Monday, January 19 – Quite pleasant: dry and not too cold. Actually got out of the house – firstly to go and post a card to Sandra: I met an Irish guy I used to work with as I was coming back and going up the slope, and we had quite a long chat. Wish I could remember his name. He lives up on Rosedale Crescent, where my uncle Frank used to live hundreds of years ago, pre-Bracondale.
Later I went out again to put bins ready for emptying. Had our standard lunch with crackers, ham and so on, and in the evening a Borscht soup that the Gazleys had left us. Surprisingly I quite liked it, though I couldn’t bring myself to tackle the lemon curd cheesecake. Mark e-mailed to offer assistance. Haven’t actually seen him since he got back. Dot finished reading How the Church Lost the Way and was quite enthusiastic. We watched a few things, including EFL football which featured Wrexham v Norwich, Ice Road Truckers (remember that?) and Lynley – a particularly good episode.
Tuesday – Quite pleasant, though a bit grey. Not too cold. Missed the northern lights again last night. Just got out of bath in time to let Anne in (the house, not the bath): she had just been to the dentist for a particularly unpleasant procedure, but she and Dot were able to talk all right. After lunch watched football and a bit of bowls (oh, yes) and then I drove to Morrisons for my weekly stock-up. Left it a bit late; so it took a bit longer than usual. Bin men came, including – surprise, surprise – the garden waste collection. Felt unexpectedly tired, though we had both slept well the last two nights. Put food away and then cooked duck for our evening meal – forgot it took so long; so we were a bit late. Not a problem, because Dot was listening to Norwich City v West Brom on radio. City won 5-0 away!! Afterwards watched After the Flood, a rather good thriller.
Wednesday – Very grey day, also windy and wet. Not a very good night because I had to get up in time to go to ear clinic. Got us breakfast and then walked up to the other end of St Benedict’s – about 20 minutes – for my appointment with attractive ear expert. Got there early but she started straight away – very professional. £50. Think it went ok. Walked back and was pretty wet when I got back, so had a bath. I know. Then made avocado and egg lunch, and Dot came down to living room to eat it.
Did a lot of clearing up and rearranged the living room so that I could use the brown chair. Sofa now under window. Did some work on Parish Pump, but felt very tired; so watched part of a recording of yesterday’s match with Dot. Sorted out bins. Cooked sea bream for supper. Watched After the Flood and Patience. Patience is getting a bit irritating. Autistic people have no sense of humour. Did well over 7000 steps today. Dot did 321. She’s doing really well. She had a phone call from Sophie at church, which was nice.
Thursday – Dot had shower – second time full on. She’s been walking without her boot and came downstairs just holding on to banister. So good progress. Did my two Parish Pump pieces, on the Dunblane massacre and the Hindenburg disaster: very upbeat. Bridget came to do cleaning but forgot hoover. Watched football and (later) Patience – quite a good episode. David Archer called in and picked up TV, which we’re lending him – or at least David is. Rearranged my room afterwards. Seems bigger. David FaceTimed with input from Chrissy and Amy. I received date for another scan on Feb 13: lots of detail implying excess alcohol intake, which is rubbish. No mention of gall bladder removal, which I think may be to blame. On the plus side, my ears seem better.
Friday – Another damp and grey day. Linda came round to cut our hair, and then I had a bath and made cracker lunch. As requested, drank a litre of water at 3pm before leaving for hospital – a journey that was less stressful than anticipated, given that it was school leaving time, wet and Friday. Arrived for CAT scan in good time and parked car in multi-storey, checking with another user how it worked, because I’d forgotten. Waited about ten minutes before I went in for scan, on the heels of another woman, with whom I had a quick chat. I was then mistaken by the nurse for her husband and invited to go and sit with her as she recovered. The nurse soon realised her error, though.
The scan was a bit more elaborate than I had anticipated, involving a canula and some dye, but it went smoothly. Had to wait for ten minutes afterwards before canula was removed, then walked over to car park, ringing Dot on the way, inserted car registration and paid by card (£3.40) before driving out, the barrier lifting as I approached it. Drove back down Newmarket Road, which was not as bad as I anticipated, and then home via Ber Street and Prince of Wales Road, arriving just after 5pm.
Des rang Dot just as I was telling her what had happened, and we found ourselves inviting them and Mark and Sarah over for the street meet drink. Didn’t tell anyone else – hope they didn’t take offence. After nearly two hours they left and I cooked sea bass with toasted sourdough before watching Would I Lie to You? and Mystery Road, which has absolutely no characters in it that I like. Not sure why we’re watching it. Cleared out tumble drier and washed up while Dot watched Riviera.