Monday 20 Nov – Woke up feeling very ropey in varying ways. Had indigestion for some reason, presumably the borscht. Also felt extremely tired all day, and my head was congested. Stayed in bed most of the morning, then got up and had some bread and jam while watching the cricket final – Australia beating India fairly comfortably, though surprisingly in view of India’s earlier exploits. This was thanks to Travis Head, who scored over 130.

After lunch Anne came round, and we all had a chat before I went to the chemist to pick up my pills (which had arrived at last) and Anne dropped off Dot at the dentist for a crown session. Quite an ordeal, I think. We watched The Newsreader episodes 3&4, which was good, and later a very poor England football performance against North Macedonia, 1-1. Have now finished antibiotics, but feel a bit sore. Not very encouraging, but am trying to remain positive. 

Tuesday- overcast: bit of rain in the evening. Got Dot a drink in morning so that she was up on time for Linda, who arrived a bit early to cut our hair. Afterwards Dot walked into the city for a pedicure at Jarrolds, where she met Kim for some lunch at the wine bar. Meanwhile I was having a bath, which went reasonably well. Read a bit and wrapped Dot’s presents very badly. When she got home we watched a programme on the Princes in the Tower that seemed to rewrite history quite convincingly.

Dot had quiche for supper, and I had an omelette. Also took some probiotics to get rid of the indigestion; seemed to work. After supper we watched two very violent episodes of Boat Story, which were very good if you ignored the violence, which you almost could because it was so unreal. Meanwhile I have developed a dental pain and a pain in the back of my head on the right. What else could go wrong? Lucky to have Dot, but I’m worried about the effect it’s having on her. 

Wednesday – trying hard to be positive, but it’s quite hard. Dot’s birthday, and of course I wanted to be feeling good so that we could do stuff. Weather sort of mixed. Got up and made Dot a cup of tea, and got her presents from where I’d stashed them in the spare room. Spent a lot of time opening presents and cards, which arrived later. Quite a few of them. Of course Dot had actually bought all the ones I gave her, but I did manage to contribute a card I had bought some time before.

After the  openings we did puzzles, and it got quite late, but we managed to rouse ourselves in time to go to Gem for lunch. I was feeling quite shivery, but good enough. Had nice lunch – friendly waiter. Saw Kim passing towards end, and Dot left to meet her. I paid, and the waiter gave me a cake for Dot! Chatted with Kim, and David and Amy FaceTimed to say Happy Birthday. Afterwards their parcel arrived – lovely flowers and chocolate and a card. Dot took pic to send to David, who also sent link to his new site, which looks exciting. Later Oliver FaceTimed, and we had a chat.

I was feeling pretty shaky, and while Dot was at orchestra I tried to change the leg bag, but it was tricky, and the one I picked up was too big (long tube). Decided to leave it on overnight, then change to one the right size tomorrow. Had to change stabiliser too. Pretty fed up by now. When Dot came home had wine and paracetamol, which seemed to help. Her session had gone well. We watched Shetland together, and I collapsed into bed before writing this. Nikki rang much earlier to say she was coming to see us tomorrow. 

Thursday – Chilly, bright spells. Nikki came round about 11 and stayed till just after 2pm. Really encouraging talking to her. Leanne rang her while she was here, and we arranged to watch The Chosen here next Wednesday. Nikki  prayed for me before leaving. Dot dropped her off by John Lewis and then did some food shopping. I tried to write a sermon for Sunday, but didn’t get anywhere – felt shivery and eventually went upstairs and lay down. Bridget was still cleaning but worked round me.

Dot wrote her report for yesterday and had the usual trouble sending it. I sorted it for her. At some point Des came round and said he was going to Glasgow for a couple of days. Dot lay down with me for a while; then we had supper – smoked cod and an eclair. David and Amy rang up, and we spoke about his new website, which I like very much. Told Amy I liked her design. Afterwards watched last episode of The Australian Wars, about what happened to the Aborigines. Horrific.

Friday – Dull with quite a bit of rain. Dot did a lot of violin practice and also went to garden centre to get bird food. She had quite a chat with Mark outside. No street meet tonight. Weather too miserable and cold. Also I’d spent a long time writing a sermon for Sunday and had to lie down. Had a phone call from Steven, who sounded ok. Watched a couple of episodes of The Crown and the final two episodes of The Newsreader, which was ok but could have been better. 

Tuesday 14th – Chilly. A few spots of rain. After a very bad night felt better, but tired. A lot happened. Dot drove to the shops, and on her return Colin came over to talk about putting a railing up by our slope, and return the heavy pots to the patio at the back. As he was doing this, Caren and Phil Gazely turned up out of the blue with some more soup for us – very kind. And simultaneously my brother Phil arrived for a scheduled visit. We had quite a long chat.

Then after lunch Roger and Debbie came round, and Debbie cheered me up by saying some wise things about the hospital, where she used to work, and also suggested that the red bits in my urine were calcified bits of scar tissue, which makes sense. Had quite a long chat and then they gave Dot a lift to Anna’s for her violin lesson. I did some stuff towards our weekend retreat, hoping that I would be able to go, and later got a call from the surgeon’s secretary, who put me on to another number concerning the likely date of my operation. Have rung that number, but no response yet. Flow colour very dark, but that’s normal with the antibiotics. Definitely going in the right direction, I think! Gave myself a thorough going over with shower in the lower area, which made me feel better. Watched a brilliant Jack Rosenthal drama called Eskimo Day, set in the late 1980s. Beautifully done. 

Wednesday was cold but dry. Felt pretty ropey most of the day but improved towards evening after taking paracetamol. Dot went to shops in afternoon and to orchestra in evening. We had soup for supper. Watched a Coen Brothers film, Blood Simple, which was violent but compelling, largely because it stars Frances McDormand, who is pretty much my favourite actress. Shetland continues to be excellent too. Water a better colour, but still flecks of blood. 

Thursday’s weather was pretty miserable: overcast, with a fair bit of rain. Felt under the weather too, but kept going. Ideal clothing was in the wash; so felt a bit rubbed up the wrong way and itchy.  Still, water colour quite good. Ordered some more night bags and established that my pills are on order, though the chemist hasn’t got them. Bridget came to clean, and I gave her some stuff to use at the weekend if I don’t make it. After supper I drove Dot to the Greens for handbell ringing; also posted cards to Ray and my aunt Thelma. 

Friday – Quite pleasant weather, but felt quite ill for first part of day. However, after I took some paracetamol in early afternoon I improved and was able to go on retreat to Quiet Waters at Bungay.  I didn’t make it to Rosie’s funeral, though, which was taken by Heather Butcher. Dot had drink at Alby afterwards with Angela, Rodney, Ian and Tina and Sharon, who is a police sergeant and Rosie’s cousin on the other side. Still not sure about the retreat when I had a sleep in the afternoon, but eventually drove up to chemist to get pills: however, these were not arriving till tomorrow. Wonderful. In the end we put everything in the car and went – loads of traffic but still arrived about an hour before the others – David, Bridget, Judy, Eleanor and Phil. QW staff made us very welcome. After tea I did a quiz I’d prepared, which seemed to go down quite well.  Then Bridget did one of my complines. I went up to bed before 10pm. Room comfortable but very small, especially with all my equipment. 

Saturday – Overcast, with occasional rain. Busiest day since the start of my bladder problems. Up at 8.45 for breakfast (croissant, toast) then did a session on Philosophy for Children, led by Dot , which went very well. Edge of the seat stuff because we were waiting for Claire, who said she was arriving “soon”,  then didn’t come at all. After lunch (lasagne) I led a discussion on getting close to God, followed by a session by Phil on St Augustine.  At some point Bridget, David, Judy, Phil and I walked down to the river. After tea (buffet) we played some games (I-spy, Happy Families, Gin Rummy): I lay down for a while and then we had a Compline in the Chapel, which was very nice. Bed early. Certain amount of soreness. 

Sunday was overcast with a little rain. Not a bad night, considering Dot woke up with spider dream and then knocked her radio on the floor.   Felt fairly ropey most of the day but took part in breakfast, then a presentation on trees by Bridget, then a trimmed back liturgy. Left about 1pm, giving Judy and Eleanor a lift home. Unpacked and watched some cricket, S Africa losing narrowly to Australia, mainly because of poor fielding. For supper had borscht supplied by Caren, which wasn’t as bad as I expected. Watched Planet Earth then David FaceTimed, and we had a chat: he told me about his kidney stones – happily I don’t think I have that. Amy was upbeat: they had both watched the Grand Prix in the early hours. Afterwards we watched Chorister of the Year: I chose the successful three again. Then I went to bed while Dot watched something else. And so my health saga goes on: one more antibiotic pill to take… Nice to be back in my own bedroom. 

Feel a bit like I’m going full circle as far as my health is concerned. Last night was very bad – lots of blood again (though contained within the catheter system) and I couldn’t sleep. Started taking second lot of antihistamines last night – same brand – and by this morning urine was starting to turn a more acceptable colour. For obvious reasons, I feel very tired. But let’s go back to telling the story in order…

Thursday 9th – Sun and cloud ; very small amount of rain. Felt pretty groggy in the morning. Colin came and finished the patio and wall, plus trimming back the ivy. In the afternoon went to hospital, expecting my catheter to be removed, but was told by Maria that I had another infection. Very disappointing. She has booked me in for a new date and is ringing tomorrow about antibiotics.  No date yet for operation. On way home picked up medicines from the pharmacy (Dot’s and mine) then called at Rosary to take a picture of Andrew’s stone. Then I sat in the car while Dot went into Morrisons. Fell asleep and forgot where I was. Miraculously in the evening I was well enough to watch Hamlet on TV (3 hours). David Tennant version. Don’t think I’ve ever seen Hamlet before. Urine looks more like blood. Pretty fed up. 

Friday – Quite cold but some sun, and dry. Woke up with urine looking good and no pain. Found blood mark at neck of leg bag which may have been a blockage. But everything remained much better all day. Didn’t do much. At 4pm rang the hospital as I hadn’t heard from them. Maria rang back and said she hadn’t heard the results, and I should ring tomorrow.  In the evening I felt well enough to street meet for a while: quite cold. Had fish and chips. Watched Australian series, Newsreader, which was quite good. David FaceTimed – all good. 

Saturday  was pretty chilly but dry, with some sun. Decided I would walk up to St Julian’s to see the exhibition. Dot followed after she had breakfast, and then we both walked up to St John’s Timberhill to see theirs. (their exhibition, not their breakfast). Felt quite odd walking so far. They were in the middle of Mass (Anglo-Catholic) so we sat at the back before looking at the much more extensive exhibition. Some good stuff. Then walked home. Lay down after lunch while Dot listened to football. City came from 2-1 down to beat Cardiff 3-2 away. I caught up with some stuff on computer, including ordering permits, which was incredibly difficult to because it had been outsourced. After supper watched mediocre drama on My5, then the documentary Hero, which David had recommended. Very inspirational, especially for younger people. Earlier got a (returned) call from hospital which said I had a secondary infection and probably didn’t need antibiotics – unless I was having an operation. Yippee  – great that they’re so co-ordinated. Ordered antibiotics online from surgery. Actually feeling much better.  

Sunday was a reasonable day, weatherwise. Dot went to church for Remembrance Day service, and I stayed in bed for a while, then got up and watched a bit of the Cenotaph march-past. After lunch we watched cricket and football and then I began to feel a bit odd, so lay down while Dot practised violin. Later made chilli con carne and we watched an awful lot of TV, but I did feel better. Went to the loo a lot. Heather Savigny got in touch: we may see her tomorrow. 

Monday was chilly and becoming very windy. Had an early morning call from surgery, saying my antibiotics would be ready in the afternoon. Also from Neville Thrower checking on how I was. I actually feel more or less ok, but I seem to be producing blood instead of urine again, which is where we came in. Without the pain, though. Had a lovely couple of hours with Heather and Simon, who managed to scale our slope in his wheelchair and have coffee and scones, which Dot made.

After lunch we (ie Dot) drove to the garage and I told them about our warning lights. A technician had a look and said there was a battery problem, which I would have thought they’d have spotted at the service. I have now booked a new battery to be fitted on November 30. Meanwhile it seems to be running ok. From there we went to the chemist’s, who miraculously had the antibiotics – but not the statins that I’d also requested. Nice pharmacist (really) said to try on Wednesday. Ho hum. Dot did some more music practice and we had chilli again. Just before that Dave and Julia rang, and we had quite a long chat on speakerphone. They are about to holiday in Egypt (Red Sea) and shortly afterwards in St Lucia. Watched some football and Under Milk Wood, which was brilliant. Bed early. 

Friday was a strange day, but quite pleasant weather. Dot was picked up by Tracy (the Mazda service manager) just after 10am, and having got the car, she went to the shop. She then prepared for Kristine, who arrived on the 12.45 train. I went to meet her but was feeling decidedly odd. In fact I had quite a bit of pain during the day. Still, we had a good time with Kristine, centring on a long lunch. Afterwards I went and lay down for half an hour.

Kristine left at 4.30, and towards evening I was hurting quite a lot. Some of this, I discovered, may have stemmed from the fact that my leg tube was twisted and not allowing urine through. Anyway after a sandwich I went to bed and slept, after a while. Didn’t get up again that day. Very strange feelings in between sleep. 

Saturday was pretty wet and uninviting. Both had a long lie-in reading papers etc. Neither of us had slept very well, and most of the day I was feeling quite ill, but by evening I felt much better, though I had a little trouble with my catheter. Watched a lot of television, including an unusual film called The Souvenir and the last two episodes of Dark Hearts, the French thriller set in Iraq.  Very well done but annoyingly ended on a cliffhanger. I hate that. 

Sunday was strange again: didn’t seem like a Sunday at all. Weather uninspiring but mainly dry, I think. Didn’t actually go outside. Dot went to watch Norwich lose 3-1 to Blackburn just after watching England lose to Australia at cricket. So not very uplifting. I’ve been feeling pretty groggy most of the day, with a niggle in my urethra which is unsettling. Lack of real progress is frustrating. Watched lots of other stuff, most of it pretty good, including a random piece on the River Dee, where they’re using trees to build up river banks. David and Amy FaceTimed. They both seem well – were about to go out for a walk. 

Monday was quite pleasant weather. Dry. Dot went to dentist and called at Julian exhibition at St John Timberhill on the way. Meanwhile Judy called in with two roast chicken dinners from church. Had a chat for a short time. Felt quite ill in early part of day, but took some paracetamol and felt better later. Catheter is allowing some peripheral flow at times, which is difficult. Went to bed early: Dot has headache, which is very unusual.

Yesterday (Nov 7) was chilly but sunny and dry. Had to get up early because Colin arrived at around 8am to do the patio and a couple of other things. Had to move car and make him a cup of tea, after we’d sorted out the catheter stabiliser, which had come adrift for some reason. Dot left about 8.30 to go on a DSSO visit to Overstrand (The Belfry – school shared by the head at Worstead). Felt better than yesterday…

Dot arrived back from Overstrand to reveal that the warning message fault is still on car. Anna came round for a cup of tea, and we had a chat. Had a lie down in the afternoon after watching some cricket, Colin departed and then Anne arrived, and she and Dot went up to Jarrolds for one of the store’s special evenings, and had a meal at one of the restaurants. I had some interesting sardines on toast and some fruit. Sorted out my computer desktop. Andrew’s gravestone has been erected – received phone call and pic from the stonemasons. Dot got home about 9pm and David FaceTimed. He seemed very well – also Amy. Watched a documentary about Australian wars against aborigines. 

Today is pretty miserable: windy, wet and cold. Colin didn’t come, because it was too wet to do what he needed to do. I had a shower, which of course is tricky with a catheter. Felt shaky afterwards, but improved after lunch. Had call from garage, and I booked the car in on Monday to have a look at the rogue warning message. Saw amazing cricket match between Australia and Afghanistan. Australia seemed down and out, but someone scored 201 and they won; not bad as he was suffering from cramp and could hardly move.

Already on Sunday I was getting nervous about Tuesday. It was a sunny day, quite pleasant. Des brought some compost round for Dot and wanted to borrow the sack trolley, but I couldn’t find the garage key (later discovered on the floor in Dot’s room). Cleared up the house and looked at material for upcoming retreat, but wasn’t feeling too well after lunch and slept a bit till Dot came home and woke me up. She had had tea with people she met at Assembly House concert – Bridget, David, Howard and Phil. Anna was too ill to play – migraine. Watched quite a bit of television –  good cricket match between Australia and NZ, then football and two episodes of Dark Hearts and one of Six Four. Wrote supportive email to the Altmans, and got a nice reply from Joan. 

Monday was autumnal but dry and quite pleasant. Dot did some work in the garden, and I helped a little. But felt unwell enough in the afternoon to take paracetamol. Head very hazy and body itchy. Dot prayed for me. Watched cricket and football. England lost to India at cricket, and the Netherlands beat Bangladesh. Spoke to Ray on phone, but neither of us made much sense. In the evening Cake and Compline people came round – all except Vicky. Mostly went well, but P was quite aggressive about Palestine, which upset me. So hard to find people in Norwich who agree with me on anything nowadays. Other than Dot and Kim, of course. 

Very misty start on Tuesday, but we were up early to go for my hospital appointment. Quite pleasant later, but rainy towards evening. Had a very bad night, but we got to hospital OK and parked in the multi-storey as usual. Was seen quite quickly and discovered that I had a urine infection. The specialist gave me a fairly cursory examination and prescribed some antibiotics. He said I was down to have a general anaesthetic cystoscopy, which was quite a relief, except that it is some time in the future – “hopefully within the next two weeks”. This is so that they can remove scar tissue if necessary, which is what he thinks is causing my problem. He doesn’t think I have anything sinister, but of course my CT scan hasn’t reached him! Why would it? It was only five days ago, and it must be – I don’t know – a few hundred yards. 

Waited nearly an hour in the pharmacy for my prescription, then drove home after buying sandwiches from M&S outlet.  Felt quite relieved – I had been expecting a painful operation without general anaesthetic – but during the afternoon and evening I had a little pain from what I presume was the infection (“normal with catheter”). Dot sent round a general update on my situation, and Mary/Neville Thrower rang; so had a chat with them. Cooked veal steak for supper. Dot had long conversation with Angela after speaking with Richard yesterday. Spoke to David on FaceTime to give him an update.  

Wednesday was milder and mainly dry. Getting a bit of pain from infection, and feeling rather below par. Bridget came to clean. Got message from pharmacist about my statins. How was I getting on? Amazed they were interested. Spoke to Paul H on phone: he is in the middle of moving and has just had a last-minute two-week delay. Helped Dot cook sausages after a short sleep. Then she went to orchestra while I cleared up then mooched around feeling under the weather. When Dot got back from orchestra I noticed her phone was on the A47. After some panic we contacted her colleague Catherine, who had picked it up and taken it home to Lingwood. So we drove there and fetched it  – not the easiest journey, with road works, though the projected storm had not yet arrived. Dot drove, of course. I felt a bit better when we got back. 

Thursday – The promised storm Ciaran wasn’t very severe in Norwich, but extremely bad on south coast and in Jersey. We had lots of rain overnight and during the day. I didn’t sleep all that well. Dot insisted that she’d take the car up to be serviced, which she did, and the new service manager, Tracy, gave her a lift back. She was home within 40 minutes of leaving. I had taken the bags out of the car and found the locking nut. Lethargic again during the day, and watched a lot of TV.  Mark came over to get Dot to witness a document and he brought us some tins of tonic water he didn’t want. He would have taken Dot to fetch the car, but Tracy had already rung and arranged to pick up Dot tomorrow morning. I lay down for a while after lunch, but helped cook supper. Think I feel better, but still getting one or two painful spasms in the urethra. Not halfway through antibiotics yet. I’m writing this at about 8.30pm while Dot is at the Greens for handbell ringing. She walked there but hopes to get a lift home with Bridget. Still pretty wet outside. 

Meanwhile I have just had a good FaceTime talk with Oliver, who seems to be getting on well, but has a bit of a cold. Nice to see him. He seems to be doing really well and is on a committee that liaises between staff and scholars. Naturally he represents computer science.