime, the COVID figures continue to stay steady, which is a relief. There are, however, lots of horror stories in the press about the latest variant. Scare-mongering do you think? I don’t know what to think.

• 1,882 people tested positive for the virus today
• 10 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• No data on how many people died in hospitals with the virus yesterday

• It’s Day 21 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 7 of our new, limited freedoms, where we can play in each other’s gardens;
• Day 391 since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 397 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Stay safe everyone. God bless. I hope you have a good week ahead.

Well, thank you St Anthony! Remember I once lost my watch and rings and spend days, nay, weeks looking for them? St Anthony came to the rescue….. what was lost was now found. Ah…. and now St Anthony’s services were in demand today, too. Wait for it, all will be revealed…

Today started oddly for me as I my plan for the day was turned back to front, and I had to leave John to it this morning. I had leapt out of bed in response to an email that said, ‘Hi Anne, As you haven’t joined the workshop yet, just checking you’ve got the right link for today...’ What? The writing workshop is this afternoon isn’t it? No. I threw a cardigan over my nightshirt and logged on.

John tottered downstairs, made a cup of tea and, like Mrs Overall, wobbling the tea-tray precariously, he sidled into the computer room to place my tea on the desk. Not a drop spilled. Tea was a treat, thank you very much. Thought I was going to have to forego food and drink to stay involved in the writing course.

Just before 11 o’clock, we had a ten-minute break in our writing efforts, so I hot-footed it downstairs, to find ‘cat-something-nasty’ on the kitchen floor. I quickly cleared it up, made another drink and threw some blueberries into a yoghurt pot to eat ‘on the hoof’. Then I nipped into the lounge to let John know that it was all clear in the kitchen, but he was nowhere to be seen. Oh. Looked in the loo; the garage; the dining room; the bedroom and upstairs bathroom. He’d vanished. Where was he? I phoned him. “I’m just at the shops. Can’t talk any more… got too much on…” Right.

The ten-minute break elapsed and John wasn’t home. I phoned him again. “I’m just at the motorist’s shop,” he said. “Okay,” I replied. He sounded out of puff, “Do you want me to drive up and collect you?” I wondered. No, no thank you.

I went back upstairs. Just as I sat down, Paul phoned. They were thinking of coming over. “Can’t talk,” I whispered, “I’m on a course. Phone Dad, he’s around, and I’ll be finished by 12.” I heard John come in, I heard the Kenilworth Sleaths arrive. My course ended and I went downstairs to greet everyone where they were sitting in the garden. No Paul. “Paul not come with you?” I asked. “Yes, but he’s just gone up to the shops to look for Dad’s hearing aid.”

Ah-ha! It transpired that, despite nicely-sized ears, they are not quite big enough to accommodate hearing aids, spectacles and a mask, so John had taken the hearing aids out and popped them into his pockets – one either side.

On his walk back home, he’d stopped at every available lamppost – oh, sorry – every available seat, wall or lamppost, to catch his breath. In doing so, he’d taken each opportunity to take his hanky out of his pocket and blow his nose. Hearing aid, therefore, was deposited somewhere between our house and Tesco.

Paul had no luck finding the hearing aid. Asked in the shops but no joy. A bit later on, after we’d been running round the garden for a while, I suggested that Freddie and I walk up to shops to buy ice cream. “We can look for Grandpa’s hearing on the way,” I told Freddie. But, despite Freddie’s very eagle-eyes and keen interest in pleasing Grandpa, we came home empty-handed – although we did have ice creams.

After an absolutely brilliant afternoon with the Kenilworth Sleaths, enjoying the wonderful weather and playing all afternoon, we waved goodbye and then John said, “Let’s walk up to the shops. Retrace my steps.”

As we crossed the road in front of the motorist’s shop, I thought to myself that I perhaps ought to invoke St Anthony. I mean, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, grey hearing aid on grey slabs, in amongst the litter and chewing gum stuck to the pavement.

We rounded the corner and John pointed to the wall he’d sat on for his second rest on his journey home. Perhaps we should look here….. and, well, would you believe it? There was the blighter, sitting on the corner of the wall. Good old St Anthony – prayers answered. As Dawn says, he’s never let me down yet!!

All in all, it was a great day. It was so lovely to sit out in the warm sunshine with the family and play ‘catch’ and Jenga and mooch about round pond watching the tadpoles, the frog, the newt and the fish. Turned out nice, didn’t it?

The news was full of Prince Philip’s funeral today; the surge in COVID cases worldwide, particularly India; and Brexit. But I didn’t focus on any of that, I was just delighted to have spent my day blessed with good and loving people.

• 2,206 people tested positive for the virus today
• 35 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 9 people died in hospitals with the virus on 15 & 16 April

• And it’s Day 20 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 6 of our new, limited freedoms;
• Day 390 since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 396 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Stay safe everyone. God bless – and perhaps take a look at this blessing that we shared together in our writing course today. May we….. recognise, realise, learn, respect….

 
  For Solitude
  
 May you recognize in your life the presence,
 Power and light of your soul.
  
 May you realize that you are never alone,
 That your soul in its brightness and belonging
 Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
  
 May you have respect for your individuality and difference.
  
 May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,
 That you have a special destiny here,
 That behind the façade of your life
 There is something beautiful and eternal happening.
  
 May you learn to see your self
 With the same delight,
 Pride and expectation
 With which God sees you in every moment.
  
 - John O’Donohue
  
  
  
 from John O’Donohue, Benedictus: A Book of Blessings (London: Bantam Press, 2007) 

Friday night and a couple of beers. That’s nice isn’t it? Roll on the weekend!! Although, to be honest, I am not sure that a weekend feels much different to a weekday, but I plan to pretend it is.

Our day has been chalk and cheese. Slow in the morning, but on the go in the afternoon. John is feeling tired and a bit lethargic, so started the day playing poker and a-snoozing, I think. He did, however, feel emboldened to go out into the garage and put a wheel back on the car this afternoon. Galvanised by the delivery of concrete blocks on which he is going to place the body of Lotus when he removes it from the chassis, he thought he ought get out there and ‘do a bit’. Poor man was exhausted after his efforts. But he still cooked the tea…..

I also had a sedentary morning and spent it on the phone and computer, cancelling this, that and t’other, as well as talking to the care home about the care plan for Mum. It’s all a bit awkward, because I can’t settle Mum into her room. She is in isolation for 14 days, so it’s a bit of a struggle to know which of her items to set aside to take over, and exactly how much room she has got in the drawers and wardrobe over there. Currently, Mum’s wardrobe in her flat is full of clothes and it takes up a whole wall of the room. Her wardrobe in the care home is a quarter of the space.

This afternoon I went over to Mum’s flat to remove any valuables there might be. Well, I didn’t find much. I remember when we moved Mum from her house to the flat that I made a mental note that there was nothing of any real value, and it is no different now. But I did bring her purse home with me, which contained a tenner. Whoo-hoo! She’s rich!! I wonder if she’ll need the tenner in the care home?

As I say, John was tired after his heavy afternoon, and I was tired as well, so we opted to grab something from the freezer and re-heat it for our evening meal. John, despite his tiredness, said he’d sort it all out. And he did. The food was delicious.

Afterwards, we both slumped in front of the TV. I pressed play on three or four recordings, such as The Sewing Bee, The Great British Menu (two episodes) and Our Yorkshire Farm to while away the evening, not wishing to be challenged in any way. Just gentle stuff…..

I was surprised that I had felt emotional this afternoon, sifting through some of Mum’s things. Was it the anniversary card that Mum had kept from Dad? The inscription, ‘Happy belated Anniversary, Darling’ conjured an image of Dad, with a sheepish grin, having been given short shrift for forgetting the anniversary…..ah, dear Dad. Or was it all the cards Mum had kept from every family member and friend who are now dead? John’s parents, John’s Nanan, our grandma, our aunts and uncles – gosh, there were so many of them. And then, of course, there were the cards from the boys when they were little…… here’s one example, which I suspect was from Paul…..

Eeeh…. nostalgia! Gets you right there, doesn’t it?? But anyway, onwards and upwards as they say! There’s lots to look forward to, so I’m not dwelling on anything.

Paul and Harriet moved into their new home today, lock, stock and barrel. We texted them to see how it had gone and the reply came back: ‘We are in, just got to unpack the boxes!! Sitting in front of the fire instead.’ Well, that’s sensible, isn’t it? Pace yourself.

And the news continues to be full of Prince Philip, COVID variants and shootings of black Americans. It’s all a bit depressing, isn’t it? The COVID figures are still stable though, so far, so that’s good news.

• 2,596 people tested positive for the virus today
• 34 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 6 people died in hospitals with the virus on 14 & 15 April

• And it’s Day 19 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 5 of our new, limited freedoms;
• Day 389 since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 395 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Have a good weekend everyone. Look after yourselves. Enjoy the (slightly) improving weather and love your neighbour. God bless.

Tally-ho!! It seems like everyone is on the move! Paul and Harriet move tomorrow, Mum moved into her care home today, Malcolm and Caroline have finally found a house they fancy, Nigel and Hazel have chosen a nice rental while they search for their next home, and Michael and Danielle have their eyes on Jersey. Not only that, but Paul sent us a ‘house for sale’ that he thought we might be interested in today. That gave me the collywobbles….

I’d like to be outside, looking in. I’d like to see what you see. I’d like to know whether moving might be a good thing. Regrettably (or not, depending on how you look at it), I am extremely attached to our home and, although it may be time to think about ‘sizing to our needs’, I am not sure I want to take my mind there just yet.

Anyway, Mum was finally transferred across to the care home today but, of course, when she got there she wasn’t happy. She didn’t want to be there. She thought she was going home…..ouch. The home had asked for the full month’s supply of Mum’s pills, but the hospital hadn’t got them ready, so I agreed to make the trip across to Warwick then to Coleshill to collect and take them. That meant that I was able to see Mum for the first time in a week.

I wasn’t allowed in so I stood outside her window, shouting and gesticulating in the hope that it would make her transition easier. I think it did, but she spent the whole time repeating, over and over again, “I don’t know what’s going on,” – no matter how many times I told her that she was going to be looked after until she felt better. An economy of truth might be on the agenda for a while…..

Mum looked rather dishevelled, still in the gown supplied by the hospital, and covered in bruises – the aftermath of her fall. I think her hearing aid batteries were dead because she had trouble hearing what was said, but she was delighted to see me.

Oh, but I so wanted to go into her room and sort her things out for her, feed her and tidy her up. I don’t think anyone had combed her hair or cleaned her teeth for a week. I had taken a few things over to the home the other day in the hope that I could put her clothes away and set a few of her familiar things out, but no. Not allowed in. And the sandwich and cup of tea, so carefully prepared for her when she arrived, were just sat on the side…..the former beginning to curl and the latter stone cold.

Ever the optimist, I thought someone might pretty her room up and put her clothes away for her, but her suitcases were just lain on her bed and nothing familiar in the room. Apart from the suitcase, that is. “Is that yours?” she said to me, clearly recognising the suitcase. “No, it’s yours!” I replied. She nodded, as if she remembered.

In between times, we saw the Sutton Sleaths this afternoon as they came over for an garden visit. I was, as usual, in my element with William and Thomas. John, as usual, was chilly, so we got out the patio heater and the heated blanket. A couple of hours of bliss. But it all goes too soon, and we were waving a goodbye in what seemed like five minutes after they’d arrived. But what a boost to our souls. Wonderful.

I am not yet relaxed. But I hope to be soon. Let’s hope the COVID figures keep steady or come down. Might feel a bit more relaxed then.

• 2,672 people tested positive for the virus today
• 30 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 15 people died in hospitals with the virus on 13 & 14 April

• And it’s Day 18 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 4 of our new, limited freedoms;
• Day 388 since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 394 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. 

Instead of the mundane, I thought I’d share some recent beautiful moments that have sparkled in amongst the push and pull of our daily lives. Reminders of the good things in life – past, present and times to come.

Firstly, this…. my Mother’s Day gift from Andrew…. quite excited to try these! Every mouthful will be a moment to savour in the knowledge that youngest son has created them. *Does a little dance* These will definitely gratify our hunger for sweet and savoury things.

And then there’s these….. Dawn’s Mum’s liqueur glasses…. full, and likely to be frequently full, in memory of Joyce. We shall certainly enjoy using these, remembering good times gone by. These will help us put a zing into our evenings, won’t they?

And, unexpectedly, in the post today, a parcel…….. I think there’s something in my eye, folks! How wonderful that my Goddaughter, Liz, should find the time to think of me when she has her hands full with baby Arthur. These lovely coasters will remind us that we are forever loved. *Gets a hanky out to wipe away a tear or two...*

All good, don’t you think? All things to savour against the backdrop of our very busy days.

Today’s backdrop was simply supporting the Kenilworth Sleaths as they prep their house for sale; a bit of admin on Mum’s care home and the Wednesday Quiz. Busy, busy, but a successful and productive day. And enjoyable too.

• 2,491 people tested positive for the virus today
• 38 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 18 people died in hospitals with the virus on 11 & 12 April – these figures updated today and no new ones for the 13 April

• And it’s Day 17 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 3 of our new, limited freedoms;
• Day 387 (that’s 1 year, 3 weeks and 1 day) since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 393 (1 year and 1 month) since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. Hope you also find some sparkles in your lives to help you through.

The sun was shining. Well, that was a good start. I wondered what the temperature was, and whether I’d be able to sit outside and have my breakfast. I stepped out of the patio door and thought, ‘Well, why not? It feels good to me,’ So I did. A great start to the day.

Our indoor/outdoor thermometer hadn’t been working however, and needed new batteries, so while I was out there I sorted it out. I think it might take its time to steady itself though, because the temperature reading suggested 15 degrees out in the back garden. The car told me it was 8 degrees in the front garden and still only 10 degrees when I was on my journey over to Coleshill to look at a care home for Mum. Whatever the actual temperature was, it didn’t matter. It felt lovely and warm to me.

The care home was taking every precaution in allowing anyone into the building. Take a lateral flow test, wait half an hour and, if you’re deemed clean you can come in. I took the opportunity to sit outside in their little garden while waiting for the test result to come back. It. Was. Bliss. The bench had been warmed by the sun and was pleasant to sit on. In front of me swarmed busy bees, their legs packed with pollen picked up from the mass of Camelia flowers. Perfect meditation material.

The care home was very pleasant and I thought it would suit Mum perfectly. The staff I spoke to were very friendly, and it didn’t feel as clinical as the other three I had looked at. It may be that I am doing the others an injustice as I only viewed them virtually, but this home was exactly as it looked on the virtual tour online, so I was happy. I said, ‘Yes, please, I’d like Mum to have the room’ to which the girl showing me round said she’d let the manager know and we’d go from there.

In my head, I thought I’d have to do a lot of arranging and phoning round and trundling Mum from the hospital to the care home, but it transpires not. The Care Home Service that I am using is sorting all of that and, once I’d let them know, they have arranged for Mum’s discharge and transfer to take place on Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed that it still all goes ahead smoothly…..

Unexpectedly, I felt extremely emotional at having made the decision. I thought I was OK until I phoned the warden at the flats where Mum is now, to let her know, and I suddenly came over all wibbly-wobbly. Immediate thoughts of whether it’s the right thing to do; whether I have looked after Mum well enough; how she will feel going to a strange place, and so on. John, of course, was my ‘strength and stay’. Of course it’s the right thing to do; and yes, you have looked after your Mum well enough; and she’ll soon get used her new surroundings. I do hope so. I hope she’ll be happy there.

We had a cup of tea when I got back from my trip to Coleshill and sat in the lounge. John was playing poker and fiddling about on his laptop. I thought I might watch a bit of Bargain Hunt and the news….. crikey! It’s Groundhog Day……..I woke up an hour later….. but there is nothing wrong with me. I had a blood test and it’s all normal. What do you reckon folks? Old age? Regular afternoon naps now required?

John was still playing poker or having his afternoon nap when Harriet phoned. “Have you got any suitcases we can borrow, please?” They are moving house on Friday and need suitcases to pack all their belongings into ready for transporting across to their new house. “Yep. No worries – I’ll fish them out of the loft.”

Well, that little exercise got me going – clambering up and down two flights of stairs and navigating the various beams in the attic, ducking down to avoid bumping my head or climbing over them. The ‘fishing out’ of the suitcases necessitated four trips up and down those flights of stairs. Good for the waistline no doubt.

And, who’d have thought that suitcases could evoke such nostalgic thoughts? That’s the one we bought when we went to Florida…… oh, and those we inherited from Graham and Gail when they left for Australia…….ah…..and that one Mum and Dad bought me when I went to college…..and this one is the one we bought to transport your PJs, John, when you went to hospital….and that one was Aunty Flo and Uncle Albert’s cabin bag from the 1960s….. Oh, yes, we’ve got them all!

We took the suitcases over to Kenilworth and sat in the garden and drank a cup of tea. Another blissful interlude. Freddie was delighted to see us and we played together; and Harriet was pleased, I think, to have short break – she has such a lot to think about just now, so it was good to talk. We were delighted to see Lily who arrived home, having been to the bank to make ready for a trip into Birmingham tomorrow. And then, just as we were on the way home, we managed to snatch a word with Paul, whom we saw walking home from having had his hair cut. My cup was full.

My cup was even fuller when Michael phoned this evening. They were out on the patio, sitting on their new patio furniture, finishing their tea. William was very excited to be able to show us the new chairs and table. Wonderful.

So it’s been a much better day today, albeit a bit emotional and, as a non sequitur, here are today’s figures.

• 2,472 people tested positive for the virus today
• 23 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 10 people died in hospitals with the virus on 11 & 12 April
• And it’s Day 16 since the lifting of Lockdown 3 and Day 2 of our new, limited freedoms; Day 386 since Lockdown 1; Day 392 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. And thank you to everyone who has us on their prayer list – much needed, much appreciated.

It’s been like walking through treacle all day. Not sure why, but there you are. Might be an over-reaction to having enjoyed myself so much yesterday, do you think?

Anyway, I decided, first thing, to get in touch with the doctor again to see if he could help me sort out the problem with my eye. Well, you have to laugh, don’t you? No refusal to look into the eye situation this time, but diagnosis by photograph and he prescribed some eye drops. The very same eye drops that John has in amongst his particular medical arsenal. Let’s hope they do the trick.

It was a pottering about morning, in which I firmly announced to John that I was going to go for a walk. I had started thinking about the walk at 8.30 this morning, and by 11.30 I had finally set off. I’d spoken to social services about Mum and they had ‘made a note’, then hung on the line for someone to answer the phone at Warwick Hospital for at least twenty minutes and still no reply, before I actually walked out of the door. Embarrassingly, the warden of Mum’s flats phoned to find out what had happened to Mum while I was on another call. John answered the phone, and I cringed as I realised that I had not yet put a call through to them. Ah, well, they know now, anyway.

Finally, I left John watching a programme on TV and departed the house, stepping out into the wonderful sunshine. I nipped into Tesco to drop some batteries into the re-cycling and noticed a lady go in before me without a mask. I was quickly in and out of the shop and didn’t feel I could say anything, but I wondered if this is what’s to come with the lifting of the lockdown. Oh, Lordy, we’ll back into the realms of more lockdown in no time at all if people don’t follow the safety measures, I think.

The walk was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it, taking my time through Katherine’s Wood and admiring the soft clouds of blackthorn everywhere. Looks like it’s going to be a good year for sloe berries, if the blossom is anything to go by.

Once I was home, I thought I’d watch a little bit of Bargain Hunt and the news before grabbing a bite to eat. John was still watching his programme – which he had thought was the last episode, only to find it wasn’t, so he had to keep watching…… As I sat down, I didn’t think I was particularly tired, but a couple of hours later, I woke up and wondered where the heck the time had gone!

No matter, I’d have some late lunch before popping into Kenilworth to take my boots for repair. I was waiting for Andrew to call in on his way back to Cambridge, so texted him to find out when he’d arrive. Oops, ah…… oh…..sorry, he’d forgotten he was going to call in, and he was nearly all the way to Cambridge, by the time he got my message. I was disappointed. I know I’d seen him for a few hours this weekend and was thrilled to have done so, but I wanted more…. perhaps I was being greedy.

I did, in the end, manage to get through to the ward where Mum is staying. “The doctors are just having a chat about your Mum. I’ll ask the consultant to call back when they’ve finished. Is that OK?” Oh, yes, of course. But then I went up to the chemist’s to get my prescription, didn’t I? The phone call came in just as I was standing in the shop waiting. I had to nip out and stand round the corner to try and hold a conversation – not easy when cars are whizzing past. However, the upshot was that Mum is fit to be discharged.

I thought that the medics would be happy to discharge Mum today, but I am concerned about her falling again in her flat. I mentioned this to the consultant who agreed that they’d keep on doing what they were doing for the time being. I am hoping that the care home I am going to look at tomorrow might just be suitable, and we can arrange discharge into the care home rather than back to the flat. Fingers crossed, people!

The news today is full of people partying in the streets and queuing all along the pavements for the clothes shops – primarily Primark, by the looks of it – and downing pints in pub gardens, despite the cold weather. We’ve been let out of jail!!! Let’s hope we keep our sensible heads.

• 3,568 people tested positive for the virus today
• 13 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 9 people died in hospitals with the virus on 10 & 11 April
• And it’s Day 15 since the lifting of Lockdown 3 and Day 1 of our new, limited freedoms; Day 385 since Lockdown 1; Day 391 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. 

I don’t know about you, but I am bored of myself and our goings-on now. There always seems to be some crisis or other in our household, and really, I have been thinking that it’s about time that changed.

So, we are pleased to report that, today, there was no crisis and we had a very nice day. We went over to Paul’s for a barbecue at their new house. It was lovely and we had such a good time. We thought that the weather would hold out, and it mostly did, although we did get a few hailstones occasionally. Paul had been and bought a new barbecue, which worked a treat and so our lunch was delicious.

However, I am now at the age where the kids take the micky. I am a ‘little old lady’ to quote youngest son. And today, micky-taking was to do with spicy food. Paul cooked some spicy chicken and, on trying it, told us that it was quite spicy. I took some and it immediately numbed my tongue. “Gosh, it is spicy!” I exclaimed, “The chicken is very spicy….blimey, my tongue’s on fire,” which prompted much amusement and micky-taking…..’watch out for the chicken, it’s spicy!’ Oh, alright, alright…..

I am glad they can tease though. It’s amusing and good fun to be able to laugh together at each others’ foibles and know, despite it all, that they love you anyway. Yep, it was a great afternoon and a bit of a fillip.

We haven’t really done anything else. We got up late, and took a while to gather together all the chattels we need for outdoor entertainment and eating these days: thick overcoats, hats and scarves; blankets in which to wrap up warm; eyedrops to sort out our ailing eyes; and, because we were at Paul’s and they haven’t actually moved in yet, we took some food in the form of salad and sauces; we gathered plates and cutlery; and liberated a bottle of champagne to toast them once again.

This evening we did some homework. We watched the James Bond film ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. Our homework was set months ago by our Centre Stage Quiz friends, which required us to have all James Bond films as our specialist subject. Regrettably, we’ve been in detention a lot, because we hadn’t even started our homework until today. Thoroughly enjoyed such a classic – although it’s not awfully PC now, I wasn’t too offended. Picked up one or two ideas for quiz questions but I am not sure how much I will remember of it if anyone else asks us questions…..

And that’s it. Mum had a settled night last night although was confused at teatime yesterday and wanted to go somewhere, but she wasn’t sure where. I think she finally decided she’d like to go home. They settled her and she was OK today and still being monitored. They may want to discharge her tomorrow but we’ll see. I’d like to have chosen a care home for her to be discharged into if we can, but if not, I don’t know how we’ll go on. Watch this space, folks.

In the meantime, COVID cases are still stable – but it’s the weekend, so not sure how accurate the figures are today.

• 1,730 people tested positive for the virus today
• 7 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 6 people died in hospitals with the virus on 9 & 10 April
• And it’s Day 14 of the lifting of Lockdown 3; Day 384 since Lockdown 1; Day 390 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. 

Although I was up and about early today I didn’t feel the need to rush. I gently took myself about the house and, equally gently, went about a few chores, which didn’t feel like chores because I wasn’t in a rush. John was up reasonably early too, so we sat and had bacon butties together. It was lush.

I phoned the hospital to see how Mum was doing and they said she’d had a comfortable night. A head scan showed no injury from her fall and there were no bones broken. She was still feeling somewhat confused, but the clinical practitioner I spoke to said constipation and urinary tract issues can also cause a bit of delirium. That’s a new one on me. They had found, however, that Mum was dehydrated and has both issues, so it’s all being treated over the weekend. There was also a plan to do a ‘confusion’ test.

Relieved that Mum was on the mend, and that temporarily, I didn’t have the responsibility of looking after her, I decided it was time to change the sheets on the bed so, bit by bit, I did that and washed and ironed them today. Although I must confess to having got as far as ironing the duvet cover and placing it, folded, on our bed. Poor John had to fit the darned thing as he was up to bed first.

We had great excitement placing a bet or two on the Grand National this afternoon and Michael suggested a sweepstake and a video link while we all watched the race. It was great fun, but chaos. Everyone won a bit of money but I don’t think anyone recouped their original outlay. It didn’t matter though, we weren’t playing for a lot of money and it was a great piece of entertainment. What delighted me the most though, of course, was seeing all three of our sons together, albeit on-screen. And naturally, we girls were delighted that a female jockey won the race…..

I was delighted to see Margaret and Chris at my front door this afternoon, too, with a bar of chocolate in hand. Boy! Did I need that! When you’re feeling fed up, what’s the best thing to do? Eat chocolate of course!!

John and I just drifted through the rest of the day. I suddenly went tired and stopped doing jobs, we sat and watched TV but nothing really interested us. In the end, I watched Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang this afternoon having never seen it before, and then ‘Colette’, a film that was on the other day and which I’d recorded. Really enjoyed both films, but especially Colette – fascinating times she lived in.

The COVID figures are still keeping steady, so we are getting excited that we’ll have a little bit more freedom next week.

• 2,589 people tested positive for the virus today
• 40 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 21 people died in hospitals with the virus on 8 & 9 April
• And it’s Day 13 of the lifting of Lockdown 3; Day 383 since Lockdown 1; Day 389 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless. 

Are you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty sort of person? I usually try to have a glass half full, personally. And how do you like your news? The good or the bad first? Now that’s a bit more of a conundrum. However, I prefer to have the good first – it bolsters you up to deal with the bad, doesn’t it? So that’s how the day went today – the good, then the bad – I just hope we don’t get the ugly…..

I popped round to Mum’s first thing to give her the tablet that the carers can’t, and found she was much improved, even if she was still a bit sleepy. She was quite cheerful and happily took her tablets and, when the carer arrived, got dressed and had breakfast no trouble. All very good.

I nipped back home for a shower and was pleased to see that Andrew had texted to say he was on his way home for a garden visit. I was dancing in the aisles, as you can imagine. I was very excited but still in my dressing gown when he arrived. I ran about setting up a warm area for John just inside the patio doors, and a warm area for Andrew just outside the patio doors and then went and dried my hair.

I joined them once I had sorted myself out and, oh, it was just wonderful to be with Andrew. We walked up to the shops together to buy something nice for lunch and then picnicked outside on the patio. John braved the cold as we sat and ate our lunch. It was lovely.

Interspersed with the chat to Andrew, I took a few phone calls regarding the research I am doing for a care home for Mum, so I was up and down like a yo-yo for much of the afternoon and, all too soon, the afternoon was over and Andrew was on his way.

John and I thought we’d have a few minutes thawing out before getting our evening meal ready. The Sutton Sleaths phoned while we were defrosting and we had a lovely chat to them all. William was equally as excited as me at the thought of seeing ‘Uncle Andrew’ and fairly squeaked and giggled with excitement. Not to be outdone, Thomas did lots and lots of grinning too……

Mid-way through the video call, another call came in on my phone. It was one of Mum’s carers. Mum had had a fall and the carer had phoned for the ambulance. I cut the call to the Sutton Sleaths short and hot-footed it round to Mum’s.

Oh, dear, oh, dear. Mum was lying prone on the floor, full-length. She had clearly face-planted as she fell and, equally clearly, had been there for some time. She was conscious and able to speak to us, but unable to move. She said thought she had been there for hours. The ambulance service told us not to move her as long as she could breath OK. Well, to be honest, it was a bit of a struggle for Mum to breath as her nose was a bit squashed. She managed, however, until the paramedics arrived.

The paramedics checked her over and established that there were no bones broken before they turned her over and sat her up. They confirmed that Mum probably had been lying there for at least two hours given the pooling of fluids into her face. Poor Mum. Poor Mum.

The ambulance took Mum off to Warwick Hospital to be checked over. As I write, I am not sure what they have found, because A&E was very busy and, although Mum had been triaged, no doctor had yet done any assessment or tests. No doubt they’ll manage to review her shortly and decide what to do for the best. I only hope they don’t decide to discharge her late into the night and expect me to go and collect her then…… that would definitely be ugly.

On the day that all the major TV channels dedicated hours and hours of tributes to Prince Philip who passed away this morning, the status regarding the virus is still stable. Thank goodness something is.

• 3,150 people tested positive for the virus today
• 60 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 18 people died in hospitals with the virus on 7 & 8 April
• And it’s Day 12 of the lifting of Lockdown 3; Day 382 since Lockdown 1; Day 387 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless.