Sunday, 17th September, 2023
Today may mark the end of Summer for us. Incredibly hot – 27C – yesterday. Spent the entire day outside enjoying the sun. The very warm evening was a bit harder as the darkness fell. Didn’t sleep well last night. The outside temperature didn’t fall below 17C/63F over night which is not bad for mid-September but this morning is overcast and we are expecting rain this afternoon.
People leaving Gatwick seem to have got the memo – heading out over the Channel for foreign adventures and sunnier days to come. I’m going to be stuck for weeks now so I’m trying to remain optimistic by booking trips away next year.
The first three will be to Yorkshire, to Thessaloniki and to Athens. Looking at April for the North of England, mid-June for Saloniki, and late August for Athens. Somewhere in between those, we will do a couple of European drives and then discuss with the Caretaker when the best time is to visit our Florida home.
The trouser ordering has got completely out of hand. Another 6 pairs this morning which brings the grand total up to 14 pairs and £600.00 over just 3 days. I think life is spiralling out of control!
The weather forecast said it would rain at 12.00 mid day. It started ridiculously early at 11.45 am. Thunder and lightning, strong, warm rain. Garden furniture covered and we withdraw to the Kitchen …
We’ve talked about adding a Garden Room right across the back of our house for quite a while. It would basically be a glass-covered veranda without heating which could be opened up when the sun was out and closed when it was raining. The breaking weather has turned minds back to this.
Two hours on and hot sunshine has appeared in a lovely, blue sky. We’ll think about the Garden Room tomorrow when it rains.
Monday, 18th September, 2023
Very strange night. The sky was literally lit up for hours by an electrical storm that constantly flashed across the hot and humid, ink-blue sky for hours without thunder or rain … and then it came, briefly and heavily, refreshing the world.
It wasn’t difficult to capture a flash because they were so frequent. This photo was taken through the glass of the bedroom window across the street at 2.00 am. It’s funny but I remember a huge, electrical storm on a childhood holiday to Colwyn Bay. I dreamt about it last night. I could see myself as a young man as clearly as if it was now. I fell in love. I remember it well. I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Today I am driving to Surrey. I’m going to Byfleet to pick up very, very, elderly relatives to take them to hospital in Ashford. The drive is not easy or enjoyable but has to be done. It does mean that I will drive past the gorgeous Royal Holloway, University of London and close to Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed.
My friend, Kevin, has been suffering from the genetic condition of Dupuytren’s Contracture which is an abnormal thickening of tissues in the palm of the hand. The thickened tissues can develop into a hard lump. Over time it can cause fingers to curl or pull in toward the palm. He had the operation two weeks ago and went this morning to have the bandages removed to reveal a cut he hadn’t seen yet. Going to take a while to heal. Cycling is on hold.
Difficult drive this afternoon. First, I broke my toe this morning on a metal-framed Dining Chair. It swelled up and went blue. It is agony to walk on. Next, we drove up to Surrey and were making perfect time when we hit a queue which led to Police Blue lights and an accident. It would have delayed us for hours. We turned round and looked for alternative routes suggested by our sat.nav. which got us there but took forever.
Back home, my foot has ballooned and my spirits deflated. It will be a day or two before I can complete my exercise targets. It is depressing.
Tuesday, 19th September, 2023
I’m going to be restricted to cycling and rowing in the Gym today. My foot is not quite as painful and swollen as I expected but it is painful to walk so I’ll rest it today.
Talked to Kevin this morning. He’s still revelling in the fact he’s been told not to wash at the moment and keep his stitches dry. Means he can’t cycle though. Talked to John_R as his boat – Mariota – is covered for the winter weather on Ullswater in the Lake District. John, who did his Doctorate on Children’s Literature, named his boat after Arthur Ransome’s Swallows & Amazons fictional boat in the Lake District of the 1920s.
That was one end of the conversations this morning. The other end was Julie doing a Zoom conference call with a Naturist photographer in South of France but enough of that.
Recently, I’ve had contact from a friend who drives in Wales – Can you imagine it? – and who doesn’t sound totally enamoured with the new 20 mph zones.
I must admit that I spent all my working life driving like a demon at the maximum speed I could get away with. Driving across Europe, I just cruised non-stop at 120 mph for hours on the motorways to eat the miles up. Even in UK, I always felt there was no time to be lost and I broke every speed limit I could get away with.
I got points twice for speeding and, on one occasion, appeared at the Crown Court in Manchester after a murder case because I was away for 6 weeks in Greece when I had been picked on a camera in Shaw breaking the speed limit on the last day of term. The letter arrived and I missed the date to respond while away. The judge just laughed and dismissed the case when I got in the dock.
Since retiring, I don’t feel the need to speed at all. My time is completely limitless. I just set my Speed Limiter/Intelligent Cruise Control facility in the car for the speed limit it reads for me and accept what happens. Just in case I get carried away one day, I use a radar detector app on my phone which announces well in advance that I am approaching a camera or police trap and advises me of my required speed. It is free to download and use. It works in the background and it has never let me down.
Even so, 20 mph does feel excessively slow and many drivers behind do get worked up but we have had these limits in our area almost since we arrived so I’ve got used to it. Pauline just cannot get herself to drift over the white lines never mind break the speed limit.
Wednesday, 20th September, 2023
A warm, humid grey morning. The order for trousers increased to 17 pairs. We had to drive into Worthing to collect/try on the final pairs. That did it. Now, 17 have been reduced to 6 pairs. £2000.00 has been reduced to £500.00 and all is well. I can cope with that.
Nice to walk on the beach opposite M&S even though the light was grey. It was very warm and dry. Many areas of the country are bathed in water. Here, the tide was out exposing a large area of beach. I nearly drowned but, don’t worry, Dear Reader. You won’t get rid of me that easily!
My foot was much better than I had thought and I did a couple of hour’s walk before cooking Dinner. I love cooking. No tepid beans for me! Today, I was producing Chicken Thighs roasted with White Wine, Garlic and Dill accompanied by Briam (Green Peppers, Shallots, baby Plum Tomatoes, baby Courgettes from the garden and Chicken Stock.) It was delicicious and left us floundering!
You would have loved this, Dear Reader. Unfortunately, it’s gone. My wife eats so much, I can’t save enough for you.
Thursday, 21st September, 2023
Lovely warm and sunny morning. Walking with a purpose because a mobile unit is offering walk-in access for Covid Boosters.
Quite a queue formed – all grey haired, old people apart from us – to get their Booster. I was pleased to find they were giving Pfizer shots which meant that all my 5 jabs have been consistent. Getting the Flu jab next week so I will be up to date in time for this month of radiotherapy which begins in 3 weeks.
Booked two trips away this morning. Flying Gatwick – Thessaloniki in mid June. Hotel (7 nights) + return Flight = £2,100 + £390 = £2,490. / Flying Gatwick – Athens in late August. Hotel (7 nights) + return Flight = £3,400 + £680 = £4,080. I will hold these in my mind when I submit to a month of radiotherapy.
Next is to sort out a week in the North of England and all the people to meet in April after Easter Holidays are over. Then some time driving in France in May. Calendar is starting to take shape with jewels dangling from the timeline.
Friday, 22nd September, 2023
Gorgeous morning of warm sunshine and blue sky. Shopping morning – Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Aldi plus Tapi Carpets. Looking for new flooring in our downstairs bathroom and cloakroom. Went to look for vinyl tiles to replace wood but realised we needed to think again after finding a poor choice. Going to visit a tile shop.
As the weather was so warm and beautiful, we drove down to the beach to get some sea air and drink in the light.
We walked on the beach with just a handful of others this morning. Strong sun silhouetted the off-shore wind farm glinting far out on the horizon, the water lapping gently under a windless sky as, far out on the rim of the world, a belt of fleecy clouds hovered … over Bognor Regis.
Forgot to say that I booked a hotel in the North of England in the second half of April. Just 4 nights = £520.00 although it can be extended if needed. I don’t know if it is part of my psyche or not but I like the idea that, in Greece, I use the Electra Hotel Group which leads to me being awarded Gold Member status with considerable benefits attached. Elsewhere in UK and Europe, I try to use IHG Group hotels where I have accrued around 100,000 points towards future bookings. Both mean that I know what standard of accommodation to expect anywhere in the world.
Similarly, we have bought Hondas for 40 years which has led to a much better quality and level of service than one would otherwise expect. Goodness, don’t I sound old! I suppose I am. We all are.
Saturday, 23rd September, 2023
It is the Autumn Equinox when Day & Night are of equal length. It is also another beautiful day of clear blue sky and strong sunshine. I woke up at 2.30 am and thought I had died. I couldn’t feel any moving part of my body. Had to turn the air.con. off. Checked my phone to find the outside temperature had dropped to 9C/48F. It is the first time it has dipped into single figures since last winter.
Still, clear skies at this time of year do lead to a dip in temperatures. The upside is a beautiful day to come. Going to cut the lawns this morning. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.
Well, it does but all things are on hold until after the treatment. Ambitions and future joys are held in obeyance out on the horizon to be worked for.
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you’ll find
You get what you need
I know I will get there. It’s just a matter of time and, maybe, a bit of luck. I am like the character in Philip Larkin’s poem, Next Please. Impatiently waiting for the Future to come. It will come only too quickly.
It has been the most gorgeous day. Non-stop sunshine for 12 hrs. Dinner cooked and eaten outside in the garden. Griddled chicken with mushrooms & onions and cucumber salad. There are not many things which will improve on that although … there are somethings. Late into the evening the conversation / planning has flowed. The year ahead has been planned. My wife really understands me!!