Monday, January 19 – Quite pleasant: dry and not too cold. Actually got out of the house – firstly to go and post a card to Sandra: I met an Irish guy I used to work with as I was coming back and going up the slope, and we had quite a long chat. Wish I could remember his name. He lives up on Rosedale Crescent, where my uncle Frank used to live hundreds of years ago, pre-Bracondale.

Later I went out again to put bins ready for emptying. Had our standard lunch with crackers, ham and so on, and in the evening a Borscht soup that the Gazleys had left us. Surprisingly I quite liked it, though I couldn’t bring myself to tackle the lemon curd cheesecake. Mark e-mailed to offer assistance. Haven’t actually seen him since he got back. Dot finished reading How the Church Lost the Way and was quite enthusiastic. We watched a few things, including EFL football which featured Wrexham v Norwich, Ice Road Truckers (remember that?) and Lynley – a  particularly good episode. 

Tuesday – Quite pleasant, though a bit grey. Not too cold. Missed the northern lights again last night. Just got out of bath in time to let Anne in (the house, not the bath): she had just been to the dentist for a particularly unpleasant procedure, but she and Dot were able to talk all right.  After lunch watched football and a bit of bowls (oh, yes) and then I drove to Morrisons for my weekly stock-up. Left it a bit late; so it took a bit longer than usual. Bin men came, including – surprise, surprise – the garden waste collection. Felt unexpectedly tired, though we had both slept well the last two nights. Put food away and then cooked duck for our evening meal – forgot it took so long; so we were a bit late. Not a problem, because Dot was listening to Norwich City v West Brom on radio. City won 5-0 away!! Afterwards watched After the Flood, a rather good thriller. 

Wednesday – Very grey day, also windy and wet. Not a very good night because I had to get up in time to go to ear clinic. Got us breakfast and then walked up to the other end of St Benedict’s – about 20 minutes – for my appointment with attractive ear expert. Got there early but she started straight away – very professional. £50. Think it went ok. Walked back and was pretty wet when I got back, so had a bath. I know. Then made avocado and egg lunch, and Dot came down to living room to eat it.

Did a lot of clearing up and rearranged the living room so that I could use the brown chair. Sofa now under window. Did some work on Parish Pump, but felt very tired; so watched part of a recording of yesterday’s match with Dot. Sorted out bins. Cooked sea bream for supper. Watched After the Flood and Patience. Patience is getting a bit irritating. Autistic people have no sense of humour. Did well over 7000 steps today. Dot did 321. She’s doing really well.  She had a phone call from Sophie at church, which was nice. 

Thursday –  Dot had shower – second time full on. She’s been walking without her boot and came downstairs just holding on to banister. So good progress. Did my two Parish Pump pieces, on the Dunblane massacre and the Hindenburg disaster: very upbeat. Bridget came to do cleaning but forgot hoover. Watched football and (later) Patience – quite a good episode. David Archer called in and picked up TV, which we’re lending him – or at least David is. Rearranged my room afterwards. Seems bigger. David FaceTimed with input from Chrissy and Amy. I received date for another scan on Feb 13: lots of detail implying excess alcohol intake, which is rubbish. No mention of gall bladder removal, which I think may be to blame. On the plus side, my ears seem better. 

Friday – Another damp and grey day. Linda came round to cut our hair, and then I had a bath and made cracker lunch. As requested, drank a litre of water at 3pm before leaving for hospital – a journey that was less stressful than anticipated, given that it was school leaving time, wet and Friday. Arrived for CAT scan in good time and parked car in multi-storey, checking with another user how it worked, because I’d forgotten. Waited about ten minutes before I went in for scan, on the heels of another woman, with whom I had a quick chat. I was then mistaken by the nurse for her husband and invited to go and sit with her as she recovered. The nurse soon realised her error, though.

The scan was a bit more elaborate than I had anticipated, involving a canula and some dye, but it went smoothly. Had to wait for ten minutes afterwards before canula was removed, then walked over to car park, ringing Dot on the way, inserted car registration and paid by card (£3.40) before driving out, the barrier lifting as I approached it. Drove back down Newmarket Road, which was not as bad as I anticipated, and then home via Ber Street and Prince of Wales Road, arriving just after 5pm.

Des rang Dot just as I was telling her what had happened, and we found ourselves inviting them and Mark and Sarah over for the street meet drink. Didn’t tell anyone else – hope they didn’t take offence. After nearly two hours they left and I cooked sea bass with toasted sourdough before watching Would I Lie to You? and Mystery Road, which has absolutely no characters in it that I like. Not sure why we’re watching it. Cleared out tumble drier and washed up while Dot watched Riviera. 

Wednesday, January 14 – Mainly pleasant day, getting rainy later. Quite busy. Nikki came at 12.30 with carrot cake, and we had our usual upbeat talk. Then Anna arrived at about 2.40 and I gave  Nikki a lift to Earlham Road so that she could meet Indie out of school. Meanwhile Anna kept an eye on Do,t and when I got back I joined in the chat. We had missed lunch again; so when Anna left I did our usual lunch.

Watched a bit of TV, caught up with washing and cleaning, then updated my blog. Later cooked some soup. Felt very tired. Dot’s foot felt a bit tight, possibly because it’s swollen. Earlier our neighbour Jonathan came round because I’d messaged him to see if he was Ok, because his bins were out but his car in. He had had a stent put in and can’t drive for a week.

Thursday – Damp and grey. Dot doing well, and is able to get into living room very easily, and to kitchen without much trouble. My head still very odd (yes, I know), and I took some paracetamol, which helped. Bridget came to clean in the afternoon (we’d been in bed most of the morning) and Dot managed to have a shower before she came . She didn’t actually get in the shower, of course. Had a late “supper”  – chicken kiev – just after Bridget left and a sort of lunch later. Usual cleaning up. 

Had a call from Tony to see if we were going to the CNS thing tomorrow: I said Dot wouldn’t but I probably would. However, I have now rethought this, and probably won’t. She would be on her own for too long, I think. Watched a fair bit of TV, including Patience, which is quite clever, and have finished the Christmas University Challenge series.

Friday – Mainly bright but quite cold. Dot did some ironing after we rigged up ironing board in spare bedroom. I didn’t go to CNS reunion, which apparently went very well. Rang ear clinic (not the normal one) and got an appointment for next Wednesday. Rang Sonata and got an apology: they promised to get in touch about upgrading our alarm system. Have decided to get chair for living room. Dot definitely improving: she was in living room most of day (after ironing). Cooked avocado and egg on toast for lunch, and Des got us fish and chips for supper. That was after short street meet with just the four of us: Des, Chris, Matthew and me. Am reading really good epic poem – Sea Change – that David bought me. It’s set in Norfolk. 

Saturday – Pretty nondescript sort of day. Both woke up late and got up much later. Dot’s leg is progressing well. Norwich beat Wrexham 1-2 and Dot listened while I caught up with this and that – especially e-mails. Call from Adrian after match to say he thought Wrexham played badly. Meanwhile he and Clarissa are likely to move to Wrexham to be nearer to kids and C’s mother. End of another era. Tish to stay in Corwen. Dot ironed sheet and duvet cover after I’d helped fold them. Had crackers and usual lunch, then yellow halibut for supper. Watched first two episodes of good Irish police procedural called Blackwater. Mark is home.

Sunday – Quite pleasant weather. Dry. Up late: Dot had real shower and read and then watched Norwich City match (yes, the same one) while I had a bath, during which I finished Sea Change – really good, and the book cover was designed by Anna’s sister. Had avocado and egg on toast (not in the bath). Watched a bit of snooker and Songs of Praise. Gazleys came round with soup and cheesecake but couldn’t stop.

Des and Chris came over with onion bajhees , which I heated up and we ate before Hunters’ chicken that I’d bought and cooked. Afterwards ate some fruit in a jar, which was very nice. We were not in the jar – the fruit was, though not while we were eating it. David FaceTimed us, and we were joined by Oliver. Wide-ranging talk. Oliver is going to Milan to watch a football match. Afterwards watched Call the Midwife, cleared up and went to bed. Dot has been much improved and can get around on her own. Very late in bed. 

Friday, January 9 – Rain all day and pretty cold. No street meet: Mary in Spain, Mark in Brazil. Rang Ray Fiske in morning: sounds pretty bad. Judy offered to help us because I “looked tired”. Trouble is, I would have to explain what needs doing, which would probably take longer than doing it. Usual lunch for the two of us. Anne came at 3 and stayed a couple of hours. Dot seems much better – taking far fewer pills. In the evening cooked salmon and washed rags and a tea cloth, though not necessarily in that order. Watched a bit of TV – Christmas University Challenge and an Australian drama, plus Would I lie to you? which is very funny. 

Saturday – Dampness gradually dried out, and the afternoon was quite bright, though still cold. I didn’t have a very good night and felt quite odd today – took paracetamol. Well, someone has to. Janet Smith came go see Dot just after 10.30, and brought a plant. After she went I had a bath to try to feel better, but went to sleep and got one of my books wet. Spent some time later putting kitchen paper between pages, which Dot tells me is a Howard remedy.

Had egg on avocado on toast for lunch during which we watched Macclesfield (Northern Division) beat Crystal Palace (Premier League and holders) 2-1 in the FA Cup, followed by the usual hysteria from commentators. Saw a bit of Spurs v Aston Villa, which Spurs lost 2-1, though they looked much better in the second half. Had soup for supper, followed by fruit salad. Watched three episodes of The Little Drummer Girl (Dot has already seen four), which was pretty good.

Sunday – Dry at first but rain later. Cold. Listened to radio service, then Songs of Praise later. Also plenty of football, the rest of The Little Drummer Girl and another episode of The Night Manager. Usual lunch, and duck for supper. Felt pretty rubbish most of the day, either cold or itchy or both. Dot still making progress, I think. Put out rubbish. 

Monday – Mainly dry; much warmer. Hospital day. Got up early after difficult night, possibly because alarms set.  Always seems to happen. Roger and Debbie arrived at 10am to take us to the hospital. Roger’s height and weight very helpful on slope. Took push bar. Arrived in good time, to find the fracture clinic was just inside the East door. Picked up wheelchair, checked in and after a while (not too long) were told that she needed an x-ray (some doubt about whether she had plaster); so we went round there – not far – booked in at radiology and walked down to the x-ray rooms.

Waited quite a while, and I was not allowed to go in, but it went OK. Back to the fracture clinic and were eventually called: I did go in that time. Liked the doctor, who was very reassuring and said Dot was making good progress. Dot waited outside while I looked for the dermatology clinic and the gastro clinic, the second of which was not where it was stated to be on the internet. Eventually found it. Dermatology clinic was easier, being almost next door to the restaurant – our next stop. 

Bit cool, but I got us a scone, sandwiches and sweet to share, as well as drinks. I was due a call from the gastro clinic; so we left early for dermatology and had not got settled when my phone rang. I went out into corridor for quite a long chat. The doctor was keen to know as much as possible and seemed sorry not to be able to see me in person. He seemed to think there was some urgency, and has promised an appointment for a proper scan of my liver and abdomen as soon as possible. Meanwhile I had had a call from urology, who are going to get in touch again tomorrow morning. It seems they may be taking some notice of my progress. However the urgency is a little worrying.

I returned to dermatology where Dot was sitting stranded in a wheelchair but had managed to check in. We actually got to see a doctor early, and after some discussion Dot agreed to have a photo of her mole taken and to get it checked after three months. The doctor didn’t seem worried though. We made our way back to the fracture clinic seating, where I got Dot a coffee. She rang Roger, and he said he could get back to the hospital in about 40 minutes. That is what happened. We got Dot back into the car, and I dumped the wheelchair back where I found it. (Happily Roger’s car was big enough for us and for the walking frame.)

Traffic worse, but we were home well before 4.30pm, and Roger and Debbie came in for tea/coffee and Christmas cake, during which we heard a big sonic boom. Annoyingly, the gastro guy had told me to drink minimum alcohol before the scan. In the evening I cooked pies and we watched some. Christmas Uni Challenge and Call the Midwife. I cleared up and we went to bed quite early.

Tuesday – Much damper, but not constant rain. Urology woman rang as scheduled about 10am, and we had a chat, but not a terribly productive one. Later I had a bath, and in the afternoon I went to Morrisons and stocked up. While bringing food in I met Phoebe, who sent her best wishes to Dot. Dot made it downstairs, and we washed some clothes etc. Watched Pointless, which was.  Towards evening, as I cooked a ready meal lasagne, I realised we hadn’t had lunch, but it didn’t seem to matter. Finished off fruit salad. Watched Lynley, which was quite good. 

Just before that, Angela rang to say her brother John had died. He had been ill for a while, but it was a bit unexpected. He was in hospital. Always liked John when he was younger – he reminded me of his father Walter, and he had a great sense of humour – but something went wrong later on. Bit of a drink problem in the end. Very sad, especially for his daughter Donna, who was with him when he died. Her mother died not long ago. 

Sunday, January 4, 2026 – Again, didn’t seem much like Sunday, as Christmas didn’t seem much like Christmas or New Year like New Year. Very cold day with snow on ground but none falling. Quite a few people out, including Chloe playing snowballs. Did quite a bit of tidying up in preparation for taking decorations down tomorrow (if we’re back from hospital in time). (Ha! – Ed)

Norwich City managed to lose 2-0 to Stoke at home, which meant Dot was glad she couldn’t go. Sounded pretty pathetic. Started watching the last Ashes test, in which England are doing quite well. (Ha! – Ed) Des put some grit on road to enable Dot’s transport to reach us tomorrow. Message from O’dells to say neither of them too good: he has a bad knee, and she has a serious spinal problem. Phil tripped over his dog. Woof, woof. Put some more water in the piano  – a three-monthly ritual – then put together what has become a “traditional” lunch of crackers, cheese, ham, pâté, salad. In evening heated up the quiches that Bridget and David brought. After supper we both watched episode 2 of The Night Manager. 

Monday – Still cold. Bit of snow overnight and early afternoon. Very annoying day, because transport to hospital didn’t show up despite a couple of reminders, and we couldn’t get a new appointment from the clinic, mainly because they don’t like answering the phone. So we have to go through it all again – except that we shall be using our own transport. Dot spent most of day in living room – dressed because she was expecting to go out. I did a bit more clearing up in between feeling a mixture of angry and mildly ill.

Dot is definitely making progress and is vowing to get up every day for the rest of her life. Took Mary’s casserole dish back and discovered she’s going to Spain on Wednesday. Did usual lunch of crackers, cheese, ham etc etc, and steak pies for supper. Cleared snow off car and inserted new front seat cushion for Dot. I think it’s OK. Remade her bed. After supper FaceTimed David and brought him up to date with events. While we were speaking to him, a text appeared giving Dot a new appointment next Monday (12th) – by which time I hope I (and someone else) should be able to take her. In fact between us we have three appointments at NNUH that day! We might make it a special outing…

Tuesday – Mainly dry and bright. Hovering just above zero. Rain late in evening. Went to Archant pensioners’ breakfast – no subs and a guy I’m sure I know but can’t place. Eight in all. Had a bath afterwards, then went to Morrisons to stock up. Met a blonde woman I’m sure I know, but again names failed me. She had a very small grandchild. After lunch we watched Lynley. Set in Norfolk and pretty good, though Dot kept dozing. She was down in living room again. During the day she got two extra hospital appointments on unrelated matters (dermatology and oral). We now have three appointments next Monday between us. Cooked chicken Kiev and put out rubbish. Cleared up a bit, including sorting washing, and started on the mechanics of that. Two loads. Bed late after more tidying. 

Wednesday – Bright and dry; snow more or less disappeared but storm warnings everywhere. Exhausting day, too. Dot came down into living room and I made a couple of meals. Also did washing and drying, then remade bed, which was really tiring. Dot sat by Christmas tree and took lights and decorations off it. About lunchtime Howard came round and fixed the sink in the shower room – there was a bottle top stuck in u -turn. He also looked at cistern and is going to fix it. Good innings by Bethell in Ashes. Switched to sleeping with Dot, but on “her” side so that she can get to loo easily. Didn’t have a very good night. 

Thursday – Started dry and reasonably bright but by evening Storm Goretti was with us, which in our case meant pouring rain. Elsewhere it was much worse. Had bath, then finished pulling down Christmas decorations and putting them in the loft. Also took down Birthday and Christmas cards. Bridget came around 2.30pm, while Dot was still in bed, and did a two-hour clean. I had done avocado and egg for lunch followed by baked cod for supper – the latter was not too popular.

Dot and I had barely finished eating and were watching the last throes of the Ashes when Judy arrived for Cake and Compline. Also present: Bridget, David, Claire, Vicky and Nikki, who was as inspiring as ever. Quite a good time altogether. David FaceTimed just as we were packing up. Dot rang him back as I was bidding the others farewell, and we had a long chat. Cleared up afterwards and watched the end of the Ashes. Meanwhile Dot has arranged for her cousin Roger to take us to hospital on Monday in his “big car”.

Wednesday 31 December – And so the old year shuffles off, and we won’t be sad to see it go. After my being ill for a fair bit of autumn and messing up her birthday, Dot broke her leg in the week before Christmas and is confined to bed.

It wasn’t all bad, of course. Today has been bright and quite chilly, and especially memorable because Oliver and Amy drove from Aylesbury to see us, make us lunch and then drove back again. We managed to keep it a surprise  from Dot until they arrived, which was lovely for her. They put together a really nice lunch of croissants, cheese, ham, salad and crisps. After they left at 3pm it felt a bit empty; we watched yesterday’s Match of the Day and a couple of other things. Dot watched two episodes of Stranger Things and then got involved in something called Riviera. I watched a programme featuring Bob Monkhouse’s last show – to a private audience of other comedians. I’ve always liked Bob Monkhouse, partly because he delivered my favourite joke: “They laughed at me when I said I wanted to be a comedian. They’re not laughing now.” For some reason he reminds me of David Coomes.

I cooked some yellow haddock for our supper and watched a Champion Masterchef programme in which nobody did anything wrong but someone won. 

Thursday, New Year’s Day – Quite cold, but dry. Had a quick bath because Anne was coming to visit Dot. She arrived about 10.30 and stayed for a couple of hours. I joined in the conversation to start with but then left them to it. Cheered Dot up again, I think. House alarm went off twice for no apparent reason; I moved lighting wire away from main box, and nothing has happened since. Watched the end of Riviera on Netflix with Dot: she saw the whole first series. I cooked soup (pea and ham hock) and we finished off the blackberry and apple. Also had some mulled wine. Then watched (separately) the new first episode of The Night Manager, which was excellent. 

Friday – Very cold wind but dry. Snow in Braemar: A93 closed. So much  for my hopes for the alarm: it went off again at 3.15am; I reset it and it went off once more at 5.20am, at which point I rang the engineer. He arrived around 7.30am and thought he’d fixed it by adjusting some wires, but as he went to drive away it went off again, upon which he revised his opinion and felt perhaps the whole system needed to be updated; so he removed the battery and fuse, which prompted the outdoor alarm to go off for about ten minutes, as he predicted. Nothing since, thank goodness. 

Naturally I felt rather tired when I woke again at around 7.45pm. Took some paracetamol (as yesterday) and felt better by late afternoon (as yesterday).  Had a bath and then realised I should have been at Boots to collect my new glasses at 11.30. I rang them, and they said any time in the afternoon was OK. I walked up at 2pm, and the glasses seemed fine (after adjustment). Tried to get red milk on way back , but the one-stop shop had everything but; so I returned to Tesco on Prince of Wales Road and got their penultimate bottle, as well as some marmalade. Almost 7000 steps by end of day. Brief greeting of Michael and Margaret as we met on Aspland Road.

Later Mary came round with magazines, just after Dot had descended to living room for the first time. Fred rang – he’d heard about Dot. Then Janet and Derek Bower came and were able to have coffee with Dot. They brought a perch chair: not sure why.  After they left Dot went back to bed and I went over for street meet indoors at Des and Chris’s with Matthew. Very pleasant. Des got us fish and chips, but in taking it upstairs I spilled red wine on the stair carpet. Better keep Dot in the bedroom. Watched a very funny Would I lie to you? then some football – four matches, two goals. Washed and tidied up and went to bed.

Saturday – Very cold. Quite a bit of snow early on.  Des cleared our path late in the afternoon, when the snow had eased considerably. I went outside purely to empty rubbish – no real problem. Slept quite late and stayed in bed for a while reading paper and doing puzzles. Interrupted only by a routine call from the surgery checking on Dot’s medication. Crackers, cheese, pâté and various other items for lunch.

Dot managed to get down into living room for most of the afternoon, during which Bridget and David came bearing gifts, including food. Nice for us all to be able to sit in the same room. Then Des brought round food Mary had made for us – spaghetti bolognaise and  a strawberry dessert. Dot got back in bed to eat it more comfortably, and afterwards we watched The Holdovers, an excellent film about boys kept back at a boarding school over Christmas, under the supervision of a disillusioned teacher. Really well done. Felt quite ill at different times during the day – head was all over the place and I felt sick at one point. But as usual during the evening I felt better.