Thursday (Christmas Day) – Bright, dry and cold. Dot is making some progress but is still confined to her bedroom and bathroom. To avoid doing damage in the night I am sleeping in the spare room. Both of us woke latish and during the day FaceTimed or were FaceTimed by Amy (with Dave, Julia and Vicky) and David and Oliver (later including Barbara, Roger and Chrissy). After breakfast we opened our presents, and I then tidied up.
Our Christmas dinner was supposed to come from church, but by 4.30 I had given up and started preparing meat and vegetables. Then Carrie arrived with food – there had been problems with cooking. So when I had sorted things out I heated it, and we ate: it was quite good. However I still cooked the turkey as it was ready to go. We watched Christmas episodes of Call the Midwife and Amandaland: the latter was very funny. Tried to watch on Dot’s computer while lying in bed, but we both had neck problems; so I switched to the living room. Cleared up downstairs before going to bed.
Friday – Cold but dry and bright. Hail and ice in Waterloo. Dot seems to be slightly better but still almost immobile. Got her breakfast, then had a bath – cut short for some reason I can’t remember. Spent a couple of hours cooking Christmas dinner: the turkey was already cooked but had to be sliced. Cooked roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and pigs in blankets. Stuffing awful but everything else good, especially the potatoes. Did quite a lot of clearing up, especially after the meal, and watched a bit of senior snooker. Later Dot and I both watched Call the Midwife, which was commendably high on Christianity and Jewishness. Earlier we listened to Norwich City beating Charlton 1-0. Dot watched quite a lot of Amandaland while I was cleaning up. Totally forgot it was Friday; so no street meet, especially as many others were away. Had quite a long FaceTime with David, Oliver and moments of Sophie and Chrissy.
Saturday – Weather not quite so good, but positively benevolent compared with Waterloo. A little damp at times but not too cold. Only went out once, to give EDPs to Des and return a dish in which he had kindly supplied us with Italian-style nibbles. Felt a bit overcome at times, but much improved by the end of the day. Managed to watch The Italian Job – quite a funny ending, but I suspect they left it there because they couldn’t think of anything to do next. I’ve read a novel or two like that.
Also watched the Fourth Test in the Ashes, which was an astonishing win, marred by the way they presented it on iPlayer – very poor editing. Watched one or two other things either together (King’s College Carols) or individually. More supportive messages from friends and FaceTime from David, which is really encouraging for Dot. Phoned fracture clinic three times to change appointment, but no response despite promise to phone back. Cooked second slightly less complicated Christmas meal which went quite well. Earlier cut into Christmas cake, which was delicious (one of Marion’s).
Sunday – Chilly and a little rain, I think, though yet again I didn’t go out. Naomi threatened to come round but went to sleep instead. Finished responding to Christmas e-mails. Dot much the same, though I think feeling a little better. No response from fracture clinic: tried ringing hospital switchboard, but no luck there either. Had crackers and cheese etc for lunch and then turkey sandwiches in the evening. Turkey now finished – will be running out of certain food soon. Found lots of paracetamol scattered round the house, so no worries there. Watched Match of the Day and Death in Paradise, which gets less and less credible, though quite enjoyable. Dot managed to give herself a good wash. All this is not in the right order, but time becomes less and less clear. Hardly felt like a Sunday: couldn’t find St Luke’s service, which is usually broadcast. Perhaps it was a joint service. Made a very small start on Parish Pump.
Monday – Cool; some rain. Lot of hassle in the morning trying to contact the fracture clinic, but they finally rang back while I was downstairs, and Dot fixed an appointment for Jan 5. Now I have to see if we can arrange transport: Dot has been practising walking, but I don’t think we can rely on that. Spent much of day writing three pieces for Parish Pump: Mary Shelley, L S Lowry and Queen Victoria’s funeral. Sent them off (checked by Dot) about 2245, shortly after Norwich City lost 1-0 to Watford. Deflected goal in 96th minute. Naomi came round to bring presents from her and Lucy, and we had a chat. She didn’t see Dot. Later David FaceTimed: Oliver is back in Aylesbury, but Roger and Barb’s basement is flooded because it’s very cold there and sump pumps failed. Spoke to Joe as I moved the car – he sent good wishes to Dot. Feel very tired, but cleared away.
Tuesday – showers; cool. Rainbow over Morrisons. Bridget came to clean “as a friend”. Paid her as usual. While she was here I put petrol in the car and bought some food from Morrisons. Not as crowded as I thought it would be. We rang surgery on advice from Bridget or someone else, and they have arranged transport for next Monday despite our giving the wrong time for the appointment (corrected later). In the afternoon Leanne brought some wine and chocolates and had a chat with both of us in the bedroom. Her partner Rosco came to the door because she’d left her phone downstairs and he couldn’t reach her: she was supposed to have met him from the station. He seemed fine; Leanne is amazing, coping with all sorts of problems. Most of the day Dot seemed much better, but she had pain in the evening, possibly because she missed some pills. I cooked some salmon and stewed blackberry and apple. Felt very tired for some reason. Put rubbish out.