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.