Tuesday, 9 December – Started very damp but improved to become bright and dry. Took bins in, then Dot and I drove to Worstead school to pick up sugar. Took it and what was already in our boot to North Walsham, where a very nice lady helped us unload it. Then went to Sainsbury’s to buy flowers and worked as a team to insert them in the Cousens graves – bit wet, but not enough to be a problem. Then drove back to Norwich and posted parcels in Thunder Lane before going to Rosary to put flowers in Lenton graves.
Today was my mother’s 114th birthday: put it in Facebook and got a couple of responses. After lunch (boiled eggs), sorted out card and present lists together and then sent off stuff separately – mainly my Christmas letters. And Dot’s cards. Cooked salmon and then Dot listened to evening match between Sheffield United and Norwich, which ended 1-1. I finished my Colm Toibin book while that was happening. Agreed with Dot it was a bit of an odd ending. The book, not the match. Afterwards watched a winter walking programme and University Challenge. Scraped over 4000 steps – first time for ages.
Wednesday – Cool but not unpleasant. Bridget came to clean, arriving a couple of minutes before Dot got back from surgery, where she had pre-diabetes tests again. After lunch I walked up into city for an eye test, which lasted over an hour, partly because I had to have one of the. tests repeated. Unsurprisingly, my prescription has changed and I need new reading and driving glasses. Will get them some time soon, when both Dot and I are free. Wine arrived. I was very tired after walking up Rose Lane, and met Dot in M&S for a cup of tea. She had been unable to get what she was after, and so we got a bus home.
In the evening of course Dot went to orchestra rehearsal with Janet and Nova. I did some more cards, and when she returned we watched the last episode of Shetland and a bit of European football. Dot was feeling “a bit weird” because she forgot to take her pills for two days (especially thyroxin). Her blood pressure is high, probably for the same reason. Somehow I reached over 4000 steps again – nearly 5000 in fact.
Thursday – Relatively mild and dry. So much for the good stuff. Dot drove us to Wreningham in late morning, and we picked up a moderate amount of sugar, then headed for the chemist to pick up Dot’s late-ordered pills. They had the pills, but gave her a blood pressure test which came out very high (192), and she was told to go to the doctor – so we did. However the doctor wanted nothing to do with her and sent us to A&E, which is just what we needed. Meanwhile our Amazon parcels arrived.
I returned home for lunch, while Dot went through a pretty exhaustive examination in A&E, which showed she was in pretty good shape but didn’t really explain why her blood pressure was so high. So they gave her some pills with instructions to contact her doctor the next day. They say that as if it’s straightforward! I travelled through nightmare traffic in the rush hour to pick her up, literally inching forward down Ipswich Road after failing to reach Newmarket Road. Fortunately the journey back wasn’t so bad. I did some sausages, and we watched a bit of TV; Dot did some of her puzzles.
Friday – Mainly dry and not too cold. Very busy day. Dot managed to get an appointment with doctor late afternoon. So she, Des and I picked up sugar from Long Stratton (glimpse of new bypass), Tasburgh and Newton Flotman, then continued to Diocesan House via the southern bypass, which had road works on it. Dot was able to chat with Paul Dunning, who is retiring and who she worked closely with. Then the three of us crossed via Ringland to the NDR and then to North Walsham via a small diversion to Worstead to show Des where the school was. Dropped off sugar at Benjamin Foundation, then drove home via bad congestion on Riverside Road.
After lunch drove Dot to surgery, where we saw an excellent doctor (Dr Suraj Ranasinghe), who reassured her and prescribed pills, immediately available at chemist opposite (to which Dot has transferred). From there we went to Morrisons, bought petrol and a substantial amount of food. Back at home it rained a bit, but after unpacking we sheltered under Des’s garage for our street meet. (Des, Chris, Angela and Mary with us.) My legs ached a lot and I eventually sat on Chris’s folding chair. Felt aged. Des got us fish and chips, and we watched Return to Paradise – or at least I did: Dot went to sleep. Afterwards spent some time trying to put right a syncing issue for Dot. Felt very itchy. Just over 3000 steps.
Saturday – Bright, dry and not too cold. Walked Dot up to Carrow Road, then came back via sorting office. Exhausted. Had to lie down for a bit. Amazon guy rung me up from Leyton asking what he should do with Kristine’s present. Told him to put it behind the bin. I’ve left her a message: hope sh’s not in Germany. (She’s not, and retrieved the parcel later.) City beat Southampton 2-1, much to delight of Dot. Late lunch and caught up with cards/presents. FaceTime from David. After supper watched some TV, including lucky wins for Liverpool and Arsenal. Just over 4000 steps.