This all seems very familiar. Perhaps I’m stuck with a used year instead of a new one. I have left a message at the hospital and am waiting for a return call to fix a date for my operation. The first number put me on to a second one, which was unmanned but gave me a third number, which was also unmanned. And to make things even more familiar, the television has stopped working for no apparent reason.
It’s Tuesday, January 2 and very wet. Earlier we drove to Archant breakfast at the Town House: we were the first to arrive, because I knew we had to leave early to get to my appointment with nurse Jane Waters at Thorpewood. Had our usual breakfast. Attendees a bit thin on the ground, but Robin and Shelagh made it, as did Bill and Richard, plus Eric, Linda, Jennie D and a printer whose name I don’t know. Got up to Thorpewood ten minutes early via the Seven Speed Bumps from Hell on Thunder Lane, but didn’t go in till nearly 15 minutes after appointment time. Then she just looked at my blood pressure charts and said I was OK to have the operation.
Back in the old year, last Thursday, I cut a different finger with my other Christmas knife. This time there was quite a flow of blood, thanks to the blood thinner I’m taking to get my blood pressure down enough to have an operation. Eventually it stopped and we watched North by North-West – cooked a fried meal. Chose hymns.
Friday was windy and mainly dry. Dot went food shopping, but otherwise not much movement. No street meet, because Des and his brother-in-law Steve were still recovering from Covid, while Chris has a cold. Lots of people ill this Christmas. My blood pressure – I thought – was still surprisingly high: perhaps I should move around more! Am reading a couple of books I got for Christmas: one SciFi one, Raft, and one on Bob Dylan. Finished off the turkey (made a soup).
Feeling strangely lethargic, actually. My cut finger was still a bit weird – bled a lot and it’s still sore. Just discovered Oliver is back in Aylesbury: first time he’s crossed the Atlantic without our tracking him. Also haven’t got him (or Amy) Christmas presents yet. Dot practised violin this afternoon, and we watched the final two episodes of Slow Horses – series two. Really good. Norwich lost 1-0 to Millwall away, and we watched the Call the Midwife Christmas Special, where everything turned out wonderfully as always. Nice. Changed blood-soaked plaster on finger. Looks OK.
Saturday was grey and rather damp. All very quiet, except that Anna came round to give Dot a violin lesson before she sets sail for Vietnam tomorrow. Dot went to Homebase and to M&S on Mousehold to buy some stuff for tomorrow night. Watched a lot of TV, including the film Oppenheimer, which was excellent and very long. Cillian Murphy in lead role. Had to rent it for just under £5. David and Amy FaceTimed, commenting on a piece I wrote about Dot for my website. Later had smoked haddock and watched Murder is Easy, an Agatha Christie plot with ridiculous updating to introduce racial elements. Still quite good, though.
Sunday – New Year’s Eve. Weather a bit of a mixture. Chilly wind. Went to church in the morning, played guitar and did prayers. Dot read lesson. Spoke to Des on way home. He is recovering from Covid. In evening went to Kim’s for New Year’s Eve party – lovely buffet-type food. Too much. I drove; so had very little alcohol. Played interesting game involving dice and parcels, which I won accidentally. Saw fireworks at midnight. Kim prayed for Dot and me for the coming year. Drove home and after a few technical difficulties had FaceTime with David, Amy and Oliver for about half an hour, which was lovely. Got into bed just after 1.30am.
Monday – New Year’s Day. Cold but dry till evening. Woke up pretty late after a good night’s sleep. Had a kind of brunch after bath, then watched a bit of football till Dot left to attend a real football match at Carrow Road. Norwich did well to hold Southampton 1-1, and Dot was bought a whisky by the man from Fakenham who sits in front of her. Watched a good documentary on Wild Scandinavia and had chilli con carne. Then a film, Out of Sight, which was very satisfying. Bed early.