Nine Feet Underground

Leaving the south coast and heading home with the expectation that E will be discharged from hospital today, at last. Once I get home I'll have a lot of coordinating to do for upcoming events in June and July, so I'm probably not going to get much of a chance to read the papers or do much else. An uneventful journey home and as soon as I arrive I start finding out what is going on with the hospital in terms of E's return home.  A can of worms!! E is medically fit to go home but seemingly there is a communications issue between the hospital and social services: the care agency is ready to restart care as soon as they get the relevant go-ahead from social services, but it's not arriving.  I chase all parties involved but it would be easier to push water uphill. Evening arrives and it is clear E won't be coming home today though the nurse assures me she will be coming home tomorrow. I have much to do and get on with it. Son #2 and I make dinner and sit down to watch &#

Saturday on the south coast begins with breakfast before heading to the shops to get a few things sorted.  It seemed like a good opportunity for a coffee break and a chat before heading back to do a bit more shopping, this time of the food variety. Managed to do a fair bit of walking before returning to watch more of the final series of 'Killing Eve'. Lamb meatballs with potato and salad for dinner, washed down with some wine (in my case, at least), before returning to KE. Woke up on Sunday later and had a lazy start to the day before a trip out to collect some mail from the collection office.  Whilst out I called the hospital to see if E is going to be coming home tomorrow and was told this would be the case. Hooray! After returning home, we headed back to the shops for a diary planning session (there is so much going on in June, July, August and September) over a couple of coffees and lunch. This has led to one discovery: Costa's coconut milk contains soya and it upsets m

Washing on, then a walk and talk with Q before making breakfast, hanging out washing and starting work. My gast was nearly flabbered, as within an hour of logging on my access to my client's IT system was finally restored. Choirs of angels. Trumpets. Hallelujah's wall to wall. Consequently, I am glued to the screen more than I should be, but finally making progress. Late morning, I call the hospital for an update on E. Turns out she's not coming home today and so won't be home before Monday. A mixed blessing, but I guess she's in the safest place over the weekend.  I do hope she's home before the jubilee celebrations. I've packed my bags to head to the coast again: another weekend with Q beckons. Everything is sorted at home, so I head off earlier than usual.  I've arrived. Lebanese food. 'Killing Eve'. Sleep.  Let the weekend begin. Microdisney / 'Mrs Simpson' / 'Crooked Mile' [[]]

Walked again at the start of the day and combined it with another Q convo. Back into the fray with access problems still unresolved.  A series of calls with the hospital reveals that E will remain there overnight, as she is still receiving antibiotics via the IV drip.  The nurse who is looking after her seems to feel that E might be sent home tomorrow, but also says they've not yet had the results of her blood or urine tests back and so I'm wondering if this is more about giving me a message I want to hear, as opposed to the reality. Whichever of these it is, I will call them to find out tomorrow. In the evening it was time to return to Drinks with the Idler, the last one until after half-term.  Tonight's guest is Martin Shaw, though not the actor from the Professionals, but rather the storyteller and author whose website is here .  Some of the most interesting aspects of the conversation did not concern myth but actually his time as a drummer in various punk bands, includi

Unlike yesterday, I have decided to walk regardless.  A little earlier than usual as I forgot the carer wasn't coming because E remains in the hospital. I feel better after my walk, now on with the working day, with both hands tied behind my back, metaphorically speaking. Late morning I call the hospital to find out what's going on with E. She is still on antibiotics via an IV, so she'll not be coming home today. I arrange a visit to see her tonight, just to see how things are going. E didn't really open her eyes at all while I was with her, but she is looking better, though still on IV antibiotics.  They'll be taking blood and other samples to check how the infection is responding to the antibiotics and expect to have an update tomorrow.  Whilst I was there an incident occurred which made me appreciate she was in the best place and is receiving the best possible care.  Well done the doctors and nurses. We ate dinner watching another Doctor Who (all of us!) before i

Despite needing to walk, I decided against it so I could focus on working on the assumption that the access problems of last week would be resolved. Well, you know what they say about assumptions, and, lo! It came to pass that nothing had come to pass in three days.  Still, as it turns out this was the least of my worries. It's strange that life turns on the smallest of details and so it was today. When the first carer arrived, I remarked on how tired E was looking. Unremarkable in itself, and yet somehow in a barely perceptible way also unusual at the same time.  This little seed was implanted in my brain. Work begins and just as the first call of the day ends the carers (second visit) say they are concerned about E.  She's really limp, lethargic (more than normal), very pale and unresponsive. Instinct tells me that they were spot on and I needed to call the GP, District Nurses (E's catheter is blocked, but worse urine doesn't seem to be finding any exit) and the Commu

Unfortunately, I have to travel home this morning.  I have to resign myself to living two lives for the foreseeable future, even though it's not what I want most. I still have to honour the commitment I made because I wouldn't be me if I didn't. So there it is. As if to hammer this home, I arrive back to find two nurses about to change E's catheter. Two nurses, because one is a trainee, I believe. This process prompts two further events, the most important of which is me placing an order with the Continence Service for new catheters and a multitude of other consumable items. Also waiting for me on my return was a large parcel from The Folio Society containing a wonderfully illustrated (by Ralph Steadman) copy of one of my all-time favourite books, 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas', by Hunter S. Thompson.  Opening the package and removing the book from its slipcase revealed an edition every bit as good as I'd hoped. Gonzo! My original plan for the morning will

Slow start to Sunday, with an excellent breakfast of bacon, chipolatas, poached egg and toast, followed by toast and marmalade. Who could resist? Q is such a good cook. Rather than make a coffee, it's such a glorious day we've decided to walk down to the quay and drink coffee in the sun, while Rome burns. Before we go we hang the washing out as it may just get dry during our peregrinations. The sun is great, the company is even greater (or should that be greaterer?) and into the bargain, I've exceeded my brisk walking target yesterday and again today. We walk back in the sun and decide, though it's past lunchtime we're still too full for lunch, a feeling enhanced in my case by being unable to resist (I did try, for a second or less) an almond croissant in the coffee shop. Before starting work (well, work in Q's case, whereas I'm booking a birthday meal (mine), fannying about on this site, setting my Bullet Journal up for next week, and having a few message e

[Friday] Another working day begins with a walk, which I'm pleased with but after that, it is a working day interspersed with a bit of packing - I'm going to be leaving straight after work tonight. Arrived at Q's house at around 7 p.m. and we ordered some food to be delivered from Wagamama.  Strange as it may seem, I think it's the first time I've had food from there.  Glad I did, because it was very good, especially the coconut, prawn and rice dish I had. We watched a couple of episodes of 'Anatomy Of A Scandal', and then Zebedee's orders were followed. [Saturday] A lazy start to the day, followed by a walk to the shops to buy food, odds and sods and a relaxing cup of coffee. It's turning into a sunny day and the shopping trip has allowed me to exceed my brisk walking target for the day again. After installing a new front doorbell at Q's, we did a spot of weeding out in the back garden, before our evening meal, which was bookended by the final e

Walked for the third consecutive day, so I'm feeling pleased. I just need to make this a habit again and exceed both daily and weekly targets.  We shall see. What news from yonder city? At last some good news about my wife's feed:  a good friend at the local pharmacy has confirmed that E's feed request has gone back to spine (if you know, you'll know) which means the feed supplier should be able to fulfil the feed order.  Given the trouble surrounding this order, I decided to phone the supplier just to double-check.  Good news! They are guaranteeing the feed will be delivered tomorrow. Praise be! Work obstacles still continue and it's slowly driving me mad, but hey ho. During the day I was seduced by the Folio Society.  They have persuaded me to order a wonderful copy of 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas', one of my favourite books. Best not to look. In the evening I'm returning to the Idler and tonight's guest is Emma Smith talking about the history o

Another 30-minute walk to start the day, this time in a pair of newly acquired running shorts.  They want to run. I don't. No bears. Not to mention joints. Work has dominated the day, however, the thing that has been on my mind all day has been the saga of my wife's feed delivery.  This has dragged on for what seems like an eternity but is probably only two weeks. (Only!!!) I'm going to have to get this off my chest, but the only way I can document it is as a series of bullet points, lest I end up going on a rant. I won't start from the absolute beginning otherwise it will take forever. It goes like something like this... The supplier contacts me to tell me E's feed is currently out of stock with the wholesaler but we're expecting it in stock tomorrow Tomorrow comes, still not back in stock. How much feed have we got left? No problem, it'll be back in stock tomorrow. I ask what the problem is and will it be resolved soon. The person I ask has no idea.  These

Started the day with an early morning brisk walk.  Hit my 30-minute target and managed to combine it with a joyous chat to set me up for breakfast and work. The working day has been going reasonably well, or at least it was until an expected occurrence threw a spanner in the works. My focus now is on spanner removal. Chicken casserole for dinner tonight and as it requires almost an hour of cooking time I've decided to start it early.  I've also decided I'm bored of preparing potatoes, so tonight, Matthew, I'll be doing couscous. Get you! I ate alone while watching a couple more episodes of 'Undone', which I'm really enjoying. It's very different and suitably strange. Right up my street. Cleared up, went upstairs, got ready for bed and sleep by way of papers and conversation. Working Men's Club / 'Widow' / 'Fear' [[I keep hearing this and it has wormed its way into my brain]]

Picked up son #2 from the dentist on my way home and we arrived back whilst the carers were still with E.  It was good to have a one-to-one chat with son #2 as there's so much to coordinate these days as well as to catch up on. We still haven't had time to fully explore his time in Costa Rica yet. Mondays are becoming my buffer or transition day, trying to get things organised before work takes over my life again.  Nevertheless, I have found some time to catch up on reading the papers, though sadly not enough time to read them all.  Whilst doing some tasks I managed to listen to part of the weekend's 'Freak Zone', something I still always try to do. The desire to hear new music is undimmed. Late afternoon my big sister called and we had a catch up in two halves, the intermission being the arrival of the final carer call of the day.  I had a chat with one of the carers about how E is doing, whether she understands what I'm doing and, more importantly for me at le

Friday has been a very busy working day, naturally, but after work, we went out for an excellent meal at an Argentinian steak house, where we ate a vegan meal. The last bit is a lie, however, there were vegan items on the menu.  We were wondering if you were a vegan, would you really be happy to eat in an Argentinian steak house, decorated in red and black, with pictures of cattle being ranched (if that is a verb) on the walls? Saturday began with an early start as we were off to Kenilworth Castle for a tour, walk and a pub lunch with some of my school friends. Our journey breaks at Upper Bucklebury a little before 9:30 a.m. (we were actually early!), where five of us pile into a friend's car for the second leg of the journey to meet up with a school friend (and his wife) in the castle car park. Saturday was a glorious sunny day with blue skies, largely untroubled by clouds.  We had a great walk with old friends, a guided tour, plenty of walking and chat, with a decent lunch at a l

Busy for the usual reasons (ad nauseam), but with a dash of added 'busy' in the form of packing for a trip away. I shan't bore you with the usual work commentary (or shall I?), so suffice it to say it is as usual. Started the day with a brisk walk of thirty minutes as soon as key carer K left, allowing our cleaner to clean my office before I started work (damn). On the final leg of my walk (or should that be 'walk of my leg(s)'?) I saw K again, as she drove past me having finished at her next client. Very kindly the cleaner offered to hang my washing out, allowing me to work without stopping (is that a good thing??) A little later I managed to get a brief uninterrupted chat with son #2, allowing him to tell me more about his experiences in Costa Rica and, more importantly, how he and his gf got on IRL after 18 months of video calls. At the lunchtime carer call, K provided her version of passing me walking earlier this morning. She said that as she was driving out of

Fuck-a-doodle-dandy. Yep, I think that's the perfect way to start today's blog. I have back-to-back meetings from 1:30 to 5 p.m. today and the morning's not that different. Yipee! Good job I started today with a walk. No need for a double-take, you read that right. After a long period in which work has gradually eased walking out of my daily schedule, I'm taking back control (and you know how that ends up!!) and walking before working (you read that right as well). Not long after I return from walking, son #3 says goodbye as he heads up to Durham to see his gf. He'll be away for a week and I'm really grateful for him staying as he's been very helpful whilst son #2 was in Costa Rica. Time to make dinner now with son #2, before watching one and a bit episodes of 'A Handmaid's Tale'. What follows, is what usually follows on a Wednesday, and so it involves taking out the rubbish before going to bed. Jayda G / 'Both Of Us' / 'Both Of Us /

Life is incredibly busy these days, but in a good way, mostly.  I'm not sure where I'd locate work on that continuum (!!), but it is the thing that will dominate the day and the rest of the week. Consequently, the usual stuff applies to this post. In the space of a paragraph, the working day is over, and I'm now making the dinner. It's been such a busy day at work, I've not yet found time to meditate, so once the meat is in the oven (not a euphemism), I'm going to spend 20 minutes in meditation. {I should also note that at some point during the day son #3 informed me he'll be off to Durham tomorrow morning, and will be away for a week or so.} All three of us eat dinner together whilst watching an extended episode of HIGNFY with Jo Brand as guest host. The day comes to a close in the usual way, for that is the way that the day must end when the world aligns this way. In The Nursery / 'Ektachrome (The Animator)' / 'HUMBERSTONE' [[First heard th

My non-working day starts with me checking on the progress of son #2's BA flight from Miami to London. When I first look it has over 4 hours to go and is to the south-east of Gander in New York's oceanic airspace at 38,000 feet and travelling at a decent 540 knots groundspeed. Guess the flight is picking up some speed courtesy of the Jetstream. Several jobs to do around the house today, including changing my bed. At least it looks as if I'll be able to wash the bedding and get it dried in the fresh air as it's pretty warm, if not blazingly sunny. Somehow the morning evaporates getting some minor chores done and it's almost time to make lunch.  As son #3 and I gear up to make lunch, son #2 arrives home from Costa Rica via Heathrow. He's knackered as he didn't sleep on the flight  After lunch, I mix up some mortar to fill the hole in the brickwork that resulted from the repair/replacement of the central heating drain valve.  This turns out to be an easy job an

[This will be another compressed, three-day post. It's been a very busy weekend and I've not had time to stop and write.  All of this has been written after the event, not that 'all' is likely to be very much] Friday A full-on working day leading up to the weekend. This weekend, normal service will be resumed. Saturday A chilled day, mainly taken up with watching TV, with a trip to the shops and some walking thrown in for good measure. Quite a good day weather-wise. Sunday Son #2 is setting off home from Costa Rica this evening, via Miami. The first leg on an American Airlines Boeing 737 800 MAX and the final leg on a British Airways A380, travelling through the night. While he was getting ready to leave, breakfast was eaten followed by a decent walk in the sun - the weather is even better today than yesterday. A chilled afternoon working out my holiday plans for the rest of the year (roughly) followed by more TV.  Time flies when you are enjoying yourself!  Son #2 took

Usual weekday story I'm afraid, at least as far as the day is concerned. One day closer though, which is always a consolation. After lunch, the plumber arrived to fix the outdoor central heating system drain valve that I broke last week. Initially, he thought it might require lifting the floorboards in my office, an idea not very popular with me. I suggested perhaps he could just cap the pipe as there are other alternative CH drain points. He agreed to try and, as luck would have it when he'd removed the mortar he was able to fully fix it and replace the valve.  I just need to replace the mortar/cement, a DIY job that is within my skill set! In the evening it was the return of the Idler, or rather I returned to the Idler drinks as I missed last week's. Tonight's guest was Right To Roam campaigner, Nick Hayes.  He is such a good speaker and so knowledgeable about the history of land ownership (or should that be theft?) that it's always a pleasure to hear him talk. Af

Happy 83rd birthday to 'Finnegans Wake', published on this day in 1939. The occasion is worthy of a greater celebration, but I don't think I'll have enough time until the evening when my brain will no longer be up to the job. If it ever was. Work occupies the day completely. In the evening son #3 makes dinner and we sit down together and watch the final episode of series 12 of 'Doctor Who'.  As the season finale, it ends on a cliff-hanger (not a coat hanger) and we may start series 13 tomorrow night, if there's time (it's Idler night tomorrow night!) Blah, blah, blah, bed, blah, blah, blah, sleep, blah, blah, blah, repeat (minus one thing!) Sharon Van Etten / 'Used To It' / (Single) [[]]

The start of another working week, a week which promises to be a very hectic one.  You know what this means! Today is slightly unusual in that I have to take my car to the garage again. Another recall for the ECU, which is a pain.  On the plus side, though, the care will be cleaned inside and out and there will be a visual inspection. It also won't cost me a penny.  It is also a timely reminder that I have a big decision to make by October. Back at work before 9 a.m. and is the focus for the day until I go back and collect my newly cleaned car.  A fairly typical evening with son #3, by way of dinner, 'Doctor Who' and 'Derry Girls'.  Clearing up, to bed, reading, then sleeping until I start this all over again. Ibibio Sound Machine / 'All That You Want' / (Live @ 6Music Festival 2022) [[]]

There's a plan A and a plan B for today, though I think plan A has a probability of 0.5, at the most. Whichever way the day turns out I'm going to have a lie-in and take a gentle start to the day for a change. Plan B it is then.  Plan B is to have a bit of a lazy day.  A few jobs around the house that need doing, but beyond that, I shall find my amusement where I can. Let's see what unfolds. Got a few things done (for example, I finished watching the 'Hemingway' documentary, and I also read some more of the book club book), but essentially it was a day of chilling. Son #3 and I ate dinner together watching a 'Doctor Who' followed by a hilarious episode of 'Derry Girls'. Like dominos toppling, the usual sequence of events followed... Jane Weaver / 'Oblique Fantasy' / (Single) [[]]

I plan to chill today; read the papers, listen to music, play a few word games, and maybe read the book club novel if there's time. There have been some chores amongst the chilling , too boring to mention any further. This is probably an ideal moment to stop and reflect on life and how it currently is.  There's been no obvious change in E's condition, though I am aware that the nature of MS means that things will be slowly worsening. When you are with someone all the time small changes are imperceptible. I'm sure if the MS Nurse visited (she's not been here for about 3 years now, owing to you-know-what) she'd spot differences. The stress associated with this remains high and perhaps because work is much busier than it has been for a while, the stress level is even higher.   Luckily for me, there have been positive changes in my life, which means there is a possible future, whatever happens, whenever. Facing the future and one specific future event becomes potent

An unusual Saturday or at least a very different one compared to recent weekends. Shopping, washing and grass-cutting! Unfortunately, the grass-cutting had two unwanted consequences; as is standard the lethal bushes cut my arm and blood was liberated, not only that, as an extra bank holiday bonus I damaged an outdoor copper pipe which is a central heating bleed valve. (The bleedin' bleed valve is bleeding out water. 'So much blood'! (Queue 'Friday Night Dinner' - if you don't know it, look it up)) Cue a plumber. Not sure there's a silver lining to this, but I have read that we're being told not to cut the grass in May, so I am very happy to oblige. I like wild nature. I dislike gardening. Perfect. I was planning to write a little piece on Microdisney and their songs and lyrics, but the fire has temporarily gone out.  Another day I guess. Son #3 and I made lunch, though I ate alone and watched the end of the documentary on Navalny, before returning to cho