Monday 15th April 2024

Strange dream involving Andrew Marvel, in a Dickensian setting, struggling through financial penury until he sets up the Marvel franchise (now a blockbuster movie franchise, of course). Got up at 0745 and porridged at the computer. Had planned to venture toward Stevenage on inspections today, but the weather forecast is for wind and rain, so worked from home. Broke for lunch...Aki fried eggs, halloumi, mushrooms and tomatoes. Worked at the computer until 1730. Cooked some tortelloni up for dinner, with a chilli pesto sauce. Walked up to St Saviours on Hanley Road to have a go at singing along with their drop-in gospel choir. As we walked out of the front door, we discovered Sush from next door taping off the pavement outside their flat at No.5, as the quite sizeable tree that lives on the roadside there had been disturbed by the strong winds that had been plaguing us all afternoon...the tree was leaning at an angle which suggested it was a couple of shoves away from falling into the frontage of No.5. He was trying to contact someone from the Council as a matter of urgency, but of course, they would have packed up and gone home a couple of hours previously. 

We left him to it, and sauntered up to the church. As we were walking along we received a text from Kath saying mum had had a fall, and they were heading for A&E...tried phoning back, but no reply, so assumed they were in transit...all a bit worrying. Had to turn our phones to silent mode as we entered the church. I was surprised at how big the interior is, and that about 35 people showed up...mostly ladies, with a smattering of young children, who took seats in the soprano and alto sections, whilst I joined about eight burly blokes in the tenor section. Beth the conductor guided us through a new number...she was very good, clear and concise, and orchestrated proceedings with good humour. We were a bit shocked to hear that we were building toward a concert on the 6th July! The tree was still standing, just, when we returned home...FaceTimed Kath to find her, mum and dad still at home, enjoying rhubarb and custard! Mum tripped on an afternoon visit to Cowell's Garden Centre in Woolsington, and seems to have jarred her right shoulder, which has swollen up, but it doesn't sound as though anything's broken...they have resolved to take a trip to X-Ray in the morning...in the meantime she's in for an uncomfortable night's sleep.