This has been a typical week – and no two weeks are the same. I thought for this weekly update, I would highlight a few things from each day. Hope that’s okay with you?
Monday
The day started with meeting up with a social worker at my mother-in-law’s house and this was to check all was well for her. We were hoping he would strongly recommend she has a professional career and yet he was thrown off-course by “I manage perfectly alright, thank you” when actually she does need more professional care. Caring for my mother-in-law takes more time these days and while this is sometimes a tad frustrating, it is definitely the right thing to do. We have just reached a compromise with a lady in the village starting to drop in to see my mother-in-law, so this will take the pressure from us a little. Carers need care too!
Also on Monday, I visited my friend Chris in Cheltenham. It occurred to me how we’d know each other for almost 40 years. As per my previous post, we talked cameras. Here is a photo of us, taken in the early 1980s. It is me on the left, Chris on the right and looking like the Fonz.
Tuesday
Art Group in the morning and again I spent more time chatting and drinking coffee, compared to time being arty. Nevertheless I produced the above charcoal sketch of my friend Chris. There is hopefully a passing likeness and I’m pleased with the result. I like the idea of being bold with charcoal but seldom have the confidence.
Wednesday
After I had dropped Hannah in Milton Keynes, I drove around to see the nice Mr John Lewis and treated myself to a new camera (see previous post). I haven’t, as yet, absorbed the 93 page instruction booklet and therefore I haven’t customised the menus, assigned little finger/thumb wheels to adjust certain things and I haven’t activated the built-in Wi-fi or Bluetooth. Must get to grips with this!
Also on Wednesday was finally getting the water supply to my mother-in-law’s house cracked once and for all. Following the installation of a new mains pipe from the road and good water pressure downstairs, there was some blockage in the supply upstairs. A plumber duly attended and found there was an airlock and he got this sorted easily (we were dreading the upheaval of lifting floorboards, moving furniture etc).
All the plumbing stuff made me late home and we felt a tad guilty at having to delay our friends Steve and Ruth who joined us for dinner.
Thursday
Various things today. Included a Citizens Advice meeting in the afternoon where again I was lumbered with taking the minutes. I have much time for Citizens Advice, a “people” organisation where ordinary people (who are mostly volunteers) provide advice, information and a little guidance to those in need. Thankfully it is free from Government demands for statistics, information etc although there is a significant amount of bureaucracy from the central Citizens Advice.
Friday
In the morning I had good fun delivering some training to new interpreters at Hemel Hempstead. I have done this for many years and a throw back to my Probation Service days. I enjoy it, it’s very valuable in society and I earn a little pocket money.
The afternoon was set aside for chatting to Rachel over a few cups of tea, quite a lot actually. We were starting to feel like “ships passing in the night” and simply needed to spend some time with each other.
Later in the afternoon I had a little workout in the gym.
For the evening I went to a restaurant with a friend who wanted to treat me (thanks Jon!). While it was good to spend time with each other, chatting, it wasn’t the best of meals. We had a long wait (two hours) before our main course arrived and the chilli was so hot it blew my brains out! I couldn’t eat it; the manager simply asked “didn’t the waiter tell you how hot it was” as I requested a vegetarian dish. The most awkward part was realising we had a red rose on our table and all the other diners were couples clearly having a romantic date. The adjacent table finished before us and as the bill was settled, the lady was presented with a red rose in a clear plastic sleeve. I hoped we were not assumed to be a couple and be asked which of us would like the rose!
Saturday
Today. Storm Dennis is getting up steam as I write and the local Parkruns have been cancelled. To be honest, it’s a blessing in disguise as I’m still far too full (from last night) to run. Despite that, our friends Dave and Julie came around to have breakfast with us.
As I type this blog post, I realise I need to crack on with some Citizens Advice minutes. Hay-ho!