Tuesday 20th August 2024

Woke to alarm at 0600. Managed to haul myself out of bed. Kath passed me on the landing. Descended to the kitchen to make tea. Dad appeared from the downstairs bathroom. Took mum a cuppa in bed. Dad all packed...with his little cabin-sized bag, he looked as if he was going on holiday! Kath bundled him into her car, and they disappeared down High View. Mum and I had breakfast around 0800. Read some of my new book, "My Battle of Hastings", by a Chinese authoress who found herself buying a small flat overlooking the sea on Hastings sea-front. Mum and I enjoyed a coffee sat out in the back garden, catching a bit of weak sunshine. Pottered about in the kitchen. Made some rice pudding, and started a beef ragu, which will do for tonight's dinner. Found some slightly outdated chicken soup in the fridge...added some vegetable stock, and warmed it up for lunch when Kath got back. She reported that dad was expected to be in theatre by mid-afternoon. After lunch, I drove mum down to Sainsbury's in the village and did a little shop. As we were unpacking the provisions back at High View, the phone rang...I assumed it was Jim, the voice sounding a little distant, but familiar...it was dad! His op had been cancelled due to complications experienced by the patient ahead of him in the theatre queue. I drove mum into Gosforth, and we picked him up from the Freeman Hospital, and brought him home. Spaghetti bolognese for dinner, followed by rice pudding...the latter went down very well. Did a little "Witch" rehearsal upstairs, then descended to watch a bit of telly. Mum and dad sporadically nodding off on the sofa...we'd all been up since 0600!!! FaceTimed Aki, who had gone to bed early, still struggling with a sore throat. Shower and bed...