Month: October 2022

Sunday, 5th June, 2022

Quite a grey, warm day. This is a dreadful weekend when people like me – atheist, republicans feel angrily outsiders. Well, I was feeling that until so many of my contemporaries shared my sentiments on line. This came from Kevin in Leeds:

and then this came from Kevin in Scotland :

There is absolutely nothing that could bring me to support monarchy. Certainly, it will be good to see the back of the Tories and bring about a rapprochement with Europe.

Fascinating to read reports of Boris Johnson regretting his support for Leave; Daniel Hannan (arch Leaver) now admitting that we should never have left the Single Market and a considerable majority of the British public now thinking the decision to leave was wrong. It is so easy to say I told you so but …. I told you so.

Monday, 6th June, 2022

Grey start and fantastically hot and sunny finish today. Done a 10 mile walk followed by a couple of hours of gardening.

Cut the lawns – maybe for the last time – and tended the beds. Shouldn’t need to buy salad for a few months.

The garden redevelopment is due to start in about 3 weeks time and then we will do a drive into France for a much needed break from the humdrum of life. I’ve booked a starter hotel. Still got to arrange Tunnel crossing.

Tonight, the Tory party decides whether to implode slowly or quickly. Either way, it will happen. Johnson will either be dead or just a dead-man-walking. For Labour, it would be preferable for Johnson to survive. He is a huge vote winner and recruitment sergeant for Labour. Better in place and wounded than out with a new leader.

Tuesday, 7th June, 2022

Well Labour got about the best result they could have hoped for last night. Johnson is mortally wounded but still staggering on to help opposition parties garner disaffected Tory votes. Look forward to the by-elections in the next couple of weeks.

Damp and misty start to the morning. Going to spend a bit of it looking at potential investments to shelter our cash from the ravages of inflation. Looking more for Growth rather than Income although both would be nice. UK Inflation is currently 7.8% and that is almost impossible to outstrip in the short term. The best we can hope for is mitigation. This is about as good as Cash Savings accounts will offer if you ‘fix’ for a year.

The problem is that even paying just £100,000 into it would take us into tax paying which means Cash ISAs would have to be considered instead/as well. ISAs, of course, mean fixing to get even a half decent rate and even then it is rubbish.

The Skipton rate is fairly typical of what is available but each of us can only put in £20,000 per year and that is a 3-year fix. In such a volatile world at the moment, I am extremely reluctant to fix for 3 years. I am also a very (perhaps too) cautious investor. I think that comes with age. We have less time or ability to adjust to losses. This, of course, limits our options as well. A Financial Adviser has drawn my attention to an M&G product. I was investing in them 40 years ago almost before he was born.

Don’t like the look of the 2019 – 2020 year. I wonder what happened there and that’s the Cautious Fund.

Booked a trip to France yesterday for early July but my mind has drifted towards sunshine. I looked at a Greek website and up popped the Sifnos branch of ‘Tesco’ as the ‘supermarket was known.

To be honest with you, Moshka’s Tesco looks better stocked if not as well organised as the local Sussex store.

Wednesday, 8th June, 2022

Lovely sunny and very warm day has turned to rain this afternoon. Managed to get 7 miles in plus a trip to the Garden Centre where we bought dahlias – Dahlegria Sunrise and Moonfire.

plus Osteopermum Tresco Purple and a variety of Nemesias. They should flower through until the Autumn.

That about concludes the plants for this season. Now I’ve got to sort out an automatic watering system for when we are away.

Kevin has come back from Spain and, surprise surprise, tested positive for Covid. I’m not surprised. The world and particularly the UK is behaving as if it is all over. It certainly is not. Our region is experiencing a massive resurgence of infection and the London University Zoe study I am contributing to is predicting another strong wave of infection long even before the Winter months. I still wear a mask in public buildings and hope you do too!

Thursday, 9th June, 2022

Lovely warm and sunny day. All the plants are going to be planted out into the beds. We’re going to have more Basil than a Pesto factory.

Talking to Kevin this morning. He is bored being confined to the house. Christine, his wife, has also got Covid but that is no surprise. Neither are feeling particularly ill. Julie told me this morning that she is still suffering a debilitating Long Covid fatigue which comes in waves and gets worse the more you try to fight it. That is something I’d really dread.

I’m still doing a minimum of 10 miles each day and have done for the past 3 weeks. It is 4 weeks since my operation. Actually I am averaging 11 miles a day recently. The thought of not feeling able to continue doing it appals me.

I’m struggling to find things to watch in the Gym at the moment but a new 4th Series of Borgen – the Danish, Political Thriller was released on the Nexflix platform this week. That will keep me going for the next 8 hours.

Friday, 10th June, 2022

Lovely warm and sunny day. Shopping and lawn cutting early followed by a 10 mile walk. Absolutely exhausted. Spent some time sitting down at my computer. Great cartoon from the Greek newspaper – Ekathimerini today.

You will know, Dear Reader, that the concept of a Pyrrhic Victory is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. It neatly sums up the current political position in UK.

You will know also that old men are prone to sentimental thoughts. Kevin & I have spent this morning remembering our glory days as film stars – well, Extras in a television series. Just 51 years ago this Summer, Kevin & I spent a few days doing filming for a television series called Villains. The episode in which we were involved had us on a demonstration. We had to burst out of a van carrying placards to protest against Hare-Coursing (???), getting arrested and being lined up in the police station.

The back story is …

ln September 1969, I had just failed to get the 2x A+ 1x B at A Level results which Newcastle University required for a BA English Lit. and I applied for Teacher Training which is what I had always considered anyway. I was a Roman Catholic boy and was shocked to find I had applied for a C.of E. , Women’s Training College. Within a couple of weeks, I had been interviewed, offered and accepted a place and was preparing to go up to Ripon. My Mother, desperate to make sure l didn’t let myself down, marched me into Burton upon Trent’s finest Gents’ Outfitters where she barked out orders for me to be kitted out as a Gentleman for my College debut. Khaki Slacks, white, pinstriped shirt, mustard yellow cravat and the finest, country jacket in Lovett Green with Magenta Check lines and leather buttons. I had no say in the matter. She insisted although the outfit alone cost almost as much as my term’s fees.

Within days, I had sold the jacket to Nigel and gone down to the Ripon Army & Navy store to buy the green jacket you see in the photo above of us as Extras. It cost about £3.00 and I wore it non-stop for three years. My Mother said it made me look like a Toilet Attendant which made it even more attractive to me. I don’t know about Kevin but I can fly back to Summer 1971 and this scene in the blink of an eye. I remember him and I spending hours sitting on a grassy bank set against a stone wall talking (well listening) to Alun Armstrong telling us funny stories. I can see the room we are pictured in here after being a rowdy group of student protesters coming out of the back of a white van. I remember Kevin throwing a cigarette to the floor when the Sergeant (sitting at the table) ordered him to put it out. Kevin ad-libbed and got paid extra for a speaking part – jammy as ever! I think the ITV series was called Villains.

I know that I thought Alun Armstrong was much older and more experienced than us. Researching it today, I find he is only 4 years older than me! He does have a very lived-in face nowadays but don’t we all? He has certainly had a successful acting career which continues today as he appears in a 3rd Anglo-American comedy series about parenthood called Breeders. I was surprised to find that one of his sons is a well-known television actor called Joe Armstrong who is currently appearing in Gentleman Jack on BBC.

Ted Heath’s Conservatives may have replaced Harold Wilson’s White Heat of Technology administration but nothing could have prepared us for what we are going through now. The Trumpist tactics of Johnson’s three years have been more appalling almost than Thatcher. I’m afraid I find it all too depressing and it makes me feel like a crabby, old man. I don’t know if you know one!

We are having a lot of landscaping work done in our garden over the next few weeks and then setting off to drive through France for a while just staying where we feel like when we get there. Athens in the second half of August … if Easyjet let us … and then Florida in the Autumn. We may go for a couple of months to make the long flight worth it.

Kevin’s got Covid. Chris has got Covid. Nigel’s had Covid. Julie’s suffering from after effects of Covid. We have a massive resurgence of Covid down here at the moment. I used to think, perhaps, I should just get infected and get it over with until I learnt you could be infected multiple times and that doing so could be more likely to result in Long Covid. We are still wearing masks in public buildings in the vain hope of avoiding it. I had 5 days off after my Hernia operation but I have been doing 10 – 11 miles walking each day for just over the last three weeks since. In the past 12 months, I have walked 3740 miles and I’m feeling quite fit but tired.

Saturday, 11th June, 2022

Gorgeously hot and sunny day. Nothing special to do today which feels a waste. We had to go into Rustington to go to Boots. I don’t know if you’ve shopped there recently but it feels like a different century. It also feels fairly run down. I know an Indian conglomerate are bidding to take it over. They’ll have to work hard to bring it up to date. Actually, there is little in store that can’t be bought on-line and delivered next day by Amazon Prime.

Back home and plant watering before the sun burns everything off, a long walk in beautiful conditions. Everyone seems busy … apart from me. On the edge of the Development, the Rugby Ground is hosting a 5-a-side tournament and there are lots of parents and grandparents sitting in the sunshine with picnics and enthusiastic support for their youngsters.

Mr Perpetual Motion, Dr. John Ridley, is busking in Richmond in support of Ukraine. What am I doing? I need a new purpose! You’d have thought that, after 13 years, I’d have come to terms with Retirement but I’m still searching ….. Are you there, Purpose?

Sunday, 29th May, 2022

Lovely start to the day for the start to Week 701 for the start to the rest of our lives. Enjoyable walk. The trees are in their full pomp. Everything changes but all remains the same. Although human beings crave routine, familiarity and stability, Life is constantly in a state of flux as illustrated by the seasons.

I must admit, although I build strong routines – I set daily targets for myself to achieve, for example; there are places and people that I have to visit each year, etc. – I embrace change as a way of developing and moving forward. I love clearing the decks, throwing everything of an old life out and starting afresh. There is something invigorating about it.

Just 12 years ago this week, we had been retired for a year and were in our Greek house when we concluded the sale of our Yorkshire house. We had been in Greece for 2 of the 6 month stay and we had to dash back to Yorkshire to pack up and move out of our house. We sold or gave away all our furniture and made a completely fresh start in Surrey. Tabula Rasa (clean slate) is a lovely and uncomplicated place to start a new life.

We first stayed on Sifnos in 1984 and ate at what was reputed to be the best taverna on the island. It was long established, owned by a local trawler man and run by his family. It was fantastically popular and served wonderful food. The Captain died 20 years ago but the restaurant continued until a couple of years ago when it went up for sale. Suddenly, a mainstay of the island was no more … and so life goes on. Just like us, others will come and go even as the seasons continue.

In 2015, we put our Surrey property up for sale and started searching for somewhere new. Having chosen Sussex coastline and moved here over 6 years ago, I can’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be other than abroad in the sunshine. And yet, who knows what will turn up to change that view. Important to keep an open mind and always be ready to move on. Getting stuck in one place for too long can bring its own problems. It can be very life-limiting.

I grew up in Derbyshire. I was a supporter of Derby County in the Clough years. I even went out with the daughter of Peter Taylor, Clough’s Assistant Manager and his guru. I went to College in Yorkshire and, because of Kevin, became a Huddersfield Town supporter which continued when I moved to live there. Doctor Mitchell, who bought our house, is a Season Ticket holder and will be on tenterhooks. Moving away to Surrey/Greece, I adopted Man. Utd. as my team and stayed with them as we moved to Sussex.

Today, however, I am once again a Huddersfield Town supporter. They are in the Playoffs Final for promotion to the Premier League at Wembley this afternoon. Kevin is in Spain, in a bar, preparing to watch on Sky TV. I am doing that at home in the gym. By the magic of the internet, we will share the experience. …. With 6 minutes to go, it’s not looking good… Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Town lost 0-1 and Kevin and I need consolation. At the ages of 73 & 71, it is not easy to come by.

Monday, 30th May, 2022

A lovely warm and sunny day marred only by the calendar. I was booked to go to the Dentist’s for a Hygienist appointment. I can’t think of any single thing I hate more in this life than the Hygienist and they always have a go at me. It started when I was 14 years old and, 57 years later, they are still at it.

Anyway, it’s on my pre-pay dental plan so it has to be done. As usual, I am abused for drinking too much coffee and staining my teeth. I am abused for drinking too much red wine and staining my teeth amongst other things.

While I was being tortured, Kevin is sunning himself in 28C in Alicante. He will have got over his loss on Sunday with the help of plenty of red wine last night and now can enjoy a new day.

I was talking to Julie in North Yorkshire this morning. She has finally thrown off her Covid infection. He 92 year old Mum has also got over infection and Julie is getting on with life. I was shocked and impressed to find she is growing basil, peppers and tomatoes up in the Tundra of North Yorkshire. Mind you, they are in her conservatory and mine are outside.

Tuesday, 31st May, 2022

We were expecting quite a lot of rain today. Instead, we had a warm and sunny day and I did a long walk in the morning and then again in the afternoon.

Our friendly electrician called round to see us at our request. We have a list of jobs for him to do.

We need new outside sockets for cooking in the sunshine. We want a series of adjustable spotlights on the perimeter fence and I want the double sockets in the kitchen replacing with ones that include USB ports. If our house was being built now, I think these things would be standard fittings. So many things we use in the house now require USB power supplies. Even the kitchen scales use USB power supply. The 3-pin sockets aren’t compromised by their inclusion so it makes complete sense to integrate them.

Really tired after my exertions today so I enjoyed spending some time in the Office writing to John and Nigel in North Yorkshire. I am really enjoying rebuilding those relationships from 50 years ago. It is reward and completing.

Wednesday, 1st June, 2022

June 2022. Remember that date. It might be significant in your, in our lives. At this moment, we don’t know. No one knows. These things are revealed to us slowly. Let’s hope the portents are good. I must admit, I’m struggling to see it at the moment. I want to be somewhere else!

Heard from Kevin in Alicante this morning. He was extolling the charms of bingo and an aging drag artist from his bar last night. Turn-off for me I’m afraid. Heard from Captain John Ridley who is currently sailing in the Lake District. Even so, I miss them across the years.

As we walk round our area, there are very few signs of Jubilee ‘fever’. This was the only house with overt support for monarchy.

One of the things which really annoys me is a new fad called ‘Yarn bombing’. Old women’s knitting circle gone mad ….

Old women have crawled out of the time zone occupied by doylies and antimacassars. I call it Pensioners’ Graffiti. They don’t seem to understand their influence on the world is no less unwelcome than youths with spray paint cans.

I’ve written today to the areas of the NHS who have treated me so well in the past 3 months – to my GP who recommended a colonoscopy and saved me from a high likelihood of Bowel Cancer by having pre-cancerous polyps identified and removed in time and to the Italian surgeon and his theatre team who performed a wonderful procedure on me to repair my hernia. I have also thanked the Anti-Coagulation team for their immensely careful support and advice throughout. I could not be more humbled by my treatment.

Thursday, 2nd June, 2022

Gloriously hot and sunny day. A 10 mile walk followed by a trip out to Sainsbury‘s (very busy) and Lidl (even busier) and then off to the Fish Market on the edge of the Marina.

We ate outside a lunch of Dressed Crab, French Camembert with lettuce and basil from our garden. A bottle of Pinot Grigio and a couple of hours of sunshine did the rest. This evening will be Calamari with Courgette fritters out in the garden.

So many of my relatives and friends are contacting me to tell me how they are going to avoid the Jubilee. It really isn’t difficult. Our neighbourhood is totally silent this afternoon. They are either all drunk or in bed. As a life long atheist and republican, the whole thing leaves me cold. The problem is that just ignoring it helps to perpetuate it. The integration of church and State through unelected monarchy legitimises so much that is wrong with our society. The peasants start to believe that there is nothing they can do about their poverty.

You will know the justification that the ruling class like to cloak their privilege in:

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.All Things Bright & Beautiful

All class structure is decreed by God. It is fixed at birth and there is nothing you can do about it so there’s no point in struggling to change or overthrow it. Any rational mind would know this is nonsense but it is amazing how many poor people vote for upper class, privileged politicians and worship Royalty, accepting their own impoverished position in life.

Friday, 3rd June, 2022

Only Friday! Feels later. Most glorious day of hot sunshine reaching 23C/71F in the garden. We could have just sat back and indulged ourselves in sunshine but, I for one, can no longer do that.

We killed an olive tree by moving it recently. This morning, we toured the Garden Centres for a replacement. We have four Garden Centres almost within walking distance of our house. This is a link with the former history of our horticultural area. We visited three of the four this morning – Haskins, Ferring and Wyevale – in search of a replacement olive tree for our garden. We found a few examples costing between £35.00 and £655.00 and about the right height.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ejZQncV24uI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Good to see that Boris Johnson was roundly booed at the entrance to the Cathedral this morning. Censorship can only go so far.

Still walked my 10 miles but felt very tired after it. Was thinking about the fact that I’ve received phone calls on my mobile at around 11.00 pm – midnight for a couple of nights from ‘Private Number’.  Intriguing! What does it mean? Am I being scammed? I’m going to trace it.

Saturday, 4th June, 2022

Got up at 5.00 am after a very hot and humid night to rain bouncing down. Two hours later it was clearing and drying up and, by 9.30 am, the sun shone down on our walk.

I have never been so aware of birds as I am now. Walking outside so much, it is hard not to be. This little chap was stuffing its beak with worms from my lawn this morning. Jumping up and down on the turf until one popped its head out and then … pounce. What puzzles me is how he can retain three worms while wrestling with a fourth. Takes real skill I need to acquire.

The sun has beaten down uninterrupted since mid morning. Been out to three different Garden Centres looking for a large, square pot to bookend one we have already.

But £60.00 for one, square pot seems excessive. Even Liz would agree with that! Still, my wife gets what she wants so … £60.00 it is.

Kevin is on his way home from Spain just in time for the rainy season. He sent me a really good photo of the take-off over Alicante. For once, Jet-2 are doing well.

We have been in this house for just 6 years (just?) and Zoopla informed us today that it has increased in value by £250,000 in that time. We’ll see if that holds over the coming recession.

Sunday, 22nd May, 2022

Week 700. Week 700! Can hardly believe it. If you have been with me since the start of this journey …. hard luck. I have had to live that life. You haven’t. Almost 13.5 years of my life recorded daily. 

Last night I was reading in the Lounge prior to watching something on television. We were switched to BBC2 and a programme about Céline Dion was playing. I must admit I know less than nothing about her other than she sang the gut-wrenching song in the film, Titanic.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WNIPqafd4As%3Ffeature%3Doembed

In the 1970s and 80s, I was good friends with David, Head of English in my school. He was an extremely intelligent but highly strung man who took his life very seriously. He lived with his wife, ‘Tricia, a lecturer in English Lit. and their son, Richard, in Stockport. We would have Dinner together, play sport together, write poetry and share it with each other. I learnt that David’s mother had committed suicide when he was young and, not surprisingly, it had haunted him for ever since.

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on …

Eventually, David had a mental breakdown, attempted suicide himself and was committed to a stay in Stepping Hill Mental Hospital. He was there for months and we went to visit him. They were difficult and moving meetings. Eventually, just before he was to be released, David walked out of the hospital, made his way down to the local station and threw himself under a train. I remember how it rocked the school community.

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on

For me, to experience such an intelligent, sophisticated and poised man do something so insane was a shock to my sensibilities. I’ve always imagined committing suicide was akin to drowning, being sucked down beneath a sea of uncontrollable sadness and despair. The Celine Dion song from Titanic always reminds me of this. I was 41 years old when David died. When I review what I’ve done in the past 30 years and how much he has missed, it hardly bears thinking about. Tragically, just 5 or so years later, his lovely, tall, willowy and intelligent wife died of breast cancer at the tender age of about 55.

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go ’til we’re gone …

And here I am, 30 years later walking out into the warmth of the strong sunlight …. hearing that song in my head and thinking of people we have known and lost. There is a screamingly unbearable feeling in the erosion of time. Rebecca-Jane would have been 50 this year.

Monday, 23rd May, 2022

The ravages of time … This little girl is 75 today. Not sure how old she is in this photograph but I guess around 4 – 5 years old so circa 70 years ago. Happy birthday to old Ruth. Hope she has a lovely day today.

I have been obsessed with time most of my life. Like so many of us, in early age we long to be older. In older age, many long to be younger. Not me. I have enjoyed each age for what it was. I just want to live forever and enjoy each subsequent stage although I do look back with regret at not being able to touch old times just once more. But then, I am a sentimental, old fool.

A warm but grey morning. Did a 6 mile walk early and the rest of the day will be spent gardening and in the gym. I’m still having to be a bit careful at the moment not just because of my surgery which is still sore, tight and swollen but because of a recent mistake I made.

One of the post-operative pieces of advice I was given was to use laxatives for a while so as not to put strain on the internal and external stitching. They sent me home with a liquid dose and my wife bought some more. Being a research student – I have a Masters Degree in Research – I usually read things carefully but I am impulsive to act. I was given this bottle of laxative liquid which instructed me to take 5 mls daily. I had no idea what 5 mls looked like so Pauline gave me a kitchen measuring spoon.

Unfortunately, the spoon was double ended with 5mls/15mls measures. Guess which one I filled. Life has been ‘interesting’ for while since and I haven’t wanted to stray too far from home. When you get to the bottom of it, it’s certainly a moving experience!

Tuesday, 24th May, 2022

Beautiful morning with lovely, blue sky and sunshine – a little cooler than yesterday. Woken with Chopin playing quietly and slowly in my head to accompany Time’s winged chariot …. irresistible.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CU9RgI9j7Do%3Ffeature%3Doembed

It’s funny how the memory moves in parallel but separately from the consciousness. Chopin is the film score against which a busy day is carried out. I am ‘officially’ allowed to drive today – 2 weeks after my operation – and actually allowed to drive my wife to the Beautician’s. Asda, Sainsbury‘s, Boots, Rustington Greengrocer’s. I wonder what Chopin will make of all that!

I have to complete the copying across and set up of our new smart phones. And then there is 10 miles to complete for the 7th consecutive day. I’m going to do that in the gym today because a thunderstorm is forecast. Netflix will be red hot today with 2 x 90 mins sessions on the treadmill.

I am going to be watching Michael Gambon in The Last Witness. It is a British-Polish thriller which is rather appropriate to follow the Polish composer, Frédéric Chopin. It is based in historical fact which appeals to me.

The plot involves a young, ambitious journalist who risks love, career, and ultimately his life to uncover the true identity of an Eastern European refugee and his connection to the British government’s collusion in the cover up of one of Joseph Stalin’s most notorious crimes. In 1990, Soviet President Gorbachev admitted that the Soviet Union was responsible for the murders of Polish prisoners of war in 1940

Finished my evening by pounding the streets to complete my target after a day of sunshine, thunderstorms and hail. It felt good to be out, alone with the birds in the late evening sunshine and the fresh, sharp air. My skin was alive and my body felt fit and strong. This is how we should feel at 71!

Wednesday, 25th May, 2022

Cooler and grey this morning. I’ve decided that I will walk on the treadmill today but I’ve got quite a bit of Office work first.

The old phones have been copied, cleaned up, put back in their original boxes with paperwork and then sealed in padded envelopes for posting off. The new phones have to be registered on our Bank’s website where we get free and comprehensive insurance cover as part of the ‘perks’ with our account. We get ‘free’ worldwide travel insurance, executive airport lounge access, car breakdown cover, home emergency service and concierge booking of tickets.

Now she’s got a new phone, Pauline needs (wants) a new iPad. I have the big, ‘Professional’ one with keyboard. Pauline prefers the smaller and lighter ‘iPad Air’. There is a new model out which is far superior to the one she’s had for the past 3 years. She uses it a lot to video conference her family and friends and this new model has a vastly improved software setup for that called Centre Stage so, even if you move while talking, the camera follows you and keeps you …. centre stage. It has

• Cinematic video stabilization
• Continuous autofocus video
• Front & Rear cameras

So much has moved on over the past 3 years that almost every aspect is improved. Of course, she will need a new casing to protect it.

The one, interesting thing about this purchase is the lead-in time. If you want a new car the lead-in time tends to be around 6 months. A new iPad will be at least a month. Want French-style salad at Sainsburys – wait a lifetime!

Can you imagine being abandoned as a baby. Watched a heart rending ‘Foundlings’ edition of Long Lost Family today. Suited my mood. Overwhelmingly sad. The significance of suddenly discovering your parents’ faces is absolutely earth shattering. Imagine being the parents forever wondering about their child? Absolutely unbearable and yet utterly life-affirming!

Thursday, 26th May, 2022

Quite a grey but warm morning which brightened up as the day unfolded. We had to drive into Worthing to pick things up from Boots. What an old fashioned shop that is. It meant driving along the beach road. Always pulls me up short that I live here. How did I end up here?

Back home, we did our walk and then had lunch outside in the garden. It was lovely and warm.

I feel fully recovered from my operation although the scar is still quite fiery, swollen and sore but I am not allowed to fly for another month. Apparently this is because of potential blood clots. I am on life-long anti coagulants but my wife insists I follow the guidance. We will probably drive to France soon and might even nip up to the North to see people before we start travelling again. Normally we go in October but we might just surprise them instead. With an energy crisis, October might just be a time to go somewhere warm.

Google gave me a 5 year travel map plan this morning. It features our 2017, 6 week drive through France and Italy and stay in Tuscany. It features our 2018 drive down to the Dordogne where we stayed for a month in Saint-Sauveur near Bergerac. It features our annual stay in Athens in the Autumn and our bi-annual stays in Tenerife in the Winter. It features our month in Florida last March and our excursion to New York. It also features our trips to Yorkshire/Lancashire each year. This is what life is for: exploring our world.

Friday, 27th May, 2022

A really busy day that started at 6.30 am. Up to a beautiful morning that developed into a really hot and sunny day. Out for an 8.30 am hair appointment down near the beach. I parked up and walked to the promenade.

Lots of people were enjoying the delightful scene. The colours were to fall in to in their richness. Not even an off-shore breeze today just delightfully warm. You really should have been here.

I had an hour to kill while Pauline was being coiffured. A short walk to the beach and then a lovely amble down the promenade towards the pier. Everywhere, joggers, cyclists, scooters, dogs on long leads and old couples enjoying the sea air.

We had to be home for 12.oo mid day. An ONS Covid tester was arriving for a PCR and an Antibody test. The tester was a beautiful Brazilian girl who sat in the sunshine of our garden while we did a nose/throat swab followed by a needle puncture of our fingers and squeezing out a phial of blood to be tested for antibodies. The figures in our region were very high a month ago but have crashed in the past few weeks. They are predicted to rise again soon.

After that, we had lawn cutting to do plus potting up and planting out herbs. Amazing how long these jobs take. Also, incredible how the lawns know they are going to be replaced in the next month. They have never looked better than they do now. We sat outside in the warm sunshine to eat prawn salad with crab and avocado for our meal. Absolutely lovely. You really should have been here to share it.

Saturday, 28th May, 2022

End of the week; almost end of the month; nearly end of the year’s development. Just over three weeks and it is all down hill. June 21st is the longest day and then … it gets increasingly shorter towards Winter.

Chatted to Kevin who is on his way to Alicante for the 3rd time in the past couple of months. Leeds – Alicante costs an average of £85.00 return. Cheaper than Leeds – Manchester on the train. Mind you, he did say that economic cuts had meant they weren’t allowed to actually land. They were given parachutes and encouraged to jump.

Bit of a non-news day.(When is it not?) Walk in the sunshine. Woman comes out of her house and says, You are good! Must admit I’d rather be bad but it’s nice to find someone notices the effort. Had to sort out some lighting for the development of the back garden which is imminent. We need 7 down-lighters to be mounted on the perimeter fence. These are very adjustable so need to be ordered in advance of the electrician’s visit. The electrician has to do his work in advance of the garden redevelopment.

Our new phones have an e-pencil built in. It provides people with fat, insensitive fingers like mine more delicate control. I’ve been learning how to use it today.

A trip to the Garden Centre has provided us with flowering plants for the patio pots. Impatiens, Osteospermum and Tagetes. They will provide a colourful display for a large part of the Summer.

Sunday, 15th May, 2022

We have hardly seen any rain since we got back from Florida at the beginning of April so this morning is just lovely – lots of warm, wet, rain. Everywhere is sighing with relief. Such an incredible difference compared to yesterday.

I never like to admit this but people who warned me not to overdo it were (a bit) right. I walked only 9 miles even though I was trying to do the 10. Overnight I paid for it with soreness and swelling. I have decided to moderate my efforts a bit today. I never really learn!

Of course, I’m not the only one. Pauline ordered 14 swimsuits – 7 colours in 2 different sizes. They were incredibly cheap and you can draw your own conclusions as they will all be going back tomorrow. They looked cheap and poor quality. Who could have guessed? Have to go back to New York to have another look in quality shops.

Must be our ages but can you imagine having a phone that isn’t black? That’s exactly what we’ve ordered today. It is Upgrade Day at the end of a 2-year, EE contract. We were paying around £120.00 a month and upgrading will increase that to £140.00 a month. Unlimited calls, texts and data plus ‘free’ roaming in Europe, USA and Australia. What more incentive could you need to travel? To add to that, EE are offering us £370.00 for the current 2 phones they gave us – Samsung P20s. I use my phone more than my iPad nowadays.

Monday, 16th May, 2022

Feeling like a shambles of a man today. Very sorry for myself. I am recovering far too slowly! I am ashamed. My wound has forced me to retreat to 6 miles a day and I feel a failure. I am a failure as those who know me know.

In the early 1970s. I was friendly with Kevin. Kevin, who became my ‘Best Man’, came from Huddersfield – a place I’d never heard of. Huddersfield suddenly, against the odds, were promoted to the First Division (before the time of Premier League). Along with Chester who were floundering in the 4th Division, Huddersfield suddenly became a ‘thing’ in my life.

One, drunken night in 1970, I found myself in a chip shop outside Huddersfield University at midnight. It was directly opposite the University which, unbeknown to me, was to play such a signficant part in my life.

Tonight, Kevin & I – united again in drunken crime – will talk each other through the Championship playoff for promotion to the Premier League. ……

Tuesday, 17th May, 2022

Gorgeous day in prospect today. Going to see if I can cope with mowing the lawns as well as do some walking. We are expecting 26C/79F today so will enjoy walking in that.

Of course, as Kevin later said, The result was never in doubt. Huddersfield 1 – 0 Luton Town.

Kevin will be off to Wembley for the Play-Off Final. I went to watch Chester City with a gentle man called Ken in the early 1970s. Chester City are no longer in the football league. Huddersfield, on the other hand look as if they might get back into the top flight once again.

KA has put me in touch with a Financial Adviser who is a LEEDS UNITED supporter. Not sure I can speak to him! Kay Burley, on the other hand, don’t you just love her? All week she is featuring Cost of Living issues in her home town of Wigan. And there is the social divide in a nutshell.

We’ve got Tory MPs telling the poor that they just lack the skills to survive on 30p worth of food and all they need to do is worker harder, longer hours to earn more. Those MPs are surviving on £85,000 a year plus around £200,000 expenses to employ members of their family.

If you need any more evidence of out of touch Tories, you should watch Kay Burley’s morning show on SKY. Today, she featured an old couple who have a broken boiler and can’t afford to fix it. They have to go across the road to a friendly neighbour’s to have a bath but are ashamed to ask for help. Of course, social cohesion in an area like Wigan quickly brought an offer to fix or replace their broken boiler while the programme was still running. Socialism in action!

On our walk, this gorgeous bird swooped and soared above or heads. It kept it’s beady eyes on us for 10 minutes at least before dropping rapidly on the Rugby Club field. I think it is the first Red Kite I have ever seen.

Wednesday, 18th May, 2022

Last medical bulletin … EVER. Last night I had a bath and gingerly removed my dressing. Actually, it wasn’t too bad and I do smell sweeter. My wife immediately declared the closure of my wound as a miracle of science. I have no experience of such things so I will believe her.

The worst thing is the hairs are growing back driving me mad. The whole thing looks disgusting to me but I don’t have to look at it. At least today, 8 days after my operation, I have done my full, regular walk for the first time and felt good about it. I will complete 10 miles before the day is out and get back into my stride. I just can’t wait to drive again but I’m banned until next Tuesday

If you are a regular reader, you will know that I hate blowing my own trumpet. When Brexit was stupidly voted for, I predicted immediately that Ireland would be the stumbling block and so it still is. Of course there are lots of other things attendant on Brexit from labour and product shortages to higher prices and restricted travel but the Irish border question was always going to be, in my mind, the most intractable problem. As William Gladstone famously said 140 years ago: ‘Every time the English tried to solve the Irish Question, the Irish changed the question’.

The other major problem that I predicted more than a year ago is inflation coming back to bite us. Everywhere people look, prices are increasing. The cost of a side of salmon has gone up 30% in the last few weeks. The cost of petrol/diesel has become an actual issue again for people who drive much. The government is in disarray over this as over many other things they don’t want to face.

Thursday, 19th May, 2022

Amazing and enjoyable night last night. Thunder and lightning rolling round the area for hours. It was almost like a Mediterranean night as the electricity lit up the sky.

I am sorry and I must have been too wrapped up in myself but I forgot to feature Caroline’s birthday. Cal is my youngest sister and, yesterday, she reached the milestone of 60 years old. She lives in the European Union – lucky girl – in Southern Ireland. Hope she had a lovely day.

I managed my normal walk and 10 miles for the first time since my operation. It felt deeply satisfying because I have been feeling unhappy about my progress. I have felt out of control and isolated. I have been communicating with Kevin, Julie and John in Yorkshire and other friends online. I am keen to firm up travel plans – running away, I suppose.

Yesterday evening, after a warm afternoon in the garden, we had a man from Easigrass come round to measure up and quote us on replacing the front and back lawns with artificial.

We chose a ‘lawn’/carpet with 50mm pile which really looked like our current grass. He quoted us £6,400.00 for the full process which includes

• taking up the turf,
• weed killing,
• installing geo-textile membrane,
• applying a compacted and consolidated Limestone sub-base,
• supply and fit the carpet,
• infill with Silica.

This is why we chose specialists. The whole thing has a 9 year warranty. I will be 80 before I need to think about it again!!!

I’ve done 10 miles again today so the pattern has been re-established. That will be my driver for the next few weeks. It feels like I am re-establishing my self esteem. Looking forward to booking a French trip in early July.

Friday, 20th May, 2022

Warm, damp start to the day which is forecast to get warmer and sunnier. Marriage induces routines. Ours includes the same things for breakfast every day at home – porridge and tea for Pauline & fresh orange juice, tea and fresh coffee for me. We listen to the Radio 4 Today programme and discuss what we want to achieve (fit in) that day. It is these mundanities, particularly in retirement, that paint the patterns of our lives.

Today, Pauline is expecting a large delivery of fresh fish which will have to be portioned, bagged and frozen. In the meantime, she is ironing and sewing upstairs in the Dressing Room. I have to send my INR test to the Anti-Coag. Dept. at the hospital and field a phone call from them in reply. Talk to my friend, Brian in Shaw, who I haven’t seen for over 6 months and reply to the Financial Adviser who contacted me earlier this week from holiday in Spain. One of my main jobs is making sure my new smartphone is fully set up and then returning the old one to factory settings prior to mailing it off. They’ve offered me £370.00 for it so the task is worthwhile. Of course, the exercise regime has to be completed so it will probably include gym work this morning and a walk in the forecast sunshine this afternoon.

I don’t know if this is common in households or just weird to us but the morning meeting involves what our meal of the day will consist of. I think it is partly so that the protein – and it is usually fish or chicken – can be taken out for natural defrost and prepared. Yesterday, it was griddled chicken breasts which had to be defrosted, beaten out and then marinated over the day before being cooked outside in the garden. Today it will be locally caught, roast hake which is being delivered fresh.

Food isn’t just essential to life, it is intimately integrated into the milieu of societies and lives. It has important connections to history, class and sex. I am constantly fascinated by my changing attitude to food. The contrast between my early life and current choices are illustrated here.

As a child of the early 1950s, I was born into a world that was still exercising war time rationing and the food mindset was filling bellies with energy rather feeding nutritious and healthy food to families. I was lucky enough to be born into a middle class family who grew large ranges of fresh fruit and vegetables and could afford fresh fish and meat

Even so, Mum came with the wartime agenda of Bread, Potatoes, Suet, Cakes, Pastries – lots of heavy fillers – were ways of showing care for one’s family.

I, for one, was running everywhere all the time as a child. Doing Athletics, playing rugby, constantly on the move, constantly burning up calories that had to be fuelled. I never went hungry. Loved home made steak & kidney pudding and steamed jam pudding with custard!

These days, I would never even consider any of these calorific things. I daren’t for one thing. I have trained myself to enjoy a much more Mediterranean diet. My Mother wouldn’t touch garlic or olive oil. I absolutely love both. The young me would be horrified at the old me loving salads dressed with olives and sun dried tomatoes, green beans dressed with olive oil and garlic, home made chicken liver pâté  or home made humous with celery dips.

These changes mark how far through time I have travelled. Who now would choose Spam knowing what extrusions go into making it?

Saturday, 21st May, 2022

Lovely day for doing stuff – going for a walk, cutting grass, potting up and planting out. Doesn’t the sun raise one’s spirits? M&K are back in UK and a year in Florida makes anywhere else seem cold not least the M25. Here, it feels positively balmy.

Just completed my 4th consecutive 10 mile walk after the operation. Feel good. Officially, I’m not allowed to drive until Tuesday. I could do it now but my wife is enjoying her dominance and freedom. I haven’t told her but I’m quite enjoying being chauffeured about. 

The lawns are being replaced in the next 2-3 weeks so we are planting up the raised beds with lettuces and herbs which will both look good and taste nice. Green and crimson cut-n-come-again lettuces are going in along side Basil, Oregano, Sage, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Mint, Tarragon. Before the lawn-carpets go down, an electrician has been booked to come and install down-lighters on the fence pillars to turn the back garden more in to another room. All I need is a giant projection screen mounted on the garage wall and I will never go inside again. We seem to eat out there every day now.

We are 35 miles from Gatwick and 50 from Heathrow. By the time planes reach us, they are miles high and we hear absolutely nothing but look at the activity. This photo was taken on our walk today. I’m not allowed to fly for another month. I think M&K have invited us back to Florida. It would be lovely but we can’t dominate their lives. Maybe, we’ll go back in the Winter. Certainly, there’s nothing to keep us here!

Sunday, 8th May, 2022

Absolutely glorious morning with warm sunshine from clear, blue sky. We are so luck to live here. The skies are big and wide, largely unhindered by buildings. There is a sense of freedom which you don’t get in a town or urban area.

Out early for a walk. Another chat with the fat, brown rabbit or its young ones who haven’t realised yet the danger humans pose them. One came right up to us the other day. Robins are everywhere. They are particularly excited by our garden development and who could blame them but the woods around our Development are a rich habitat for wildlife.

I’m trying to get all the jobs done this weekend that I will probably not be fit enough for a while after Monday. The cars have been cleaned and the lawns will be cut.

I killed a fly today. You might think that is an incidental observation but it has become increasingly significant to me. It was a huge ‘blue bottle’ which flew in to the Study window and fought strenuously to escape. I sprayed it and it fell, noisily, on to the window sill and buzzed and struggled on its back for some minutes. I found myself feeling terrible that I had inflicted such a terminal result on a living thing. This has been happening to me increasingly as I grow older. I step over beetles on the patio. I let spiders live. I seem to be valuing life a lot more as I travel towards losing mine.

Monday, 9th May, 2022

Up at 4.30 am and out before 5.00 am walking on a mild, May morning. Got to get my 10 miles done before leaving for the hospital and my hernia operation. Let it be said, he never gave in!

The world is such a beautiful place! Backlit by the rising sun, you’d think it would also be silent at this time in the morning. Wrong! It is so noisy with nature. Birds everywhere asserting their right to life and territory. Blackbirds singing their gorgeous phrases. Two Barn Owls talking to each other in the huge beech tree. Seagulls sitting like figureheads on house roofs.

And down below is rabbit-central with groups of rabbits everywhere. A barking cough and scream came from a long streak of fox tearing across the park as the rabbits scatter.

Life goes on outside and beyond us. We are just blips on the world’s timeline. No more. No less. Blip!

Kevin has sent me a cartoon to inspire confidence ……

Tuesday, 10th May, 2022

Yesterday developed rather differently than I had expected. Mr DiNicola had a completely Italian team. Throughout the afternoon, they dropped in on me at regularly intervals to apologise for keeping me waiting. An operation from the morning had given them major problems which hadn’t been resolved and I would go down as soon as possible.

It wasn’t until after 5.00 pm that I was wheeled down in gown and paper pants and white, compression socks. The operating team talked to me about Oldham. (My notes said I had taught there.) I wanted to talk about their homes of Bologna and Parma. …. and then there was nothing …. I awoke being asked questions to test my consciousness. I remember deliberately making a huge effort to answer them accurately, clearly and concisely. I wanted to prove I was ready to go home. What I didn’t know was that they had already decided I wouldn’t.

My operation turned in to a major incision and I had to stay in hospital over night. Unfortunately, I could not move because of the stitches so, at 11.30 am today, I have only managed 44 paces !!!!!!!!!! I was in a Recovery Suite of just three people. It was incredibly hot and seagulls were squawking all night and I was semi-prone on the bed with two urine bottles. I was told I wouldn’t move until I’d filled them. I didn’t move and I didn’t fill them. You can see it is the height of luxury!

In the morning, I was scanned and told I would have a catheter fitted to drain my bladder. You will know this involves having a tube inserted up the ‘willy’. I struggled to get off the bed with help, shuffled to the bathroom, and instantly managed naturally. Really ‘relieved’.

Looks like 10 miles a day will be on hold for about 2 weeks. I will then have to fit in 2 weeks of 20 miles a day to catch up. Probably need a hip/knee replaced by then. In the year 2025, begins 30 miles a day routine …. little time to sleep at all … wife despairs….

Wednesday, 11th May, 2022

Managed to get in to bed last night but woke at 1.30 am in agony. Struggled to a chair in the Dressing Room and managed to find a reasonably comfortable position. I slept fitfully until 5.30 am. Woke up feeling very emotional. Felt it for most of this morning. Had some lovely messages of encouragement which made a huge difference.

Kevin has contacted me a few times. Does feel nice to be back in contact. He wanted my help in finding Bob Barker-Wyatt. Of course some people just want to disappear and he is one.

John Ridley met this group of ‘girls’ from my year and I suddenly realised I only remembered one of them. I suppose I also ‘disappeared for a long time.

I think Pauline is rather enjoying having me under her total control but she is doing absolutely everything for me. She has always been good at ‘medical’ things. I have had to stop my anticoagulant for the past week. To prevent the risk of heart attack and stroke, I have had to have injections in my stomach of some other drug. The nurse who injected me in hospital gave me instructions to do my own when I got home. There was as much chance of that as me running a marathon this morning. Pauline has done them for me. She’s always enjoyed inflicting pain!

Thursday, 12th May, 2022

I am feeling much better. (Thanks for asking!) I’ve been to the toilet for the first time since Monday. Rather relieved. I slept half the night in bed and half in a chair but I’ve got up walking reasonably confidently. It’s a beautiful, warm and sunny day outside so I am going to enjoy sitting in the garden. My wife says she’s knows I’m getting better because I’ve returned to my normal, belligerent self. The fight is coming back. I thought I was normally, obedient, sweetness and light. It appears not.

Can’t wait to start exercising again. I have been sedentary since I completed 10 miles at 11.00 am on Monday. Feels weird. So many people have told me not to do too much too soon but it is my nature. Done a bit of gardening this morning and gave more thought to replacing the lawn.

We have remarkably few National Carpet chain outlets in our area for a place with so much new house building going on. Tapi Carpets is our go-to place. They sent us 4 samples. The ‘Lords’ is the deepest pile and softest texture and the most expensive. When we put it on our lawn, it looked horribly false and ‘plastic’. The best of the 4 was ‘Oval’ because it looked exactly like our lawn and realistically fitted in.

Carpetright has an outlet at Brighton but all of their offerings were very poor and fell apart in the Packet. We have decided to call in a contractor and discuss the options. Like everything, as soon as it’s decided, I want it done yesterday!

Friday, 13th May, 2022

Walked 1.1 miles yesterday. Managed 5 hours in bed last night. Can now get in and out of chairs around the house without assistance. The most painful thing is that I have developed a cough and it translates straight to the site of my operation excruciatingly. My minimum target today is 3 miles. Hope, actually, to manage 5 miles. I aim to have a shower today because I stink after 4 days without one so I may need my dressing changing. That’s going to hurt in such a hairy area. I am considering renaming the Blog: Diary of a Wimp.

Women are strange creatures. I will never understand them. Although I am dealing with the important things in life like sorting out the garden development and choosing the best smartphones for our upgrade, Pauline is constantly browsing clothing sites. I know we have to wear a few clothes but just replace them when they wear out. Swimming costumes have been a major target of the searches for as long as I can remember and different ones were needed for the Health Club swimming pool to the ones required for sunshine holidays. I know bizarre but what can you do?

Having searched everywhere without much success, including in huge, American outlets in Florida and New York where items were selling for $100s, the search might finally be over. Costumes have been found and sent for from ….. Asda. I kid you not! They’re worth £10.00 of anybody’s money. The girl looks good doesn’t she?

Saturday, 14th May, 2022

An absolutely wonderful day in terms of weather. Wall to wall hot sunshine reaching 22C/70F in the back garden. A consolidation day in terms of recovery from the operation. I have walked 9.0 miles by 8.30 pm and I’m feeling quite tired. Monday will be a week since the operation and I am aiming for back to 10 miles by then.

Managed some shopping today. Went to Lidl to buy Almond Milk. Their version is easily the best and for Liz’s information, the cheapest by a mile. While I was there, I spotted some incredibly cheap (£10.00) wireless smartphone charger/stands. They plug into your computer or laptop via USB and charge while you use your phone. Perfect. Love gadgets!

Isn’t it a joy to have a shower? After my first one, the top layer of bandaging fell away. I expect tonight will bring me down to the sticky tape applied directly over the wound. Bit shocked to read that in a large hernia repair such as mine, the soreness and swelling could last up to 6 months or longer. Trust me, mine won’t!

Now I’m back in the gym, I am watching a fascinating 1960s, Portuguese, cold-war spy series on Netflix that is based on true events and speaks to my intellectual awakening in the 1960s. There is a small town in Portugal, called Gloria de Ribatejo from which the drama takes its title: Glória. Politics, Sex & Espionage. Delicious!

For all my bullishness, I feel rather uncertain about the future and when I feel like that, I turn in on myself like some grumpy hermit. I need to start travelling again and I can’t even drive at the moment. That’s driving me around the bed.

Sunday, 1st May, 2022

May already! Happy New Month. I apologise in advance if I write more than usual this month but I am going to be less physically active for a week or two and will have time on my hands.

My operation is a week on Monday. Before that, I have to follow an adapted medication regime plus blood tests, Covid testing and isolation. My anti-coagulation drug has to be stopped so I don’t bleed to death.

Nice to see the Tories imploding in advance of the Local Elections. It seems to have been a long time coming but they are being hit by the perfect storm which has been reflected in the character of Boris Johnson throughout. Lovely election notice posted:

Had to go out for an early walk today because the ONS Covid Tester was arriving. We are so experienced in this now, having done it every month for nearly two years, that we are more practiced than the testers themselves. It is our only paid form of employment and produces £50.00 per month. We may be able to afford retirement soon!

We are living in a property hothouse down here at the moment not only with hundreds of new houses being built but lots being marketed and sold in quick time. Our neighbour’s house went on the market this week for a cool £9 million. Mind you, it is a little bigger than ours.

It was once owned by the entertainment impresario, Lord Bernard Delfont – a Ukranian by birth and Grandfather of Michael Grade. Its style doesn’t appeal to me but its pool & sauna do. Even so, the place, which was only refurbished 8 years ago, looks very old fashioned. The purchaser will need to spend plenty on bringing it up to scratch.

Monday, 2nd May, 2022

I’m not keen on Bank Holidays when normal services are curtailed. It is particularly emphasised when there is no gain in retirement. Went out early for a walk while it was still rather overcast. As the day’s developed, the sun has come out and warmth turned to real heat.

12Spent a few hours just in my shorts in the garden cleaning over the cooking table with a heavy duty belt sander which almost pulled my arms out of their sockets. Had to clean all the seed trays and pots for seed sowing after storing over Winter. 

As a reasonably recent convert to salad, I absolutely love baby leaf lettuce and grow the cut-and-come-again varieties in the garden. Three different types were sown this afternoon and should supply us right through the Summer (or as long as we are here..) with really fresh leaves. Sainsbury’s on Friday was almost bereft of fresh produce. I smile at the memory of my Dad’s big garden where he and his employees cultivated almost every vegetable and soft fruit that you could want. I smile because I can hear myself rejecting his entreaties to get involved because gardening was for ‘old people’ and I was more interested in modern life. 

That was back in the 1950s when chicken was a Sunday roast luxury. It was akin to Beef and Lamb and largely restricted to middle class families. Of course, only our generation remember this. Chicken has become the cheap, go-to choice for healthy, low-fat protein. And now, the 1950s are returning. The cost of feed, is going to make chicken a luxury again. The poor will be forced to return to filling carbohydrates which offer them no protein but lots of cheaper comfort. At least it will satisfy the Brexiteer’s and UKIPer’s desire to return to the 1950s.

Tuesday, 3rd May, 2022

 In 1968, I cracked a front tooth playing rugby. I had a girlfriend called Marilyn and wasn’t impressed with the plastic brace I had cemented across my front set of teeth to stabilise the crack. I wore it for over 6 months and it rather cramped my style. Fortunately, it worked for my teeth if not for my love life and I had no further problems with that tooth for almost exactly 40 years.

In 2008, I woke up one morning to find that tooth waggling around in virtual free-fall. I sought out a local implant specialist – something that was not as easy to find as now. I couldn’t believe the cost of a single tooth but couldn’t live with a huge gap in my mouth. I hate dentists at the best of times and the thought of having my bone drilled and metalwork installed appalled me. Of course, I was very brave …. until it came to paying the bill which felt like a huge sum at £850.00.

Actually, the work was less frightening in reality than anticipated and the result was very pleasing. The dentist guaranteed it for 5 years which worried me a bit but I had no other choice. Now, 14 years on, that implant is still going strong. At a recent dental inspection, the dentist listed it as just a ‘crown’ until I pointed out otherwise and they said it was still excellent which is good because a replacement would cost me more than double the original now.

Why am I writing about my teeth? I am having a general anaesthetic for the first time in over 60 years and I have been warned that it could represent a slight risk to my teeth. Apparrently, aggressive, little people like me have a tendency to grind and clash their teeth and gums while going in and out of consciousness. The implant would be the most fragile. Be a pity to lose an old friend. We’ve seen some quite interesting sights together.

Got home from our walk to find a case of wine had been delivered. We thought it was for our neighbour at first but my name was on it. Strange really because I don’t drink but had a look inside and it was all lovely bottles of exciting Malbec. Now who would know I like Malbec? Mmmm, curious!

Wednesday, 4th May, 2022

Never one to blow my own trumpet, I am going to break the habit of a lifetime. Since my 70th birthday on 6th April, 2021, I have averaged 10 miles walking each day. Some days I did more than that which is why I say ‘averaged’. Yesterday, I completed 365 consecutive days of 10+ miles each day. There have been tricky times particularly when we were doing transatlantic flights and crossing time zones. It meant getting up at the most ridiculous times of the morning but I am nothing if not persistent. Some people see that as a plus and it drives others mad – my wife!

I can be very disciplined but competition and data targets are real drivers for me. Sad, I know but it helps to know yourself. I will still continue today and for the rest of the week. My problem will come on Monday when I am operated on. I will do my routine in the morning of the operation but can’t guarantee managing it the next day. How I will react to that, I wait to see!

This morning, we’ve got garden developers in to start work on our back garden. A trailer load of planed sleeper logs have arrived and we expect at least two day’s work will start under quite grey skies. While they are working, I’ve been out to complete Day 366 (in case they sneak in a Leap Year).

Thursday, 5th May, 2022

Couldn’t have picked a better week to have the garden developed. A beautiful start to the morning. The work is coming on and should be finished this week. I’ve got blood tests and Covid test at the hospital tomorrow then operation on Monday. I’m beginning to get suspicious that, every time I have a ‘procedure’ that might threaten life, I receive mail from funeral services. Can’t be that coincidental! This morning they are offering me 57% saving on being incinerated. Nice!

I’m certainly envious of David Roberts from Rochdale who is enjoying the delights of Sorrento at the moment. I’d give anything to be in the Bay of Naples now rather than Worthing Hospital. Mind you, it doesn’t look over warm in the evenings. I want sun and warmth.

As people go to the Local Elections, we don’t here. Our area is not involved this time which is a pity but I rather enjoyed this cartoon doing the rounds:

Pauline was updating the accounts this morning. The digital ones go back to January 1993. At that time we were eating out once a week in our local Italian Trattoria, O Sole Mio.

It was the most wonderful food and we would rush there from work on a Friday evening. The atmosphere was as good as the food. The owners, Mario & Nino, made it work for 30 years. Our average bill for two in the early 1990s – £37.00.

Friday, 6th May, 2022

We were out before the garden developers arrived on this beautiful, sunny and warm morning. Driving down the coast road to Southlands Hospital in Shoreham-on-Sea, the sky and sea look positively Mediterranean.

Bizarre experience going to hospital at the moment. I had to have a blood test and a Covid test prior to operation on Monday. I managed to arrange them both for 9.00 & 10.00 this morning. Arriving, the carpark was virtually empty, the corridors were empty and there was only one other patient in the three waiting rooms. My 9.00 am appointment was finished by 8.50 am and my 10.00 am appointment was finished by 9.15 am. It is almost as if hospitals have largely refined patients out of the equation. Who am I to complain?

Something strange is happening. We keep getting parcels delivered that we didn’t order. On Tuesday, it was a case of wine. Yesterday ANOTHER case of wine arrived from Amazon of all people …. and then there was a knock on the door and a Waitrose Delivery man said, ‘Parcel for our address’.

Pauline initially turned him away until he revealed that it was 8 packs of asparagus and 10 packs of protein bars. I knew immediately where they came from …. and she’s very bad. I’ve told her to stop sending wine because all I do is drink it!

Saturday, 7th May, 2022

Warm and sunny day. Out for an early walk because lots of jobs to do. After the garden work last week, everything needs pressure washing clean – road, drive, car, patio. Quite a job and I’m shattered after it.

K has introduced me to a Financial Adviser. He contacted me a couple of days ago to set up a discussion. I checked him out on Linkedin to find he was previously Managing Director of Morgan Stanley. Felt a bit intimidating and a bit out of my depth. Anyway, a megalomaniac like me can cope with that! I’ve written him a potted résumée and arranged to speak next week. Nothing to lose …. apart from all my money.

All our meals currently centre around one item. M sent us 8 packs of asparagus. They have a shelf life of 3 days. Fortunately, I absolutely love asparagus. We are eating 2 packs a day for 4 days. Day 1 – Griddled Tuna + Asparagus. Day 2 – Griddled Chicken + Asparagus. Day 3 – Griddled Sea Bas with prawns + Asparagus. What will tomorrow bring?

Sunday, 24th April, 2022

Today is Easter in Greece. We wish all our Greek friends and particularly those on Sifnos,    Καλό Πάσχα.

Ten years ago we had arrived at our house on Sifnos on April 10th to get there before the Easter rush. So many Greeks live and work in Athens but return to their island home for the holidays.

I took this photo from our patio on Easter Saturday 2012. It is of the last ferry passengers to make it from Athens to Sifnos before the Easter shutdown.

Here, the lovely weather continues. It is only marginally better in Sifnos today. We will be eating outside here just as we would in Greece. The only difference is that it won’t be Lamb for us but griddled Tuna steaks. We are sourcing and potting up herbs for the Summer kitchen. Will we be here to tend them? Sage, Tarragon, Oregano, Mint, Thyme, Rosemary, Chives are the main ones we use and all are easy to grow. At least I know that we’ll be here until mid-June and then I’ll have to install an automatic watering system.

Lovely walking today in hot sunshine. On the outer reaches of our Development is the local rugby ground. Every weekend, all ages of kids are training, playing being supported by parents. Today, in this lovely weather, the season is reaching its climax with a sports jamboree. Youngsters and parents are flying everywhere. It was lovely to see.

Monday, 25th April, 2022

Gorgeous morning …. to put out the bins. I’d love to be in France this morning. The joy of a Macron win, the joy of European spirit is being celebrated.

Unlike in Trumpian USA and Johnsonian UK, the xenophobic extreme Right are defeated once again. Makes one proud to be European!

Actually, 5 years ago today, we were in France. I’m frustrated that it will have to wait until my operation is completed and I’m allowed to exercise again.

-Oily fish is healthy food. I love mackerel which is very oily, healthy fish and quite cheap. I love it grilled with oil and lemon. Went out and bought 4, fat mackerel this morning but, needing a barbecue basket for fish, went to Tesco, Sainsburys, Argos, Asda, Dunelm – no barbecue basket. It must have taken an hour driving round the area.

Home for coffee and the Amazon website. Would you believe it? They had at least 20 different BBQ baskets. Ordered this one above to be delivered ‘free’ with Prime tomorrow. Why would you look any further? You can have it all!

Had a weird afternoon. Needed to move some money. Did you know that you can’t move more than £10,000.00 on-line? You have to actually go into a bank branch. Did that this afternoon. Banks are so last century.

Drove to the bank. We had to join a queue of entirely old people. We stood in the queue for 30 mins while an old man was helped to pay his television licence on-line. In an open office next to us we heard an old woman worried that she was being scammed for £10.99 by a company she had never heard of. It turned out it was a company she’d been paying £10.99 to each month for over a year but which had changed its name. Behind us an old man had an argument with an employee because he wanted to arrange a short term loan and was being told he could only do it on-line. He got quite worked up and was telling the employee that he didn’t do on-line banking, didn’t use a computer and wanted a face-to-face conversation. He was told that wasn’t possible and it could be only done on-line.

All of this was carried out in one public space for everyone to witness and it was odd that loans can only be arranged on-line because money transfers of £10,000.00+ can only be done in-bank. By the time we were served, it was 3.00 pm – the guarantee time for money transfer transactions. We had to do all the transaction conversation in this same public space. It felt demeaning. It was reminiscent of banking in the 1970s. The bank is so terrified of being held responsible for losses that they have to read pages and pages of caveats and then get a senior colleague to ‘verify’ before pressing the ‘Go’ button.

I came away pledging to write to our account manager to complain. The retired can do that but we pay £400.00 a year for the privilege of private service. I will be contacting Nat. West!

Tuesday, 26th April, 2022

A beautiful day … again! Clear blue skies and strong sunshine. I was up at 3.30 am because I had things on my mind. Fortunately, as the morning wore on, they were largely resolved.

We drove down to the Fresh Fish Shop on the mouth of the River Arun as it enters the sea. We wanted locally caught Calamari. We went on to the bridge over the River Arun as it flows into the Marina.

The Marina looked really beautiful from this perspective – calm and sleepy – a place to live in contact with the sea.

Still doing my 10 miles a day. Can’t let it go. Will never let it go unless surgery demands. Cooked and ate Calamari and Greek Salad outside in the garden but my mind was full of painful memories. Can’t let them go!

Wednesday, 27th April, 2022

Very different day today – overcast, dark even and rather cool. Makes all the gardening – hedging, lawn cutting, planting out – seem rather misplaced. I’ve even replaced the shorts today for long trousers so it must be cold.

Mum died 14 years ago today. It is one of those weird warps of time. It feels so long ago and yet so near. I can see, feel, touch the emotions of the time. I can replay the video of the time I went through in my head and yet acknowledge how much has happened since her death.

There is something absolutely elemental about the death of one’s Mother that nothing else can match. I didn’t even really like my Mother but I owed her my life and can never repay that debt. I could never have predicted what her death would mean to me. Perhaps that is my stupidity. Well, I acknowledge her and my debt to her here.

Whatever I record about our days, I am still completing 10 miles walking each and every day. Otherwise it has been a gardening day under fairly gloomy skies. Quite chilly early on but the sun came out in time for my cooking role.

I don’t know why men are expected to be inherently skilled with barbecues but I was given the job of cooking 4 fresh mackerels outside on a little, kettle drum barbecue on the patio. I love mackerel and it is very good for us. It is also very cheap, as Liz will be pleased to read. Our 4, fat, fresh mackerel cost just £5.60 in total or £1.40 each. Brushed with garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, they cooked in a few minutes and were delicious.

Thursday, 28th April, 2022

Almost feels like early Spring has returned. It is lacking sun and chilled by a stiff breeze. Had to wear a fleece for my walk. Actually, as the day has developed, it has got warmer and the sun has tried hard to break through but Summer it is not!

I was thinking about our experience with Nat West a couple of days ago and that it was not so dissimilar to our time in Greece 7 years ago. Selling our Greek home was a challenge but successfully achieved. Getting the proceeds home was an entirely different and complex problem. We needed all the contacts we had cultivated over the years to navigate the increasingly suspicious, Greek financial system plus one or two completely unorthodox manoeuvres in order to expatriate our cash. Certainly couldn’t have done it without friends in the local bank and a brilliant FX company account. Remember the nerves and relief when we saw it back in our home account.

Actually, as I was trawling through my records, I found this from April 28th, 2012. It wasn’t always hot sun and relaxation. In April, particularly, we could still get very wet weather. In fact, those days were treasured because we wouldn’t see rain again until late September.

The seed buying and sowing season has begun. Herbs and salads are really all we can keep up with at the moment. I will largely be out of circulation for a couple of months after my operation so light, gardening duties will keep me occupied along with some writing.

The garden builders have come up with an amazing price for the work we want doing. We are having raised beds built with heavy timber sides all along two edges of the back lawn. The beds will be lined and filled with topsoil. I had expected something around £5,000.00 which I was happy to accept. Actually, the estimate has come in at just under £2,000.00. Can’t believe it. Not bothering with any more quotes. Asked them just to get on with it.

Friday, 29th April, 2022

Absolutely glorious morning – not a cloud in the sky and strong sunshine. I didn’t start the morning well. As I unstacked the dishwasher, I dropped a heavy pair of kitchen scissors straight on to my bare foot. I seem to have a thing about feet and not in an erotic way. I’ve only just got over huge blisters that I developed walking in Florida and now … an open wound. Some sympathy would be nice. My wife just laughed!

I received this photograph of a 90 year old man this morning. Dave Roberts of Rochdale supplied it. It features a man I haven’t seen since 1972. At that time, I thought he was ancient but it turns out that he was only 40 years old. He is my former college tutor, John Lee. I have a couple of photos of him in the time I knew him.

John Lee was a Biologist and a gentle, thoughtful man who negotiated a tricky time at the college. I shared this photo with Kevin last night and we both pledged to try to emulate John Lee and reach our century. So much to do!

Lovely evening tonight. The Sussex Downs are the place to be. We are so lucky to have them along with the coast.

Losing myself in time and space. Needing the softness of time and place. Contacting people, talking across the decades. It all makes me feel soft and sad and … distant.

Saturday, 30th April, 2022

Lovely day. David Weatherley sent a photo of his local park in Bolton this morning with a strong frost. Don’t miss that sort of thing at all. In fact, I have an embarrassing confession to make. I have given in and conceded defeat. As well as having the garden perimeter developed, we have decided that we will take up the lawn and fit artificial grass. We aim to be away such a good proportion of the year travelling that it will be a much more practical option.

Can you imagine being 57 today. We were just preparing to retire at that age. K has bought himself a castle in Florida as a present.

This is a super exciting time for them all. Getting older does have some up-sides. However, these signs on our local Cemetery should be a warning.

Make the most of all the time you have because there is no Exit after you’ve entered the cemetery. Talked to Kevin, Nigel and Julie today. They all are fine. Julie had gone out for her first walk since April 7th after her Covid/severe chest infection. Going to phone Brian to arrange a visit to see him in Royton but, first, I’ve got to get through my operation on May 9th. Yesterday, I received a wonderful phone call from the Anti-Coagulation team with my Perioperative Action Plan. They are such lovely people. I said, I’m really grateful for that. The nurse said, Are you? as if they rarely hear that said.

Pauline received a phone call from a Consultant yesterday and he spent the first 5 minutes apologising that it was only a phone call. This is what the Tories have done to our NHS. They’ve cut funding, cut the workforce (and then pretended to increase it) got the right wing press to blame the failings on the NHS itself and then encouraged people to pay for private service if they can. This is creeping privatisation of the Health Service on the American model. Only electing a Labour government will halt and reverse it!

Lovely to sit and eat in the garden sunshine. It brightens up the day. I would love to be driving in France now. This is the perfect time to go south to the Dordogne and further. However, we all have to make hard choices which leave us wanting. I really need this operation so I eschew the enjoyment of travel for a while.

Sunday, 17th April, 2022

Easter Sunday. As a life-long and committed atheist, it holds no meaning for me whatsoever other than to illustrate how easily others are misguided. I think that, if I ever believed in the resurrection, I lost that belief with the realisation that Santa Claus was a fiction. The two concepts are analagous and equally ridculous. 

That doesn’t mean I don’t have a spiritual side. All humans do. Some choose to create a god to fill it. I choose music, emotion and ideas. My Grandfather was an Irish Catholic although, latterly, not very committed to his faith. He gave me a windup Gramophone and some old 78″ records that he loved. Most of it produced scratchy sound from recordings of the 1930s but I was captivated by a piece colloquially called Handel’s Largo.

I later learnt that it is the opening Aria to Handel’s opera, Xerxes (1738) but the intellectual discovery came long after the spiritual one. I played it over and over and over until it drove everyone mad. I loved it and it made me cry. I loved it because it made me cry. I am playing it as I type now and I am feeling the keys through a veil of tears. Long after my Grandfather has gone, the spirit he bequeathed remains.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uMlxM69ZJFA%3Ffeature%3Doembed

If you know the book, My Left Foot or watched the film, you will know that Handel’s Largo represented hope and spirituality for a man with cerebral palsy. I can understand how he reached that position. You only have to play it two or three times on repeat and you will be hooked for life.

I am a stupid man. You don’t have to tell me. I know myself. I feel spirituality through loss of the past. I mourn times and people gone from my life. It diminishes me and my life greatly. Because of that, I can understand the need to create the expectation of resurrection, the hope that time can be retraced. My stupidity is that, the more I fail, the harder I try.

Although I am an atheist, I will take political support from wherever it is offered. I am always amused/appalled how un-Christian professed Christians can be. It is good to see the Archbishop of Canterbury speaking out against the unbelievably cruel idea of exporting refugees who have fled persecution and look to us for a better, safer life. As he says, sub-contracting out our national responsibilities to an African state with a dubious human rights record is wrong.

Looking forward to watching the next few episodes of my current favourite drama – Anatomy of a Scandal which is showing on Netflix. It is just my sort of thing – sex and politics! What more could you want for Easter Sunday. It is suggestive of the Cameron cabinet with flashbacks to the Bullingdon Club and a mop of blonde hair floating around. The dialogue may not be brilliant but it is entertaining.

I can tell you that Easter eggs have not sold well this year. The fresh produce shelves – fruit, vegetables, chicken, etc – were very sparse but we had to fight our way past a wall of Easter Eggs just to get in to Sainsburys yesterday.

Monday, 18th April, 2022

Summer continues. Lovely clear sky last night full of stars and a bright full moon. The morning has opened with clear blue sky and lovely sunshine. Almost makes putting out the bins a pleasure. All the exciting things on the list today include cleaning the car. Whoo-hoo! Driving to Surrey tomorrow. Done my INR and have to phone the Anti-Coag. Department in preparation for my operation three weeks on Wednesday.

Got to be positive and look forward. Planning the future. As soon as the operation is over and I can comfortably walk again, we will drive into France and explore. In late August we will go to Athens. I have already booked a week in a suite in the Electra Palace Hotel and flights with Easyjet. In spite of the past year, prices really haven’t increased a great deal. We will leave August 21st and return on the 28th. Gives us something to aim for.

Booked our Northern trip between October 16th – 21st. Staying at the Holiday Inn, Brighouse and arranging to meet lots of lovely, old and wrinkly friends. We can now plan the rest of our year – driving in France and, possibly, travelling to Florida. Let’s hope we live to do all that.

Tuesday, 19th April, 2022

Woke early – couldn’t sleep. Up at 5.30 am and out half an hour later. Just 6 miles this morning – a bright and reasonably mild one. I’ve got lawns to cut before we drive up to Surrey.

It might be ‘relatively’ mild but nothing like Sarasota County where we were only 3 weeks ago. Over coffee this morning, Sky news featured this huge beast this morning, stalking the properties of Sarasota. M says it is really heating up now. Could just do with that. However, duty calls and we are taking PW for her cataract operation at Ashford Hospital. These things are never easy and even worse when you’re 120 years old.

People and things can be so cruel at times for no reason. I’m sure they will sort themselves out but it can be depressing. As I walked outside waiting for PW and her cataract operation, I received a phone call to tell me that my hernia operation was cancelled. It was to be on Wednesday, May 11th and would now be …. Monday, May 9th. Panic stations! It turns out that PW’s blood pressure was far too high and her operation was postponed. I just hope I come through my first general anaesthetic since 1958.

Wednesday, 20th April, 2022

Up early on a gorgeous morning. We have a garden design man arriving at 8.00 am. He is going to quote for installing raised beds around two sides of the lawn in the back garden. It will be constructed with planed ‘sleepers’, lined and filled with aggregate for drainage and then topsoil. I’m hoping they will do it for around £5,000.00 but we’ll see.

Before our visitor arrived, I wanted to try out my latest toy – a rechargeable, cordless leaf blower for sweeping away lawn mowings without the effort of sweeping. It only arrived yesterday and I charged it up over night so nipped outside and tried it out as soon as I got up until Pauline shouted at me because it was not quite 7.00 am and she thought the neighbours might have been disturbed. I thought I might have been doing them a favour – save on alarm clocks. Certainly, it was advertised as ‘whisper quiet’ which it definitely is not as I found at 6.55 am in the back garden.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tA4nKW6UMDQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Been feeling unbelievably sad for a couple of days and I don’t know why. Life is so good. I want for nothing and yet I want for everything. Still doing my 10 miles a day and will do until my operation which is now just under 3 weeks away on Monday, May 9th. Got to keep pushing myself!

Thursday, 21st April, 2022

What a delightful day! Hot and sunny throughout. We reached 23C/73F in our back garden. Went out for an early walk and felt lucky to have the time to do so. Had to hurry back for a dentist appointment – my first for a year. My dentist is an absolutely beautiful Iranian woman with the most wonderful complexion. Just reminds us how old we are. Nothing has changed in my mouth. As part of her routine, she asked me how much alcohol I drank each week. I told her I wasn’t going to tell her. We agreed on a ‘fudge’.

Walked down to the beach at Rustington on the most gorgeous morning. Not too many people around and that made it even more delightful.

Back for Lunch in the garden sunshine. I met a couple who had used a garden designer and asked them for his contact. Received it this afternoon. His website has lots of interesting designs we could consider.

Once again, I have been absolutely humbled by the response of the NHS. My operation has been brought forward to Monday, May 9th. I have now had four separate apologies for ‘inconveniencing’ me. I don’t feel the slightest bit inconvenienced.

I have three other processes contingent on the operation – a Covid test, a Blood test and a halt to warfarin with the advice of the Anti-Coagulation Department. This has involved numerous phone calls to totally overworked staff. Each one has gone out of their way to apologise for the demands the process is making on me and to make the appropriate dates available for my tests. I feel incredibly embarrassed to be causing such a workload and humbled by their efforts on my behalf.

Friday, 22nd April, 2022

There are certain points in the year that prick our memories with tinges of pain. This coming weekend is one such. It is Greek Easter – Pashca (Πάσχα).

It is the time of red painted eggs, huge loaves of bread, white body-bags containing whole lamb carcasses, endless religious ceremonies, constant Easter bombardment on television, fireworks on the midnight beach, charcoal spit fires with whole, skewered carcasses of lambs slowly turning and roasting.

The other common facet of Orthodox Easter is the turbulent weather and it is forecast for this year as well.

Greek Easter is the equivalent of UK Christmas. We hope for snow and they hope for hot sun. It was one of those times that expat residents like us really felt our ‘outsiderness’. We knew that, for all the 40 years of involvement in the country and the island, we would always be outsiders.

Saturday, 23rd April, 2022

We are so lucky to live in such a lovely place. Couldn’t help thinking that as we walked down to the village in warm sunshine this morning.

Yes, I would love to be in Athens or Florida but this will do for the moment. We have lived in quite a few homes in lots of nice places but this is as good as any of them.

We were reflecting on past homes as we walked. Particularly, Slade House which we found in 1984. It was more than double the price of the house we were selling but it offered everything I wanted. It was private and set in just under an acre of land. It was more than big enough for us and had potential for development. The problem was …. how to afford it. We have always pushed ourselves to the limit in the belief that short term pain would mean long term gain. It has never let us down but we almost lost Slade House because we were …. £1,000.00 short. Seems unbelievable now but that was 38 years ago.

How did we secure the house that we stayed in for the next 16 years? Pauline’s Mum, who never had any money, had squirreled away £1000.00 in a Building Society savings account over the years and she just gave it to us. It represented everything she had but, to us, it made the difference between getting our dream house and not.

In the next month, our EE mobile contracts come up for renewal and, as ever, they bribe us to stay with ‘free’ brand new mobiles. I love Samsung Android phones and I will replace our two contracts and phones for two more, 18 month contracts and two Samsung Galaxy Ultra smartphones. To put that £1000.00 loan in to perspective across time, each of the smartphones would cost us £1,400.00 to buy on the open market.

Sunday, 10th April, 2022

Gorgeous weather with a bit of sadness built in. It is the build up to Easter. Not that it means anything at all to me apart from a date in the calendar. This was the time we would set off for Greece. In the 1990s/2000s, we would get a Friday night flight to Athens, possibly stay in the Electra Hotel and then catch a Saturday morning ferry to Sifnos arriving around mid-afternoon. A decade ago after we had retired, we arrived on this day to find the work we had ordered complete.

We were already considering putting the house on the market as the Greek economy began to crumble and were doing everything we could to make it as saleable as possible. Before we left in October 2011, we employed a Romanian builder to build a wall all the way up the front of our land. In retrospect, it cost very little – about €3,000.00 and it looked lovely. As we approached it on our return in April 2012, we were really pleased with what he had done.

These are nice thoughts tinged with sadness because I really miss bits of my past painfully. I am soft like that and can’t help it. I don’t even apologise for it ultimately. The house had to go but I miss it. The times have to go but I miss them. People from my past have to go but I mourn their departure. We were talking about Mothers this morning on our walk. Pauline’s Mum died 12 years ago. It feels as if we can still touch that time and yet we have done so much in it.

I have to touch base with the people from my past. It is very important to me. Exactly 4 years ago today, we were staying in a hotel in Kensington and spent a couple of hours with Elerania Miliotie and her family. Her husband is a dentist. Her daughter is at University in Denmark. Elerania was our close friend and our Notary (Συμβολαιογράφος) for the sale of our house. She helped us repatriate our cash back into UK. It was important that we meet again.

Closer to home but in just the same way, it has been important to meet up with Kevin, Christine, Julie, Nigel and John from the late 1960s/early 1970s. It has meant a huge amount to me and I think it has to them. I had shunned them for decades and I was wrong. Life’s experiences, I’ve learnt to my cost, are too important to ignore.

Monday, 11th April, 2022

Another lovely day. Out in the back garden were the obvious signs of freedom of movement. During the hardest times of Lockdown, the skies were completely clear. This morning the sky was hectic in plane trails highlighting the exodus from both Heathrow and Gatwick jetting out across the Channel.

We don’t often hear them because they are so high by the time they reach us down at the coast but the trails tell their own story. Of course, the pandemic is not over. Down here, infection rates are still high. Only this morning, Julie contacted me from North Yorkshire to tell me she tested positive for Covid over the weekend. She has been prescribed antibiotics for a severe chest infection.

Find it hard to believe that we’ve been in this house for 6 years this week. We left the North of England 11 years ago this month and retired from teaching for 13 years last week. Everything screams that, if you have an ambition, you should never put it off because the time is flying away. I refuse to give up on my ambitions!

We were in this car most evenings during our month in Florida and managed to survive. We were lucky. As M&K drove to an ice hockey game (Why?) over the weekend, they had a tyre blow-out and eventually had it towed away. At least they got a lift in the tow-truck.

After my colonoscopy and a month in Florida, I came home to my biennial bowel cancer screening test. We did it, sent it off and the result came back within a week. Both completely clear. Phew! I have written to my Nuffield consultant to request I go on his biennial colonoscopy register. Better safe than sorry.

Tuesday, 12th April, 2022

Very (relatively) warm morning. Not Floridian but very nice! Talking about Florida, when you’ve been away for a month, there is so much to catch up on.

When we got home, we found that the Spring gales had loosened and removed some concrete coving/pointing down the gable of the NW end of the house. We are already 1 year out of the 5-year warranty but our housebuilder immediately engaged a company to come and do a repair at their cost. We had a cherry-picker parked outside the garage to get up, clean out and repoint. It only took about an hour but it was one of the less usual events of the day.

Not only has British Gas repaid us £150.00 which we had over paid for the previous year but they have cut our annual charges by £820.00. When you set this against the current angst for so many people about the strains of heating and eating, you realise how fortunate we are. You also realise that the more time you spend in Florida sunshine, the less heating you need elsewhere. Just saying!

Finally got round to ordering Pauline a new laptop. Don’t like spending money on her but I made an exception because I’ll use it while we’re travelling. Fantastic price includes an pickup & return repair service. About 30 years ago, I bought my first laptop – a Toshiba – for £3,000.00. It was incredibly chunky and heavy. This has a 17″ screen and is slim and light and beautiful …. just like me. She’s a very lucky woman.

Received our Covid Project Test results today. Pleased to say we are both virus free and both still have ’High Level’ blood antibodies … and we got £50.00 for the privilege.

Wednesday, 13th April, 2022

An absolutely glorious day. It got sunnier and hotter as it went on and we reached 18C/65F. I went out for a walk of a couple of hours first thing while Pauline waited to receive a large, fresh fish delivery – Salmon, Tuna, Hake, Tilapia, Crab and King Prawns – and the delivery of her new laptop.

This brought me a few hours of work unpacking, assembling and installing software. These days, a lot of software downloads automatically from the cloud – saved files, Ms Office, etc. I had to include Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Acrobat Writer and the all important Ms Money financial package.

After 2 hrs walking and a couple of hours on the laptop, I also cut and edged all the lawns and then went out for another hour’s walk before our meal. I am genuinely tired now and looking forward to watching the final episode of the final series of Killing Eve. This has seemed the least satisfying of the series.

It was nice to see Daniel pop up on Instagram signing for his Florida University – Saint Leo’s. Good to see M has taught him how to write his name and spell it correctly. Soon, she will teach him how to shave!

Thursday, 14th April, 2022

A wonderful, warm and sunny day that started with a visit by an engineer to repair our treadmill. It needed a new computer board and power controller fitting but it took him a couple of hours to work that one out. Fortunately, it turned out that we are covered for this for 3 years. We have half of that remaining which is wonderful news. A repair that would have cost £500.00 was ‘free’.

After the engineer left, we went out for a couple of hours walk and then ate a snack, salad lunch outside in the sunshine. Sitting out there, we have finally come to the conclusion – after 6 years – that we must do something ‘officially’ with the garden. We are going to edge the lawn/fences with raised beds in which we will plant herbs and salad plants.

Our home-office has two, laser printers – a mono and a colour – but we are increasingly frustrated by not being able to print directly from our smart phones and iPads.

I have decided to rectify that by replacing our mono laser with a wi-fi one which we can download to from everything. Can you believe the price? Almost giveaway but the catch is you are tied in to the manufacturers toner supplies for ever.

Friday, 15th April, 2022

For the mid point of April, this was a lovely day. We reached 22C/70F by 11.00 am and stayed there until late afternoon. The whole region from coast and Marina to fields of the Sussex Downs was looking beautiful.

We went out shopping early. Both Tesco and Sainsburys shelves were shockingly bare. It felt as if we were in a third world country. This is Brexit just as much as the ridiculous scheme to export asylum seekers to the sunny heights of Liberalism in …. Rwanda!

Our long walk in the sunshine was delightful and we followed it with another trip to the garden centre to buy plants for the patio. Cheese and wine outside in the garden and …. relax!

Saturday, 16th April, 2022

Another wonderful day of sunshine. We have hovered around 22C/70F all day. Those who went to Spain this week have had a fairly average experience weather-wise. I went out to Lidl to buy Almond Milk and found their shelves really well stocked compared with the main supermarkets. I wonder why they can do it?

This is the sort of weather that brings out the tourists to the South Coast. The marina thrives in these conditions.

We had quite a low key day potting up plants on the patio, walking in the sunshine, lunching outside, lazing in the sunshine.

In contrast, Mr Perpetual Motion – aka captain John Ridley was launching his sailing season on the Ullswater lake this morning. Actually, I have the wanderlust. This morning, I was within a click away from booking a short break in Venice staying on the Grand Canal.

It is more than 30 years since we were there and it is time to return. Unfortunately, sense overtook impulsion and I decided to get my operation over before we embark on a whirlwind of travel. Pity!

Sunday, 3rd April, 2022

Another glorious start to the day. Sunday, a day of rest? No chance. Going to make it a very active one. At last, we’re up at normal time – 7.00 am. The underlying feeling of jetlag is gone and we can push ahead. Breakfast and then out for a couple of hour’s walking in the sunshine. We even did the woodland path this morning. It is a delightful retreat from the world.

When we got back, I had heard from Dr John Ridley. I had rebuked him for using my 1971 hairstyle to illustrate a talk he had been giving in North Yorkshire. Of course, I am used to being a figure of fun so my rebuke was very gentle and tongue-in-cheek. I am so enjoying reaching out my hand across the past half century to people in my past. It has generated real meaning for me.

One thing that has changed over that time is the greetings we exchange. It is not unusual for Julie to end her text with kisses. It is what girls do but Kevin, (KEVIN!!) does the same and I reciprocate! We would never have even considered it 50 years ago. Few men would. John Ridley is a gentle man as well as a gentleman. He ends his emails – With love to you. I am shocked to find how much that means to me.

While John’s story about me features my refusal to get my hair cut which is set against the short haircut I now sport, he has just published his latest picture which features more hair than he ever had as a young man. Unfortunately, it is not on the top of his head but under his chin. Still, we can’t all be beautiful, can we?

Going out to the hospital for my pre-op Assessment tomorrow morning. We think it should mean that I will have the repair done within the next 6 weeks. In some ways, it will be good to have it fixed but it is not without dangers including, down here, catching Covid. I sometimes wonder if it is worth it.

Monday, 4th April, 2022

Couldn’t sleep. Head full of thoughts and memories. Got up at 5.30 am. Thought I’d go out for an early walk before it rained. The moment I put the key in the door, it started to rain. I decided to prepare my documents for my Hospital assessment and wait for a break. At 6.30 am, I went out for my walk. It was dry but quite cold and breezy. I did a 6 mile round trip but, less than half way through, it started to rain and drive it into my face. I just gritted my teeth and continued.

By the time I’d got back, I was being instructed to shower and make myself presentable for the hospital appointment. I was driven there down the coast road in dull, wet, cold air.

At the hospital, I arrived in tee-shirt and shorts and everyone wanted to know why I was so brown. I told them that I just didn’t wash much. I had to spend about an hour with two, different nurses. I even had an ECG. Everything seemed to be alright and I was told that it would be about 6 weeks before my procedure and another 6 weeks before I could fly.

The only awkward moment was when I was asked how much I drink. I spoke honestly that we shared a bottle of wine with our meal most days and that I drank ⅔rds of that. She said that was close to being referred to the alcohol nurse. I asked her how much she drank. She said they had a similar amount. I asked if I should refer her to the alcohol nurse and she seemed less enthusiastic.

We are going to have to fit a few days wine buying trip to France in before the operation. We also have to have our treadmill repaired urgently if it’s going too rain much. In the gym, I’m watching a really good film on Amazon Prime. Others of my generation – and you know who you are – will immediately remember the true story of the British businessman/ spy, Greville Wynne who was caught up in the 1960s escapade in Russia while Khrushchev was in charge.

This is a 2021 film starring Benedict Cumberbatch whose mother, Wanda Ventham was one of my early erotic fantasies in The Lotus Eaters. In Greek mythology, ‘lotus-eater’ denotes a person who spends their time indulging in pleasure and luxury rather than dealing with practical concerns. It was broadcast in 1972-73 (a difficult year for me) and set on the Greek island of Crete. Spies, Greece and eroticism …. What’s not to like?

Before that, we have been visited by a Covid Survey Inspector who tests our infection with a PCR and our antibodies with a phial of blood. This was followed by an afternoon walk so dissimilar from the morning one that it was incredible. Dry, really warm and no wind. Really enjoyable.

Tuesday, 5th April, 2022

Out walking at 7.00 am on a lovely, sunny morning. Quite (relatively) warm. Have to leave home to drive to Surrey at 8.15 am. The M25 was remarkably good and we got there in about an hour. As we drove, the skies got darker and the temperature colder. For some reason, I am absolutely starving today. We had presents from Florida to deliver – popcorn for Colin/squeaky toys for the dog, etc..

We had to drive PW to Ashford Hospital near Windsor for a pre-assessment in advance of a cataract operation. Well that’s what she says. We have been speculating that it’s actually a face lift. Pauline went in to the hospital with her very old sister and I was left to walk. It turns out that PW’s blood pressure is far too high.

I walked solidly and unstopping for 90 mins by which time I was tired and even more STARVING!!! About 40 mins back to West Byfleet with the old lady and then an hour or so back to West Sussex. Quite enjoyed the drive and the car certainly did. We will repeat the performance in two weeks if PW can get her blood pressure down.

I have to do a little more exercise to complete my routine. Tomorrow I will be 71 and WILL have achieved my pledge of walking 10 miles every single day for a year. There have been a few difficult moments in that time but, largely, it has been enjoyable. I set out saying I wanted to live another 30 years and was going to walk myself to health. I am beginning to wonder if it’s worth it. Do I really want to live another 29 years?

Wednesday, 6th April, 2022

Went out early to walk this morning. It was cold, windy and wet. Did about 90 mins. Possibly not the way people generally celebrate their birthday but who wants to celebrate being 71? Just another day on the conveyor belt to oblivion.

It is genuinely lovely to receive so many good wishes from people even though some are very perfunctory and others obviously heartfelt. Family, friends, ex-colleagues and ex-pupils all reminded me how old I am. After walking my 10 miles, my legs reminded me too. Still, I’ve completed my pledge this afternoon in beautiful, warm sunshine.

I will keep going now until my hernia operation. The NHS has been absolutely fantastic. I had a pre-assessment on Monday. Within a couple of hours of that meeting, the Anti-Coagulation Department phoned me with advice. This afternoon, I was phoned by Monday’s nurse to see if I had a date yet and to advise me about Anti-Coagulation processes. All that work put in to one patient makes me feel very humble.

Nice of M to send me this from Florida this afternoon. Obviously, she’s the only one who knows my true spirit.

Mind you, I don’t remember wearing that outfit ….. and that colour really wouldn’t suit me.

Thursday, 7th April, 2022

The start of my 72nd year – bright, sunny and mild. Google picks up on so many things I do on-line and helps me to buy them. It can be quite eerily intrusive at times. I do like receiving my travel map each month and this time, at least, it shows I haven’t been so insular.

One new country, 16 new cities and 66 new places. I suppose that those on the conveyor belt to oblivion should make the most of the short time they have left. John Ridley begins his 74th year this morning. He’s spent time in South Korea. I have never been that brave although I did apply for a job with the British Council in Lima, Peru once. It was 1973/74 and I chickened out when they offered me the job.

Google knows exactly where I’ve been because my smartphone is attached to my arm permanently. Every shop we visited; every restaurant we ate in, every juice bar or supermarket we bought from Google registered. This is, in part, because I use their wi-fi but also because I use Google-Pay on my phone instead of a credit card. Yesterday, we even paid a cheque in on-line for the first time.

When we flew to New York, it even picked up places we flew over as we were in the air. Thank goodness I don’t use Google’s version of Alexa much because that is even more frightening!

You can tell the Summer has started here because we’ve made our first trip to the Garden Centre. It was busy and packed out with new plants. We just bought a couple of these – Euonymus japonicus ‘Marieke’. We have some already and they are wonderfully, bright and cheerful, evergreen (well, ever-gold) plants that stand out in the darker days of winter. They grow to about a metre high and spread to a metre wide. They are incredibly hardy and resistant to drought. Even so, it was hard to believe that two, small plants cost £25.00. In my day, that would buy a house!

All that’s left now is to do a walk and some exercise in the Gym. Assorted fish platter for Dinner tonight. Looking forward to that. Just have to cling on to the small, pinpricks of light.

Friday, 8th April, 2022

I always swore that I would never obsess about health and medical appointments – so aging! Unfortunately, today I will break that rule. One of my sisters told me yesterday that my (maternal) Great Grandmother (who I never met) died of bowel cancer as did my Grandma and my Mother. That is quite a strong lineage indicator. As a result, my sister has a colonoscopy every 5 years. If I’d known that (or even thought about it), I’d have done the same. Anyway, I am being put on a rolling, 2-yr colonoscopy plan so that will be fun!

Now, I have the date for my Hernia repair. It will be on the 11th May. I was phoned yesterday by a lovely lady called Liz who offered me an afternoon operation on the 9th. I asked if there was a morning slot so I wouldn’t need to stay in over night and she found one two days later. I have to be there at 7.30 in the morning which is ideal for me.

I have to stop taking Warfarin 5 days before and go in for a blood test and a Covid test two days before and then self-isolate. The operation will not be keyhole but a large incision to insert mesh support before closing up the tear in the wall. I will have a general anaesthetic for the first time since I was 7 years old. All I know about that was my Father telling me that I came out of anaesthetic kicking and punching which sounds rather like me. I just hope I don’t do the same thing aged 71!

Saturday, 9th April, 2022

Up and out early on a beautiful morning. Quick visit to Next for Pauline to return mail order and then on to Sainsburys for my latest obsession – Protein Bars. I got this from my month in Florida where M bought them for her son. These bars are a great way to refuel quickly but in a completely measurable, controlled way. I supposed I have been doing that with bananas but these offer so much more variety.

One of these bars delivers between 140 – 200 calories instantly. At least you know what you are doing by eating them. After a 10 mile walk, they are great.

After that, we drove down to the beach for a walk. Lovely view, wonderful fresh air with warm sunshine but very few people. Businesses were setting up in expectation of the Easter rush. Actually, Covid infection is still quite high down here so may dampen the traders’ hopes.

Talked to Kevin yesterday. He is in Alicante again and looks as if he is having warm if not very sunny weather. I know that, like me, me is a sun worshipper. It transforms the landscape and makes everything seem happier. He’d certainly like it down here.

Pauline needs a new laptop. Her’s is about 5 years old and they get slower and slower over that time. I usually buy Hewlett Packard because of the continuing on-line maintenance that they provide so comprehensively. Laptops are so cheap now that we should replace it more often.