Friday 20th June – Very warm and dry. An odd day: kept feeling Dot was in the room with me. We eventually made actual contact: she hadn’t had data roaming on, but it all seems ok now. She is no longer at Norwich airport. Meanwhile I finished my Parish Pump articles – on the first atomic bomb, a clergyman who was also a top tennis player and Emmett Till, who Bob Dylan wrote a song about. (He was a black 14-year-old boy murdered by whites in Mississippi in 1955.)
Had a long conversation with Howard on the phone: he really wanted to talk to Dot about safeguarding, but we ended up talking about whether or not I should remain an AWA, and the different views within the church on Israel. Warm street meet: we eventually moved on to our side of the street, which is shadier. Present were Sarah, Des and Chris, Matt and Angela and later Joe and Sam. Des got me fish and chips. Far too much to eat. Dot sent a couple of pictures – looks as if she’s having fun in the sun.
Saturday – Very warm and dry again. Some cloud later. Woke up feeling all right but quickly went downhill, after having a peppermint tea (though that may not have been to blame). Had late breakfast/lunch and a bath. Started shivering and feeling pretty ill. Went back to bed and eventually took paracetamol. Stomach felt tight and unpleasant. Spent quite a bit of time in bed – slept on and off. Dot seems Ok. Tried to avoid telling her I was ill. Eventually David and Chrissy FaceTimed me; so I told them. By then I was feeling a bit better, but not right. Saw a book in the hall bookcase that looked interesting; so have started reading it. It’s about the Hebrew language. Later on had a light supper and watched the Test Match against India. We were a bit lucky not to be further behind. Watered the hanging basket and the plants, then went to bed just after 9pm. Still have the feeling that someone’s in bed with me.
Sunday – Cloudy but dry till evening – just after I’d watered the flowers! Unsettled sort of day generally, mainly because I was feeling ill. Hadn’t eaten much since Friday until this evening, when I had a lamb steak. Not sure it was a good idea. Have been drinking a lot of water. Didn’t go to church this morning – rang Ray to warn him. Spent a lot of the day in bed, part of the time reading that book – about how Hebrew was translated. Felt just about ok when I remembered to take paracetamol. Fortunately I was out of bed when Des came to see if I was ok for a meal with them on Wed. I opted out, saying I wasn’t sure I would be well by then. Anna sent a message to say she and Matt wouldn’t be here next week and Martin would be choosing the hymns. Oh joy. Eventually I had to admit to Dot that I wasn’t well, and she phoned to check. It would be nice to feel well in a normal sort of way. Nice to talk to her though.
Monday – Cooler and windy. Felt pretty rubbish on waking up after another restless night. Certain amount of pressure from my wife and others – including Charlotte – to see a doctor, but this is easier said than done. Evidence from my water seemed to indicate that I was getting better, but I still felt pretty rotten. I tried to e-consult, but that didn’t work: I was told I needed to see a doctor. Very helpful. Eventually I decided to walk up to the walk-in centre. The wait was slightly less than last time, and I was seen by a trainee, who was supervised except when his supervisor popped out to do something else. Ho hum. Anyway, I liked him, though as usual I forgot to tell him everything.
As I suspected, my water was OK. But they clearly realised something was wrong and told me to take another sample to the surgery tomorrow morning. They also prescribed antibiotics, but said it was OK not to take them unless I got obviously worse. I was definitely improving: walked down to Boots at Riverside for the antibiotics, then popped into Morrisons and bought some soup, which I had for supper. But my head was very odd, and still is. You may have noticed. Nevertheless I cut down a few straggling stems from in front of the window, and then put the bins out. At some point Natalie from up in the woods came and asked me for support in her campaign to get the council to trim back the two trees that overhang our houses. I agreed.
Several people messaged me to see if I was OK, including Judy, Kim, Kristine and of course David – and Dot, who is having a great time in the old town of Rhodes, including quaffing Retsina. I watched highlights of the fourth day of the cricket – all quite exciting – then an old Yes Minister. Lastly cleared away and did some work on Sunday’s sermon. PS at the walk-in centre the supervisor asked me if I lived with someone. I said I did – my wife. She asked me where she was, and I had to say “In Greece.” She seemed a little surprised.
Tuesday – Weather humid and windy; hard to know what to wear. Had a bath and after 10 went up to surgery with urine sample. Receptionist exceptionally helpful. Wanted to book me in for ultrasound feedback, but couldn’t find date; asked me to ring next week, when another week of appointments become available. Am seeing nurse at the end of July re additional blood tests. Have to ring on Thursday to get urine results. Ho hum.
Drove to Wroxham to reconnoitre parking for planned Friday cruise. Consulted woman parker who said the free medium-term Roy’s car park should be ok. You can get sandwiches at Roy’s. Did over 4000 steps and was pretty tired when I got home. Meanwhile Dot was boating around the Med. Tried to arrange to see Kim, but in the end I decided I wasn’t really feeling up to it, especially after I overbalanced and spilt some tea on the rug in the lounge. Graham offered to preach on Sunday because he’d heard I was ill, and I accepted. I also WhatsAppd that I wouldn’t make tomorrow’s Bible study.
Had a rest and finished my book, then drove to Morrisons about 5pm and bought some stuff. Went quite well. Then I watered some of the garden (I finished it later) and cooked myself some salmon with some of the huge amount of runner beans Dot bought before she left. Gradually felt better. Watched the cricket, which England won rather too easily. Annoyingly Duckett got a large score. I hate reverse sweeps and paddle shots: I think they should be banned. Cleared up and went to bed, but only after watching a documentary about Birkhall, which managed to avoid saying exactly where it was and didn’t mention the big flood of 2015(?). Pity.