Sunday

Sunday evening. Relaxing after an eventful day. Caroline went with me to Homebase where we bought a garden hose and a rotary washing line. Got a lightweight one as Monica has to lug it around and shouldn't be lifting anything heavy. She's perkier today and really enjoyed the roast dinner, and the Pomerol that accompanied it. On the way back from the DIY store we called in at The Malt Shovel, the first time I've been there since March. The Ordinary tasted beautifully fresh and clean, a delightful pint. Neil, the landlord, came out of the kitchen to see me, bringing with him a pack of 6 bottles of Young's for me to enjoy at home, how kind! Visit from the Taylors to pick up some chairs to make way for the forthcoming aids for the disabled! I've signed the order for the lift this evening, so the wheel is in spin. Looking forward to the first week of Wimbledon now.

Wednesday

Summer solstice!Today is like a summer's day at last. I sat in the garden after breakfast, enjoying the new growth and sunshine. Got up late as Monica had chemo yesterday and extra rest helps (both of us!). I somehow never thought I'd say that the high point of my day had been a test drive in a powered wheelchair, but that's what it was today! Successfully negotiated the ground floor of the house, then went for a spin round the bowling green. Should get my own chair in a couple of months. Realised I haven't blogged for a few days so I must try to be more assiduous in future.

Friday Follow Up

Where has this week gone? I made my last post on Monday, and suddenly it's Friday! It has been a busy week one way and another, though. Dealing with all the health support arrangements connected with my condition is becoming a full time job in itself!
On Tuesday I went on-line to order a bio-bidet, which is an adaptation for the loo which has a washing and drying facility, and a long handled sponge to help with showering. As getting around safely in the wetroom is a priority I also ordered a couple of extra grab rails. We'll get Bash to fit these when he connects the bio-bidet. Later in the day my walking frames arrived. Two were delivered, one for each floor, and they certainly make moving around in the house feel secure. I leave one at the foot of the stairs and take straight to the other when I've completed my semi-crawl up the staircase. That reminds me that the second quote for the through floor lift still hasn't materialised.
Rose early on Wednesday as Speech Therapist, Helen, had arranged to join me at breakfast time to check on my swallowing; which turned out to be ok. We discussed several other things which will help with speaking and eating. Monica went into work but Mary brought George over at midday and we decided to go to Carluccio's for lunch. I drove as the mobility scooter was in the boot. The sun was shining, for a change! I had a seafood salad with a glass of Gavi, which was very tasty. We were back in good time for the visit of the guy who was coming to assess me for a wheelchair. By the time he arrived Monica was home and we spent a couple of hours chatting, as it turned out that his family and mine were neighbours when we were children. Anyhoo, he is arranging to supply a lightweight folding chair to take in the car, and also for a powered chair when needed in the future.
Early start on Thursday, too, because Occupational Therapist, Danielle, was due at 9 am. The upshot of this visit was the identification of the need for a chair to use in the shower and a perching stool to use when preparing food in the kitchen. 
The Taylors arrived before 12, and we all piled into their 7 seater Volvo then set off for Seasalter for lunch at The Sportsman. It was our first visit but well worth the journey. A simple, non-fussy venue with a pleasantly informal atmosphere serving excellent food which has earned it a Michelin Star. We were all agreed that it was quite the best meal we have eaten in some time.
Today got off to a slower start. Whilst showering I caught a bit of the reading, on Radio 4, of 'Letters to a Wayward Son', a humourous correspondence between an ageing father and his thirty something son, set in the late 80's/early 90's. One line in particular made me smile: 'Old age is full of surprises, most of them unpleasant. It is rather like being punished for a crime you haven't committed.' Sort of sums up how I feel about things sometimes.

Monday, Monday

It has rained pretty much non-stop today. Fortunately I had no reason to leave the house so spent most of the time in one chair or another in one room or another. I expected calls from Terry lifts and Shopmobility but neither materialised. The key safe, ordered from Amazon, arrived today but I won't be able to fit it myself as I no longer have enough strength in my arms to hold a drill steady and exert the necessary pressure. However, when it is fitted, it will allow access to helpers should I be unable to let them in. Had some contact with school, it was good to catch up with events but having read reports of Gove's misguided interference with the curriculum, due for implementation in 2014, I feel relieved that I'm no longer involved. Watched an interesting programme on i-player in which Jools Holland traced a history of London through its music. Nice to hear some of songs my parents used to sing when I was a child 'Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner' etc. Pleased to see that my brother had signed the MND charter. I've put it on FB and Twitter to encourage participation.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Now, that was a good production!This post shares the title but there will be a marked difference in the quality of writing. We've just finished Sunday dinner, a delightful shoulder of lamb, sourced locally, with roast potatoes, spring cabbage and cauliflower in white sauce. The St Emilion made a perfect complement to this summer meal, enhancing the flavour of the roast and rising above the vegetables. To follow we had a pear and almond tart with home made custard - now we're stuffed! A warm and bright moment in what has otherwise been another dull and miserable weekend weather wise. Friday was very windy which played havoc with the newly planted tomatoes. Jen and Frank gave us a lift to the hospice where we spent an hour in conversation with Margaret-Mary discussing our needs arising from our current medical conditions. She was helpful and reassuring. Our transporters invited us to join them for lunch so they dropped us home so that we could collect our car (mobility scooter in boot) and meet them at Bluewater. Unfortunately we didn't discover that the battery was still in the cloakroom until we'd started unloading the scooter at Bluewater! Having returned home to collect it we finally sat down together in Loch Fyne where the deal of the day was fish & chips with a glass of wine for £9.95! It was a pleasant lunch. Afterwards Monica and I went to Shopmobility to get the problem with the scooter wheel dealt with, as the engineer had not contacted us as promised. The staff were welcoming, affable and operationally hopeless, saying that the engineer was out but would phone us on his return. Needless to say it did not happen. Saturday saw us at Bluewater again for the weekly food shop. But first, Shopmobility! I recounted the story of trying to get some action and suggested that they give me a replacement scooter until mine could be sorted. Amazingly they agreed and I rode off on a working scooter. We bought smoked haddock as we'd planned to make kedgeree for dinner, and a bottle of Ridgeview English sparkling wine from Sussex, to go with it. For dessert we chose fresh raspberries, meringue nests and whipped cream. The rose bubbly went well with that, too! The kedgeree was a taste triumph, not least because of the fresh coriander. I bought a stylus to use with the i-pad, and it is really useful. I've typed this post with it! So that's the weekend.

Thursday

Did some gardening today. Monica set up the gro-bag with tomato plants while I prepared some peat pots for courgette seeds. Fortunately there was enough peat left from last year to fill a couple of pots for the mini-cucumbers, too. The grey sky turned out to be rain clouds and the downpour started just after we went inside. The temperature dropped and we felt quite chilly indoors. The rep came to estimate for a through-floor lift. He was very helpful and the ball park figures he hinted at sounded as though it may come in cheaper than the previous estimate but we won't know until Monday. Watched a really interesting short video of the transit of Venus on the Guardian website. Well worth a look as the next transit isn't due until 2117!

Wednesday

Life returns to normal after the long bank holiday break, but the indifferent weather continues. John came to clean the windows as it was sunny first thing  while but rain fell before he had finished. Cloud also interfered with viewing the transit of Venus, for those who were up to see it! 
I'm just about to watch Andy Murray play in the quarter finals of the French Open, here's hoping! Monica's having a well earned rest on the sofa.
Read some more David Copperfield this morning, about halfway through now.

Just posted yesterday's blog as I was interrupted when writing it then didn't get back to it. Taylors brought lunch over so we spent the afternoon enjoying a 'Jubilee picnic' in the front room. Henry had a new Lego model to build and played with it happily. He also danced to tracks from Graceland that we listened to through the surround sound. The boy's got rhythm! The rain held off allowing the Jubilee Concert to get under way on a fine evening. We watched it after dinner to find it a mixed bag. Some good performers, but some definitely past sell by date. Elton John and Paul McCartney were embarrassing, but the light show projected on the front of the palace while Madness performed on the roof was absolutely stunning. The show ended with a magnificent firework display which dwarfed everything which had gone before. The effect was such that I simply had to have an Armagnac before retiring. Went to Bluewater today. Spent time 'walking' round the lake looking at the spring flowers and the Coot chicks. Revived memories of taking Henry there sometimes when he was a toddler. There was a chilly breeze and it was good to make our way back to Cote for a drink and a snack. We drove to Homebase to pick up some gro-bags along with a few other bits for the garden. Unfortunately it had come on to rain, so we didn't waste any time in doing this. On returning home I decided that the day was sufficiently dull for it to be Pimm's o'clock!

Slightly brighter today, but we've already had rain again. Slightly more relaxed start to the day. Felt able to tackle a bit of DIY after breakfast. The keyplate on the porch door had loosened so I decided to tighten it up. This involved removing the lock and then do up the retaining screws for the keyplate from the inside. Managed to do it but needed Monica's help to replace the lock mechanism.

Where did Friday and Saturday go? Mary was over on Friday and we went to the Colney Road Coop to get some rolls for lunch. Found a few points en-route which were not friendly to mobility scooter crossing. On the upside, discovered that this tucked away back street store has the facility of contact less payment technology! How bizarre! Pete brought Henry over at about 4pm and it was good to see him. He was fascinated with the automatic chair and spent ages lifting me up and down in it! Later we decided to order a meal from the Peking Garden. It was delivered in under an hour, and was delicious. Caroline picked up her new car on Saturday, a lookalike version of her previous Fiat 500, with the latest bells & whistles. After that we went to Bluewater in the Merc. I drove for the first time in a week. Took the scooter into Shopmobility to get the front wheel checked, it needs attention. We bought ingredients for Bank Holiday meals in the FoodHall. Some nice Halibut and Worcestershire asparagus for the evening meal. Cooked the fish and served it with a Parmesan & chive crust. Got up early today as our good friends John & Wendy were dropping in on their way to Shropshire from the overnight ferry from France. We haven't seen them for ages and it was great to catch up for a couple of hours. Apart from that it was a miserable day: dull, rainy and cold. Watched the Jubilee flotilla on TV drinking Kent bubbly and eating Kent crisps, oyster and vinegar flavour!