A confusing week – largely because I failed to record a couple of days; so some of this is from memory. On Sunday, which was very mild but quite windy, Dot got back from church (see last post) around 2.45pm. I was still feeling very tired and had diarrhoea, though I detected a slight general improvement. We watched some athletics: Jake Wightman brilliantly won 1500m world gold. Had a light meal (adaptation of Hello Fresh) and most of a tin of mandarins. Also did a bit of Pump research on Hadrian, but still very tired. Dot a bit slowed down by heat too. Watched end of Tour de France.
On Monday I went to the surgery for my annual blood check. A very nice nurse (Anne) said I’d had major surgery and was in fact doing well – she looked at my scars. I should reckon on 4-6 weeks before I felt anything like normal. Dot went for farewell meal with colleague (Jon Moule) at Hethersett, and I just relaxed on the bed. Still not really wanting to eat. Linda cancelled hair because she was ill – not Covid, probably migraine.
On Tuesday I definitely felt better and was up most of the day. Also enjoyed a meal of beans on toast. Spent most of day writing Parish Pump pieces.
Wednesday was mild; quite pleasant. Couldn’t believe I hadn’t written anything the last couple of days, during which I’ve improved gradually. The weather has been quite pleasant, and we’ve had a chat with David, who seems very well, as does Chrissy. The children are in Corfu with the usual suspects, and Oliver sent us anniversary wishes today: it’s our 54th, and I felt well enough to go to Rob’s talk as Tom Paine at the Maids Head. We went by taxi and met Rob outside by chance. Also our bridesmaid Teresa: it was her birthday and our 54th wedding anniversary. Good talk.
Afterwards walked home through The Close. Bridget was doing our cleaning. We got a Hello Fresh box by mistake and gave it to her. I rested a bit, but later had meal of soup, croutons and strawberries. Long phone conversation with Gill and Mick Stedman as a result of an article I’d written for my website about my operation – Alice through the keyhole! Spent much of the evening watching T20 cricket (England beat South Africa) but also managed to get DVD player to work and watched some of a Runrig DVD that Phil and Joy got me for my birthday. Helped Dot choose hymns for Sunday. Have a bit of an appetite now: digestion improved a bit. At some point – may have been yesterday – watched Fistful of Dollars. What a great film! Not perfect, but inspiring.
Thursday was a bit dull, but warm. Managed to sort out the paperwork in my room, which was quite an achievement, paid TV licence and renewed heritage sub, coincidentally at the same moment someone rang asking me to do so. Des and Chris away at Lichfield: Mark home. Dot went to shops, and I slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Saw more of Runrig DVD. Excellent. Had soup for supper. Dot spoke to Barbara V on FaceTime. Watched penultimate episode of The Undeclared War: still very good.
Friday – today – was again mild and dry. Walked up to the post office to post birthday card to Linda, but felt oddly tired afterwards. Appetite has improved though. Eating quite a bit of fruit: had banana sandwich for lunch. Watched England lose at T20 cricket to S Africa. Dot, after brief foray to shops, had Zoom with Barbara and David about p4c, and later we went out to have drinks with Mark, Sarah, Matt and Angela in Des’s drive.