Week 876

Sunday, 5th October, 2025

Glorious morning – clear blue sky and strong sunshine. Still and calm. Just as well, because it has finally happened.

I have woken to find myself married to a 74 year old. How did that happen? I thought I had married a young girl.

Actually, the time has aged me a lot more than her. I wonder why. Her Mother always refered to her as My Little Pixie and she really hasn’t changed much since then.

Actually, she may have got a bit fitter in recent times although she has always been sporty. It’s not generally known outside her friendship group but she was a fully qualified Netball Referee. Unlike me, she is incapable of sitting down. She is constantly on the move. It always makes me laugh that although I have to sit down to think, to read and to write and it takes all my concentration, she does it all standing up, while walking and while stacking the dishwasher, while making bread. What normal person does that?

Today, it is my job to produce a Birthday Evening meal. I’m not a great cook so I am going to produce cold, snack food in the form of Mezze (small dishes). Obviously, I will produce these myself.

Birthday Mezze Menu

She’ll need to go on a very long run after all that. Fortunately, on this beautiful morning, we are going to pre-empt that by going out now.

Chosen to go out for a run before the meal. Looks like she might have lost a bit of weight … which is annoying! She was amused that I addressed her card: Mrs P Sanders. I don’t know why.

Monday, 6th October, 2025

Glorious morning. Not a cloud in the sky. Strong sunshine and warm. This is how life should be. This is how you said it would be …. most of the time. Last night was illuminated by an October Super Moon.

And this morning is illuminated by a super, October sun. Going out for an early walk to get the most out of the day, Dear Reader.

Fun but shocking to watch a Conservative Party Conference which is hardly able to get delegates there.

It is shocking how quickly the political scene is shifting at the moment. The 24 hr rolling media, the easy access of social media, the culpability of the main stream media all conflate to promote fringe, unsubstantiated, unfunded, populist policies of people like Farage and Reform.

Of course, the people of Manchester are a strange tribe who are unwelcoming of foreign travellers. They are inclined to adopt aggressive attempts to repel visitors, travellers from distant lands and those of different persuasions. The Labour Government is experiencing its own difficulties at the moment in the nose-bleed-capital of the North of England.

There is a movement that is taking place as a fantastic antidote to the racist, little Englander views of Faragism. It is the Green Party and their exciting new leader, Zack Polanski. He is a Gay Jew neither of which I identify with but he is speaking a full-fat Left Wing agenda that the Labour Party will have to address if it wants to win the next election which I still expect it to do.

Going out for my second walk of the day. In Athens it is 22C/70F and in Angmering it is 20C/68F with the most beautiful sunshine. I wish it on all my readers.

Tuesday, 7th October, 2025

Warm, moonlit night but this morning is rather overcast although sun is trying to break through. I’ve already done a 2 hr walk and am casting around for what else to do.

I have this problem with my left ear at the moment so I’m going to make an appointment at the Sussex Audiology Centre. I have been reluctant because it is liking admitting I am old but facility has overcome vanity at last. Looks a bit scary to me! I have always had slightly weaker hearing in my left ear and it has got worse in the last few years. That’s why I walk on the right of my wife. I have begun to hope it is just blocked with wax. Could be because I’ve stuck cotton buds in it every morning for the past 50 years.

I read of a man who had suffered with hearing loss in one ear all his life. He went to have it looked at in his 60s and they found a glass bead lodged deep inside his ear canal which he had obviously stuck there as a child. When they removed it, his hearing was instantly restored.That is my dream.

I have lots of dreams. Many are still to be realised. I suppose that’s why they are dreams. It doesn’t stop me. I will achieve them all in the end … although restoring hearing may be a bit of a stretch. I remember dreaming for years of building a house in Greece. Tick!

I was reviewing my memory box for events of this day across the years and found these photos taken as I set off to drive back from Greece in 2009 when I was just retired and aged a youthful 58. My wife likes to point out that although I have had 8 new cars in the ensuing 16 years, she is still wearing the same cardigan and shoes. Of course, that’s how it should be.

On this day two years later in 2011, I was 60 and en route back from Greece. Having sailed up the Adriatic; filled up with wine and cheeses in Italy, driven through Switzerland and Alsace and was now resting in the French city of Metz.

The next travels and dreams achieved are nearly here. It’s going to be a good few months ahead … if they can extract that glass bead from my ear. The surgery have just phoned and told me I don’t have to pay £100.00 going privately. They will see me this afternoon. Good job I could still hear their call.

Wednesday, 8th October, 2025

Well, yesterday was useful. Within 30 secs of seeing me the GP said my ear was completely blocked and needed syringing. She had an appointment for me on Friday to sort it out. I skipped out of the Surgery optimistically but slightly deafly. Before I have the procedure, I have to squirt olive oil in my ear twice a day. It’ll make a change from cooking with it.

Apparently, ear syringing can be painful and not without risk but I’ll just have to grit my teeth (those I’ve got left) and get on with it. It feels weird – as if I’m underwater but, if it helps. If this doesn’t work, the next thing will be microsuction. Got to get it sorted out and quickly. It is beginning to make me feel old. Talking about feeling old, I must wish my old friend, Julie in North Yorkshire, happy 75th birthday today. Not sure I should be associated with old people like that but still.

Exactly 10 years ago today, we sold our Surrey property after 5 years in it almost doubling the price we paid for it in 2010. We were astonished and delighted. It was the fifth house we had bought together and represented a strong move forward. That is what life is about in my view – constantly striving to improve and move forward.

I have records of them all on my Office wall and sometimes remember with pleasure the trials and tribulations associated with them all. I had this one framed on the day we left for the last time and as we said goodbye to our lovely neighbours, Nigel who has also long since left and Rosina who is still there. At least it taught us that community living was not for us. We prefer space and more privacy, self determination and autonomy.

I’ve just phoned my friend, Brian, in Shaw, Oldham to wish him Happy 78th Birthday. I love him. He is the most honest, trustworthy man I have ever met. I interviewed and appointed him in 1986 and I couldn’t have found a better man to work in my school. I haven’t seen him in 3 years but I am going back to meet up soon – the moment I get back up North. The instant I put the phone down, I wept spontaneously. I miss those people and those times. They were basic, honest and good.

Thursday, 9th October, 2025

Gorgeous morning. Did an early, 90 mins walk and then drove up to Surrey to meet little M who is over from Florida to see her Dad and keep the plates spinning. She’s lost weight and looks lovely. Even Colin looked better than we’d seen him for a while. He seems to be coping wth his new regime after the death of his wife. He is certainly in a lovely, caring and comfortable place. The property is beautifully appointed. The staff are incredibly professional and attentive. The grounds are gorgeous. In final years, Colin has everything money can buy plus loving relatives. You can’t ask for more.

When we left, Colin was being taken on an outing with other residents to a local Pub. He is lucky he has such a thoughtful, capable and loving daughter. We spent a lovely couple of hours together and then drove home through the afternoon sunshine down a quiet motorway.

You will know the Shakespearean quote that opens with

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,

Well I am that man, Dear Reader and I need your indulgence and support in my dotage. Today, as I prepare for my ears to be syringed tomorrow, I bit a piece of cake while visiting a Dementia Facility and the filling in a tooth fell out.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Is this how life ends?

This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper?
The Hollow Men – T.S.Eliot – 1927

Am I really going to be allowed to die this way, Dear Reader?

Rescue me
Oh take me in your arms …

On my website today, just to twist the knife, I saw the family who are living in my Greek house. The house we designed and built. Life goes on…..

Friday, 10th October, 2025

I can hear clearly now the wax has gone ….

A warm night and a grey morning but it is a wonderful day. I had an early appointment at the Surgery to have my ear syringed. It happened like magic. Warm water piped deep into my ear and my hearing popped open instantly. Apparently, I had cotton wool stuck down there as well. Now how did that get there?

Anyway, I am reborn. Had to turn the radio down in the car on the way back. Lovely to watch the Nobel Peace Prize announcement particulary because Trump was lobbying hard for it.

The Nobel Peace Prize presentation speech has been carefully constructed by the Norwegian Committee to address Trump’s pressure. Stressing Pro-Democracy and anti Authoritarianism. Referencing not challenging Democratic Election Results and not attacking political opponents. And to think it’s gone to a mere woman. Oh dear, Trump loses to a woman. He’s not going to be happy.

Something rather poignant emerged yesterday when little M gave Pauline a belated Birthday card. Pauline’s sister and M’s mother died only a few weeks ago. Clearing her house prior to putting it on the market, M found a card which could only have been bought for Pauline ahead of time.

It is the epitome of an oxymoron – a bitter-sweet moment to receive best wishes from your dead sister in present time. It is something which she will keep with her for ever. Fancy being exactly the same age as Bob Geldof!

Saturday, 11th October, 2025

You know, Dear Reader, that I am obsessed with time. I always have been. I love, hate, fear, embrace the counterfactuals of time, the competing tides that run fast and slow at one and the same time.

The year is slowly fading out as the nights are cooler and the days shorter. It is not fast or dramatic but gentle, gradual and slow – so slow that it is almost imperceptible. There is generally less sun although it is still mild. This morning I went down to the beach where the shades were of Autumn. I was in shorts and tee shirt to enjoy the mild, sea air.

We are well into October but the garden is still producing. I picked this kilo of cherry tomatoes yesterday from plants outside in the raised beds edging the back garden. In mid-October! The flowers are still bright and profusive although thinner than mid-Summer and not so long for this world. They will probably go in the garden waste next weekend.

The window vents in the house have been closed in readiness. They will maintain the house’s warmth and keep out the spiders and ladybirds which are looking for a warm, Winter place to sleep, to dream, perhaps to die. I’m hoping to not put the central heating on until December when we come back from Tenerife and to live in shorts and tee shirts at least until then if not longer.

My digital memory box threw up this photo this morning. It was taken in Florida on this day exactly three years ago. It is of a lovely family group.

We couldn’t take that photo now for a number of reasons which is a sign of that speed at which another tide of time runs across the slowly changing seasons.

While we are on the subject of aging and the ravages of time, my friend, Kevin, has used an AI client to project me over 15 years ahead into the age of 90. I don’t think I look too bad but I’m shocked at the thinness and colour of my hair.