Author: cavaleros

Sunday, 17th July, 2022

Our village is quickly expanding to become a small town with all the new house building going on. The long term villagers are up in arms. Comers-in like us have no case to argue. The village was long noted for its Horticulture – Salads, herbs and fruits in particular. The whole area had huge swathes of glasshouses and many now stand empty or have been demolished.

One such site of salad supply to the nation was just a few hundred yards down the road from us. I don’t think it has been functioning all the six years we’ve been here and it won’t be ever again because it was knocked down while we were away in France in preparation for another 40 ‘luxury’ homes.

It is on our walking route and we’ve been noticing signs for a while but it doesn’t take long to redesign the landscape – just a lot of huge diggers. Can you imagine how this would have been achieved a century ago without all these earth moving giants? So many men and so much effort!

Of course there are lots of things to help sell these houses not least their location by the sea. The peaceful picture above is how the builders choose to entice buyers of houses some of which will sell at around £¾ million. If they had been down on the beach yesterday, this is what they would have seen:

Schools break up down here on Thursday so we should be able to enjoy a quiet beach for the first half of the week. With the forecast temperatures, we might even have a swim. There’s a first for everything.

Monday, 18th July, 2022

Hot day almost up to Greek standards. Went for a walk in full heat and luxuriated in it. Everywhere is bone dry and brown – apart from our lawn grass.

Everywhere was so quiet this morning. The village was deserted. The tide was so far out I would have been exhausted before I got to swim.

I was sent a memento this morning. It looks so juvenile now although it was great fun at the time – 51 years ago now. I collaborated on the production of the College Charity Mag. called Mavis. It was named by the artist and my room mate, Nigel, after an off-the-wall joke he told.

Two Hippopotamus in the mud. One raises it’s head and says in a low, guttural voice:

Mavis, I keep thinking it’s Thursday.

Riponites of my generation may recognise this with some fondness. erasing the years is futile. Embracing old friendships is warm and enjoyable. Good Luck, Kevin!

Tuesday, 19th July, 2022

Hot night which didn’t fall below 26C/79F – really like a Greek Summer night. Up at 6.30 am to start a lovely, hot, Greek day. I was made for these days. They are just right for me. This is why I built a house in Greece and why I felt so at home there. Did my 10 mile walk in the peak of the heat – 40.2F/104F and felt great.

The garden has needed lots of watering. I am happy with that and it gives me a focus for the afternoon. Unfortunately, something else has overtaken the trivia of the day. My friend, Kevin, has had an emergency colonoscopy and had 5 polyps cut out but a 6th, huge one, has been left for further investigation which seems rather sinister. They want to know if it has spread elsewhere in his body. It is a massive shock which I completely understand and I can’t do anything to ameliorate. I have telephoned Christine who is shell-shocked although pretending to appear calm. She isn’t and I understand it.

Stupidly, the whole process knocks my mood. Christine & Kevin are deep in my consciousness – buried deliberately in the past. Resurrecting them is painful and provocative. It will be 50 years since we attended their wedding service in the sunshine of North Yorkshire. It was a ground breaking moment for me.

To return to day-to-day reality, our goose-neck tap fitting has started leaking slowly. Can’t be doing with that. Tried to fix it myself but failed so have to pay £100.00 to have it sorted out by a plumber.

Wednesday, 20th July, 2022

Lovely start to the morning. Raised my spirits immediately. It takes so little. Thought of Kevin and how he slept last night.

There are many people coping with just this sort of situation but I want to sort it out for them and I can’t. It shouldn’t happen to anyone! Kevin’s daughter, Julia, and my god daughter (for whatever that means) contacted me last night and thanked me for supporting her Dad and sent me her love. It was delightful and heart warming although it was unnecessary. She’s a lovely girl. In fact, Kevin & Christine have proved fantastic parents who have produced delightful kids with a really strong family coherence – something which I envy them.

From the start of the day to the end, I’ve carried sad thoughts with me. I’ve done my 10 mile walk, cleaned the car and communicated with Nigel in Bridlington. Pauline has harvested Basil from the garden, made another huge batch of Pesto, made a dozen jars of Raspberry Jam and cooked our meal – Roast salmon with Pesto Crust and salad. We’ve still got 30 lettuces ready for cutting. I just can’t eat them quickly enough!

The day has been warm and sunny although not quite reaching yesterday’s maximum. The beach and the marina offer a little more breeze and a little less heat. Even so, it is strange but 40C/104F in England still didn’t feel anywhere near as savage as the 42C/107F we experienced in Piraeus. It’s strange really but the quality of dry, harsh heat in a Greek city is utterly different to the gentility of the Surrey countryside.

Thursday, 21st July, 2022

July is running away so quickly. Today feels incredibly warm – 28C/83F but very humid. Had to drive in to town to a bank. We were looking for a good rate on Easy Access Savings because we have used up our maximum FCS joint saving insurance on longer term cover in other institutions and need an alternative for emergencies.

Had to drive down the coast road to get to the bank. We had hoped to do everything online but were forced to produce physical proof of identity and residence for anti-money-laundering purposes. Archaic but has to be done.

Back home, we ate Lunch in the garden – (I can’t get Kevin out of my mind. He’s told me this morning that the world has gone dark and many of us will understand that.) – with home grown lettuce salad and wonderful, melting, Camembert cheese accompanied by ice-cold white wine.

This is completed by my latest obsession …. Greek Yoghurt Iced Lollipops. We buy them from Sainsburys and they are low in calories. Incredibly creamy – like frozen double cream – delicious!!

Friday, 22nd July, 2022

A very warm night and a steamy, hot day after a brief rain shower. Did a couple of hours in the Gym as well as an hour walking through the area. This humidity can really sap one’s energy but it is great for the garden which is growing so well. This morning, I picked the first, ripe fig from our trees. Quite early but delightful.

Yesterday afternoon on my walk, I passed a group of teenage girls with felt tip signatures all over their white blouses whooping it up at the end of school year. I was immediately transported back to my teaching days. 

For the last 20 years of our working lives, we would close the school at mid day, rush home, pack the car and set off for Hull Docks. At 5.30 pm, we would drive on board a P&O Ferry – Pride of Hull/Pride of Bruge and set off on the overnight crossing to Zeebrugge. 

At 8.00 am and after a large Breakfast, we would drive off in Belgium through Luxembourg, France, Germany, over the Alps into Switzerland and on round the Lakes and through Northern Italy for the 20 hr journey to the port of Ancona filling the boot with lots of wine and cheese en route.

By 8.30 am, we would drive on to a Superfast/Minoan ferry bound for Patras on the Greek Peloponnese coast where we would arrive 24hrs later. Driving off that next morning, we would hare across the 200 km of Greece, over the Korinthos Canal and through the centre of Athens down to the Port of Piraeus. A car ferry to our island of Sifnos via Kimolos & Serifos would take about 5 hrs. We would arrive in our Greek House just about 3 days after leaving Hull. 

After 5 idyllic weeks on the island, we would load up the car and do the whole journey in reverse, filling up with lots of wine and cheese for the winter. It is 8 years now since I did that journey but a group of signed white blouses transported me back there instantly.

I am 71 and my generation is aging fast. Now is not the time to prevaricate. If we are to to experience anything, it cannot wait. I am determined to get all my experiences in NOW before it is too late.

Saturday, 23rd July, 2022

Gorgeous weather down here. Hot and sunny. The only thing we haven’t got is rain. We had 30 mins yesterday but it has made little difference. I am watering most days although a hosepipe ban is constantly being mooted. I will continue to water until they stop charging me.

Today we are just 4 weeks away from our Athens trip. We can ‘Check-in’ with Easyjet which is weird so far in advance. I like to prepare in advance and do exactly that. I have been monitoring our flight for some weeks on my Easyjet app and it is always leaving Gatwick and getting to Athens within minutes of its timetable so we are confident of our trip.

Because of the baggage handling problems, we have decided to use just carry-on luggage. We are allowed quite a lot because we pay for upgrades. We can have two sizeable suitcases plus two under-seat bags. This will be plenty for a week in Athens even with a laptop.

We have decided not to book a hotel at Gatwick but to drive and park because we will need to go through security at about 5.30 am. We have booked a Lounge and fast track through airport security. It is cheap and really helpful.

We have printed out our Boarding Passes, our Lounge Passes and our Security Fast-track Passes and saved them as pdfs on our phones. The Gatwick Airport Parking is booked so we just need to update our neighbours before we leave.

Sunday, 10th July, 2022

Woke up to an extremely warm morning. At 7.00 am we have 20C/68F although it felt warmer. It means an early walk before the full heat of the day. Final preparations for France to be done.

We use tons of Dill each year so I’ve been growing it from seed. Today I’ve planted out lots of plants I’ve grown in the past couple of months. They should get us through the Summer.

We have become so inundated with salad vegetables that I’ve been distributing them to neighbours.

T.S.Elliot’s Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock tells us:

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons,”

Mine is a little more exciting but the principle is the same. I have measured out my life in houses and locations. Exactly 8 years ago this week, we sold our Greek house and left the island for the last time.

One has to hold on to these moments before they fade in to the mists of time. My job is to hold back the mists, to keep memories and connections alive. We have to go back to Sifnos. I have to go back and touch my past one more time.

Monday, 11th July, 2022

Valeted the car this morning ready for tomorrow. Walking in screaming, hot sunshine reminds me so much of Greece. Received a Direct Message from Dave Roberts who is on a Mediterranean cruise with his wife and will have a day in Athens tomorrow. He is asking for advice on places to visit. It is not an easy thing for me to answer. I have never been to Athens as a tourist. In 50+ stays, I have always been a traveller – a person who moves his life to the city temporarily. Tourist ‘must-sees’ really don’t interest me. It took almost 20 years of visits before we went up the Acropolis and visited the Museum. 

I like to watch the people go by from Tavernas and Kafenions. I want to merge in to Greek-ness as much as I can. I am going to suggest David and his wife take the Metro to Kifissia for the shopping, take a taxi to Psiri for the restaurants and go to Lycebettus Hill and its cable car ride to the view right across Athens.

We will be back there in six weeks. I couldn’t do a cruise, though. The thought of being trapped on a ship appals me.

Lives fracture so easily. Our comfortable routines are no hiding place ultimately. Thinking of Kevin this evening. He will have a second review of potential bowel cancer tomorrow while I am off enjoying myself in France. I know just how jittery that can be and how tempting it is to brush it aside and pretend nothing is wrong. I have been trying to persuade him that a colonoscopy can be the most reassuring procedure. If they find something, it can be dealt with immediately. If they find nothing, the relief is palpable.

Tuesday, 12th July, 2022

Up at 4.30 am on a very hot morning. An hour in the gym and then a shower, orange juice and packing the car. Leaving for the tunnel at 6.30 am – especially early because of all the reported chaos backing up from the port of Dover. I don’t think I’ve seen the motorways – M23/M25/M20 – ever quieter. They were literally almost empty. We arrived at check-in very early and were offered an immediate crossing.

The temperature was rising rapidly from 22C/70F at 6.30 am to 27C/81 as we waited to board the Shuttle. Once again, very few customers for the 9.50 am crossing (in July!!) and we were rolling off into the French countryside before we knew it.

The French countryside is just massive. It goes on forever. Idiots in UK say, We can’t take any more immigrants. We’re full. I say drive the length of the UK and see how not full we are but the French could swallow half the world and not notice.

Wednesday, 13th July, 2022

Up at 5.30 am (4.30 am BST) and out walking by 6.30 am on a swelteringly hot and humid morning.

After a 6 mile walk, we had freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee and then set off to drive to the lovely, old town of St Omer with its Gothic cathedral. It’s only 40 mins away and the roads were quiet and lovely.

I don’t do cathedrals but I do like restaurants. As we walked the friendly streets of St Omer, the Pharmacie sign flashed up 33C/91F at mid day. It certainly felt warm. We called in a Carrefour to buy a snack and some wine and went back to our hotel to download the Daily Politics programme with its analysis of Prime Minister’s Questions. Nice to see Boris Johnson go down howling!

Thursday, 14th July, 2022

A screaming hot night punctuated by fireworks under a full moon led to Bastille Day and an early start this morning. Still very hot but with a more hazy sky today. After a couple of hours walking in the countryside, we set of for the medieval town of Arras where my old Grammar school friend has lived for 50 years.

We parked up in the Place des Héros, Arras about an hour’s journey across beautiful, open country on an empty motorway.

We had a walk round the squares basically visiting all the restaurants and reading menus. Settling on one that majored on fish, we had a lovely Lunch in the sunshine.

I have to say that the cooking and ingredients were not as good as my wife normally produces and this is often a problem with eating out. We drove back to our hotel and another walk followed by downloading this morning’s Daily Politics from BBC TV.

Friday, 15th July, 2022

A relaxed start to a warm day that reached 27C/81F. Out at 7.00 am for a walk and then set off to drive to the beach. Love the Wissant area so called because the French heard the British talk of its white sand. Don’t quite see it myself but it is still lovely.

It was certainly busier than when we come down here in the winter but relatively quiet compared to Brighton or Blackpool.

We walked the seafront in the burning sunshine and then drove back along the coast road. The White Cliffs of Dover are so appealingly close even I was tempted to buy a dinghy and do the crossing myself.

We drove back via Cite Europe and Carrefour where we tried to buy French Mustard. There was no Dijon Mustard and no French mustard of any kind. A simple shelf stacker explained in perfect English that they had stocked no mustard for the past 2 months because of a shortage of wheat, which is a central ingredient, due to the world wheat crisis.

Saturday, 16th July, 2022

Up early on a hot morning and out for am early walk. About 7 miles before breakfast and then down to the Tunnel where everything is going so well that we are put on a train that is so early it gets us home before we were booked to start.

We brought home all sorts of French produce from wine and cheese to herbs and garlic but we couldn’t buy Dijon Mustard because the shelves were bare.

Pauline uses huge quantities of this mustard in salad dressings and marinades and we usually buy it all in France. When we got home, Sainsburys had none either. Eventually, we had to buy from Asda their own Dijon Mustard. We cleaned them out so have enough to get us through the Summer.

It does show, however, that supply chains are not just truncated by Brexit. The war in Ukraine is also having its effect. Fractured lives and fractured supply chains. Nothing remains the same and we should embrace change.

Sunday, 3rd July, 2022

Bright and sunny, warm morning. The garden is looking lovely at Breakfast but preparation is everything. We are going to be away in a week and then again in a month. All the plants will need watering regularly in the summer sun. I have been thinking about it for a while but only got around to sorting it out this morning.

Don’t you just love Amazon Prime in these situations? I placed an online order for these items at 7.30 am this morning and they will be delivered for free by 10.00 pm tonight. 

In the 50 days since my hernia operation, I have walked 540 miles. Feeling quite fit and now have no sense of vulnerability where I was cut open.

And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your doorThe Proclaimers

While I am still moving, I am still alive. I just can’t let it go. I hope I will never let it go.  If I do, I will be dying … dead! I will let you know.

Monday, 4th July, 2022

Lovely, warm and sunny morning. Our garden developers arrive early and reverse their lorry down the drive.

The lawn that I’ve spent so much time and money on over the past 6 years will be removed in a matter of a few hours this morning.

I’m glad we’ve chosen a big, established organisation to do the work. It will cost around £7,000.00 but it will be money well spent in the long run. What am I going to do with my lawn mower and lawn raker?

Tuesday, 5th July, 2022

Warm – hot even – and humid, sunny day. The garden developers arrive early and set to work before it gets too hot. Stage 2 is laying down a weed barrier membrane and then putting on a Granite aggregate of fine milled stone and powder to bind it.

Tomorrow the carpet goes down here at the back and at the front of the house. Look forward to that. Whenever we have people working at the house, the initial stages are interesting. The middle stages are pleasing but, by the final stages, I just want them to finish and go. Give me my life back!

Wednesday, 6th July, 2022

A lovely warm and sunny morning gave way to a hot and humid afternoon. We have had lawn installers here for a third and final day. We are so pleased that we chose a large, national franchise – Easigrass – to do the work. The confident expertise of the installers is worth paying for.

Of course, this is a minor, micro level improvement set against the macro level changes going on in the country today. The Tory Government is in its valedictory stage. We have known for a few months that this was coming. We have known for a few weeks that it would be soon. We now know that it will be very soon … maybe hours, maybe days but it will be.

All those misguided voters, blindly supporting Johnson in the North of England of which he actually cares nothing, will be angry that their blithe fool of a Leader has been replaced but he will never be seen again.

It is likely that, the longer he clings on, the more chance the Opposition parties have of replacing him. Boris Johnson is the great Recruitment Sergeant of the Opposition.

Thursday, 7th July, 2022

Hot, humid but largely overcast day which produced hot sun in the later afternoon. We saw 24C/75F and enjoyed our walk. The first half of the day was delightfully filled with the deposing of the lunatic prime minister.

Boris Johnson, the criminal fantasist, has been forced to resign. It was inevitable but just as pleasing. It is likely that the Johnson leadership has tarnished and fatally damaged the Tory brand. The Labour Party is standing in the wings. We have to hope they get not one but two terms and feel confident enough to open negotiations to rejoin the EU.

Strange feeling to get up this morning and realise I don’t have to maintain the lawns. The front lawn is small but had to be mowed regularly. Never again.

As I did my 10 mile walk, I had contact from Kevin, John and Julie. All are getting on with their lives. Unlike Boris Johnson, their lives are not fractured and painful. If you put yourself out there you leave yourself open to such pain.

Friday, 8th July, 2022

Lovely, Mediterranean day of high temperatures, high humidity, azure blue skies and strong sunshine that took us to 27C/81F. Everywhere looks and smells and sounds wonderful. I spent the early morning watering all around the garden. It is against this backdrop that we are all celebrating the downfall of Johnson and the Tories. Things feel a whole lot better. College/University friends and Family sent me a host of cartoons/jokes/quotes/tweets about the improving political situation. I must have received this a dozen times in a dozen different forms:

We have finally found a home for a large portion of our savings and it is quite a relief in the eye of the inflationary storm. Inflation destroys money and I have worried about it for almost a year. It feels great to be sheltering it at least although no household will escape the pain of average fuel bills (Gas/Electricity) going to circa £3,300.00 per year. The state pension is around £9,600.00 per year. The thought of some old dear having to make the choice between freezing or paying out ⅓ of their income on fuel is quite appalling.

In Littlehampton Town their was a French market stall selling wonderful cheeses, saucisson, etc. To celebrate the day, the financial resolution, the political dissolution and the delicious sunshine, we bought Camembert and Morbier Saucisson and ate it for Lunch in the garden along with a bottle of Pol Roger champagne we’ve had in the wine cooler for a while.

I still did my 10 miles – in fact, I did 11 miles today – and haven’t missed a day for the past 57 days since restarting after my operation. Every day, I think, May be I’ll give it a miss today. but never do!

Saturday, 9th July, 2022

Hot night being followed by a very hot day. Had the fun of setting up the wi-fi remote controls for the air conditioning unit this morning on our smartphones. I enjoy this challenge.

The unit can be controlled for fan speed, temperature, oscillation, mode and timer/duration. What fun! The functions can also be voice-controlled using Google or Alexa type hubs. No need to get out of bed! It certainly makes sleeping easier. I checked the energy smart meter after a night time of use and it wasn’t significantly expensive at all.

Pauline is spending the morning harvesting, washing, chopping and freezing herbs from the garden. Piles of Oregano, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, Rosemary and Parsley will be collected in the sunshine. Then she will attack the Basil plants and make huge proportions of Pesto. I have got the easy jobs of setting up the automatic watering systems ready for going to France next week.

We eat Dill and Basil more than any other herb because they go so well with fish. I have been planting out Dill plants grown from seed this morning. Hopefully, they will be available to harvest when we return from France. Cousin Sue has posted pictures of her southern French property after make-over this morning.

We were in Salles Lavalette only four years ago and miss it and the quaint French style. However, if I had to choose between southern France and Florida, I think I’d go for Florida year round. What do you think? Want to come?

I’ve uploaded our vaccine passports to the Tunnel crossing documentation to expedite our crossing. From our house to the tunnel it takes 1 hr 50 mins but current post-Brexit conditions extend that. We have to be at check-in 2 hrs before departure so we will set off at 6.30 am. on Tuesday. I will have to be up really early to get my walk done mainly before we go. It’s going to be lovely weather so I’ll be able to get some in when we arrive.

Sunday, 26th June, 2022

A lovely, warm and sunny day. I went out walking early on my own. Pauline is suffering from shin splints which is leaving her in real pain with a swollen foot and ankle. It is my fault. I am driving her too hard. I am averaging 11 miles a day but she must be doing 6 – 7 miles a day as well. 

This is constantly one of my favourite views on my walk in the Summer. I’m sure you will be heartily sick of seeing it but I can’t resist capturing the season’s advance.

Back home, I’m preparing for two events The first is cleaning the patio flags prior to the new lawn being laid and the second is researching places to go for our French trip.

We are going to revisit Arras to have Lunch on one of our days. My old, grammar school friend, John, has lived there since 1970 when he spent a University exchange year in the town, fell in love with a nurse and just stayed.

We will also revisit the town of St Omer which is famous for its Brewing Industry just like my home town of Burton-upon-Trent.

Monday, 27th June, 2022

Lovely warm and sunny morning. Mind you, it’s not quite as warm as the one I recorded 10 years ago today when we were in our Greek house and drove up to Apollonia to pay our taxes. The tax we owed was for a new pergola. We were rather unusual in that, however arcane the tax, we paid it whereas Greeks really didn’t. It was only €408 but it was only for a pergola.

As we drove home, we passed the ‘Garden Centre’ and bought an oregano plant for our garden. This morning our raised bed of Mediterranean herbs – Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Tarragon is looking quite productive.

The patios have been completely refreshed and the developers are arriving early tomorrow. They will be with us until the end of the week. The weather is set fair so all should be well. Famous last words!

Pauline is from Oldham. She used to live in Holly Lane, Hollins as a child. She follows a site which features photos of old Oldham. This morning a picture was posted that featured a group of bomb disposal soldiers and she is convinced the one on the lorry holding the bomb is her father who died when she was 10 years old.

I have contacted the lady who posted it to see if I can follow the lead up. It would be a nice thing to confirm her perception.

Tuesday, 28th June, 2022

Not so much left of June 2022. Still have targets to achieve …. and I will. This morning opened spectacularly over the South Downs:

but, ultimately, settled in to a lovely, warm and sunny day. We were supposed to be having garden developers here this morning but they called to cancel which was very frustrating. We had worked hard to complete all the preparations for their arrival but … these things happen.

We are going full out to arrange flights to Tampa, Florida for the start of November and returning at the end of January. We are allowed 90 days at any one stay so intend to make the most of the flight costs. We have to factor in hiring a car for 3 months but that will be an enjoyable challenge.

The first of many batches of homemade pesto was produced today. I went out for my 10 mile walk which takes about 2.5 hours. Pauline, still suffering with swollen ankles, stayed at home and harvested Basil to make the first batch of Pesto for the year. There is not much better than fresh Pesto to an old man!

Wednesday, 29th June, 2022

The day started with a phone call this morning from garden developers to say their Manager had Covid which meant they wouldn’t be with us until next Monday. There is a large, new swathe of infections running through the country and is forecast to get much worse over the Autumn/early Winter. We are still wearing masks when we are in closed, public spaces. Very few others are.

Got an early contact via Whatsapp from Kevin. He’s got a worrying NHS Bowel Cancer recall. We know exactly what that’s like, don’t we? I phoned him and we talked it over for a while. I advised him to short-cut the agony and seek a quick, private colonoscopy to put an end to the mental torture. He has a good Nuffield Centre not far from his home. I think he will do as I did – give the NHS a couple of weeks and then plunge in to payment.

This morning, we bought British Airways flights to Tampa, Florida for a 3 month stay. We are going to be away for November – February. It means changing our house insurance to cover that extended period. The flight tickets are incredibly cheap. Two Return, Premium Economy flights are just over £2100.00. Business Class would have been 3 times that amount. The difference of £4000.00 will pay for car hire for the 3 months.

So, now we will spend a week in France in July. A week in Athens in late August. Another week in France in early September. A week in Yorkshire/Lancashire in October and 3 months in Florida covering November-February. Searching, searching, constantly searching ….

On my walk this afternoon, I was suddenly confronted by this sight. I am so old and gaga that it took me so long to realise what I was seeing.

A Google Maps camera car was recording the new streets that have been created on our Development. I was right in front of it, fumbling to get my phone camera on. I just hope that I haven’t been immortalised on the internet as a gaga old man with his mouth open, looking vacant.

Thursday, 30th June, 2022

Up early on the last day of June. A lovely, warm and sunny day. The garden is looking delightful and everything is enjoying this growing weather. Over night we had rain which is how it ought to be organised. The colours of the garden are beautiful.

Out valeting the car and then a walk before setting off for Surrey. We are going to see M&K + P&C + D&B for a couple of hours. Great drive and the M25 was almost empty. We were there in just over an hour. It was lovely to see them all again for the first time since we were together in Florida. They go back soon and we are off to France so now was the only time.

M&K’s garden has the canal running at the end and it is a delightfully restful place to be away from the Surrey traffic. We had a lovely lunch together. I set P’s iPad up for her. The next time we see them again will be back in Florida.

The drive home was just as quiet. Goodness knows where all the traffic is. I sent Kevin some encouraging words about his prospective bowel cancer screening and Julie a brief letter because she is temporarily housebound. I have to contact Ruth & Kevin tomorrow to congratulate them on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

I bought my first ever 3-piece suit from Montague-Burton in Ripon to attend their wedding. It cost me £95.00. I had to borrow Nigel’s bike to catch an early train from Harrogate at 5.30 am before the bus connection ran. I was shattered but I caught the train and made the wedding.

Friday, 1st July, 2022

Another new month to embrace. Travel is going to be the main focus of the rest of the year. Looking forward to it. Got a week at home first as the garden is redeveloped. Beautiful, warm and sunny morning will make my walk more enjoyable.

I’ve started the new month by learning a new skill. I have never used a washing machine. I am generally terrible with machines and I tend to encourage them with brute force. When I lived alone in Oldham for a year or so, I did go up to a Laundrette with a bag of mixed-coloured clothes to wash. I never really did any washing because the women saw me dithering and took pity on me. They told me to leave the bag and come back later in the day.

When I got the washed clothes home, they needed ironing which I also couldn’t do. I bought an iron but just managed collars and cuffs really and relied on suits to cover up the creases. I took suits to the cleaners so most bases were covered. Today, I’ve had a lesson in how to make the machine do another ‘full spin’. I might learn another program next month.

I remember this day for lots of reasons but mainly because I was leaving Ripon College for the ceremony. I would soon be leaving for the real world.

Hurts to think I can clearly remember the experiences surrounding this event. It was 50 years ago! I am old enough to have been at an event 50 years ago! Terrifying!

Saturday, 2nd July, 2022

Lovely warm day. Everything in the garden is under control and awaiting the Developers on Monday. Went to Tesco Superstore early. We were wearing masks. Only a handful of others – mainly elderly – were doing the same. Our region is seeing a resurgence in infection. Infection rates across the country increased 30% in the past week. Although it is mainly the elderly and vulnerable who suffer extreme and life-threatening symptoms, it is not exclusively so and just being unwell is keeping younger ones off work – impacting Healthcare, Travel, etc..

Like a naive child, I spend my time moving forward while looking wistfully back to the past. Just like that child, I am always in danger of walking into things and tripping up. It is my nature. I have a longing to just return and touch my past and then return to the future. All the Greek islands I have visited are candidates for that treatment. Went to Andros and to Nyssiros in the 1990s. they were not favourites at all but I’d like to set foot on them again just for a day.

In this week 10 years ago, Δημόσια Επιχείρηση Ηλεκτρισμού, the Greek Power Company, finally delivered a full and legal power supply to our house. Until then – for some 10 years – we had been using half price, ‘Construction’ electricity tariff. Now we were ‘legal’.

When I first met her, my sister-in-law was working in the Accounts Dept. in Halfords here in ‘windy city’. This photo came up yesterday on a website Blog I follow and it took me back immediately. Wouldn’t you just like to revisit that time for a moment? I would.

Sunday, 19th June, 2022

A different day after the humidity of the past week. Still warm but overcast with a small amount of rain forecast for this evening. It really has been fantastic growing weather recently. These two photos are just 2 weeks apart:

I think we’re going to be eating our way through a salad glut in the next few weeks. The garden developers are arriving in a week and then, in 3 weeks, we are setting off for a French trip. We are driving through the Tunnel but, ‘officially’, I am allowed to fly from Monday because it is 6 weeks since my operation.

Actually, I hardly think about it now. The scar is rapidly disappearing. I’m averaging 11 miles a day walking. I am feeling strong and fit and ready to fly …. anywhere! First we will spend a week in Athens at the end of August but the big booking is Florida. M&K don’t really know what they are letting themselves in for. Our American Visa – ESTA – allows us to stay for 90 days. Our travel insurance covers us for 90 days. Guess what we are thinking of doing?

I am currently searching flights leaving in the last week of October and returning in the middle of January. Hope M is not reading this! She may start panicking! It will have to be Direct flights. It will have to be a minimum of Premium Economy.

Winter months in the warmth with our house in Sussex mothballed is a enticing prospect. I am concerned about my friends in UK but we have to look after ourselves. One of the things about my personality is that I cannot bear uncertainty. I have to resolve issues and have them settled in my own mind. For exactly that reason, I am not only researching flight prices but car rental as well. I can hire an SUV for 3 months for just £3,300 to make us mobile and independent in Florida.

Monday, 20th June, 2022

Wall to wall sunshine today and lovely and hot. Why am I not happy. I ought to be. Pauline’s ne iPad arrived and my job was to set it up. It is an easy affair nowadays. Hold the old and the new iPad together and one is copied to the other in minutes.

I have returned the old one to ‘Factory Settings’ so it can be passed on to someone else. I’ve even ordered a new case for it so they can enjoy it afresh.

Pauline is suffering with a swollen foot which she thinks is a result of so much walking. I have granted her a rest and done the 10 miles alone. I did mow all the lawns before I left and felt as if I could relax into my exercise. Actually, I completed just over 11 miles and I’m averaging that each day for the past month.

I sent Kevin, John & Julie photos of my imminent lettuce glut. Julie replied with very impressive cucumbers from her conservatory and Kevin just didn’t try at all. John supplied a standard photo of his front garden of the house he has lived in since getting married from College 50 years ago.

We are flying to Athens in late August and the turmoil in Airport Baggage control has made us decide that we can cope with two carry-on suitcases for a week. It will simplify our travel.

We have chosen upgraded Easyjet seats which allow us two carry-on bags each – one under seat and one large cabin bag. We’ve ordered two, new bags exactly for that purpose.

Tuesday, 21st June, 2022

Externally, it is a beautiful day of sunshine and warmth. We have enjoyed 24C/75F. The garden looks lovely. I have ferried Pauline for a long session at the Beautician’s. I have cleaned the car and done a 2 hr walk in the warmth of the day. It left me shattered but I won’t give in!

We have cooked and eaten in the garden – (Kolokithia Keftedes) Courgette Fritters, Fish Medley and home grown salad. All is well with the world.

Today is the Summer Equinox, the Solstice and the longest day of the year. These are all short term observations. They reoccur annually. I am struck more by the drama, the tragedy of the life that occurs just once for each of us, the life that we use or waste in constant prevarication:

I feel that depth of sadness and moment hauntingly and constantly as Chopin delineated in his Nocturnes.  I am playing it as I type and it moves me. I may be pathetic but I am honest, dear reader.

Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022

You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day of blue sky and strong sunshine reaching 29C/84F and delicious relaxation. I’ve still done 11 miles walking which began by the seaside. I cannot relax.

Delightfully deserted, the beaches are for us. The sun is hot; the beaches empty; the world is wonderful … if you can relax into it. I can’t. I have to complete a minimum of 10 miles.

Back home, I need to prepare for the garden to be looked after while I am abroad. I’m looking to book 3 months in Florida and will need to control watering of my plants remotely. Automatic watering systems are the answer and I’ve ordered a new controller to cover two, separate areas.

The contradistinctions between ordinary life and the life of our lurid imaginations constantly war against each other. They are the stuff of dreams.

Thursday, 23rd June, 2022

Very hot and humid but overcast morning. Tragedy has hit the Sanders household. For the third day running, we have driven to Lidl and found NO unsweetened Almond Milk. Can you imagine it? I asked the Manager about it and he said supplies are difficult to maintain. The product comes from Italy and Brexit has made the importation much more problematic.

Just another of those Brexit benefits we were promised! Ironically, today marks exactly 6 years since UK voted to leave the EU. The New European front page lists all the benefits we’ve seen so far.

The polling conducted by Savanta ComRes found that just 36% think the project has been a success, with 52% considering it a failure. It is not difficult to see why.

• Food rotting in Britain’s fields because EU workers are choosing to work elsewhere.
• British fisherman facing ruin with some long-running firms forced to close due to the extra costs leaving the EU has imposed.
• A shortage of lorry drivers – changes to rules following Brexit made it harder for drivers to work in the UK and customs procedures are said to have made their job more complicated – causing many to simply work elsewhere. This has disrupted supply chains and led to product shortages on our shelves  …. Like unsweetened almond milk!
• Chaos in air travel which was largely disguised during the pandemic, airlines now say they do not have enough staff to cover surging demand and say EU exit is to blame.
• Mobile roaming charges make a comeback.
• Surging inflation – A report from the L.S.E. found that new, Brexit trade barriers have driven a 6 per cent increase in UK food prices – one of the contributing factors of surging inflation.

Sometimes I want to scream, Stop the World. I want to get off! The current state of politics make me feel that way right now.

This morning, Dave Roberts in Rochdale sent this snap shot of a warmer, simpler time exactly 50 years ago. Of course those days are gone and we must face the reality of the ‘Now’. Talking to them this morning, Kevin & Chris have both recovered from Covid but Julie has had a slight stroke which she is receiving help with. Getting older has lots of challenges to come and we all need friends.

Friday, 24th June, 2022

Hot and humid with a grey start, the day finished in beautifully strong sunshine. Our worlds are constantly oscillating between the micro and the macro. Couldn’t wait to wake up this morning anticipating the by-election results. Radio on at 5.30 am and the reports didn’t disappoint. Tories lost both as we hoped and expected. It is definitely a turning of the tide.

In the narrow world of UK politics, this is a macro level. Of course, true macro level is the voting down of 50 years abortion freedom under Roe-v-Wade in the USA but Tory, national humiliation will do me for now.

Our 11 mile walk in hot and humid conditions was sweaty but enjoyable. These are real growing conditions which the birds are exploiting too. Snapped this bee flashing its bum on the blossom of the ripening blackberries on our walk …

Getting all the jobs done before the garden developers arrive next week and then we drive to France the week after. The lovely idea is that we can do what we want although Covid is in energetic resurgence and care needs to be taken.

Saturday, 25th June, 2022

I know you will have been worrying about it, Dear Reader, but fear not. This morning, Lidl had plenty of UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK!!! I bought 20 ltrs which will last me at least 3 weeks.

Apparently it’s Saturday but I wouldn’t know if it was a week on Thursday other than by checking my on-line calendar. The days blend into each other seamlessly. I’m still managing about 11 miles walking each day which takes me about 2½ hrs before I can do anything else. I never fall below 10 miles and really aim for 11 each day now. Today, I had to fit it in around shopping and pressure washing the patio flags. I even managed to catch a bit of the Test Match.

Shopping took us down the beach road. The tide was in and surfers were enjoying the swell.

Of course, we also have the Sussex Downs near by which attract many tourists/local visitors. They are beautiful at this time of year.

It is 10.00 am on a mild and balmy Summer’s evening as barbecues are scenting the night sky. Neighbours are entertaining neighbours in this lovely place.

Sunday, 12th June, 2022

Lovely warm day of sunshine and cloud. Felt strong on my walk after a couple of days when I had a mental struggle to complete. Kevin has sourced the CDs of our greatest ‘triumph’ – a 1971/72 ITV drama series called Villains starring Bob Hoskins, Paul Eddington and Me … with a bit part for my friend, Kevin.

Unfortunately, Kevin has videoed the video from a TV on his phone. Not the best reproduction but it will do. Lots of Riponites have contacted me since I posted it.

Apart from the standard exercise, this is quite a lazy day. I am reflective, thinking about my youth after seeing my fresh face at the age of 20. It is frightening how the time has gone. I reflect on lost opportunities, on time and distance, on connections and on things still to achieve. Keep going you old fool!

I wrote recently how shocked we were by the current valuation of our house. It has increased by £250,000 in 5 years. The housing market is hot to over heating and the local newspaper’s assessment was published at the weekend. You always take a risk with new-build property in new areas. The last couple of moves we’ve made have been lucky in the extreme.

Monday, 13th June, 2022

In 1975, I was completing the first year of my OU Degree. One element of that first-year was a crash course in Philosophy. I was introduced to Cartesian Dualism, most famously defended by René Descartes in the first half of the 17^th Century as he argued that there are two kinds of foundation: mental and physical. This philosophy states that the mental can exist outside of the body, and the body cannot think. It is generally known as the Mind-Body Problem.

I found that Philosophy – the development of ideas and concepts behind language – was an exciting form of approaching the world. It led me to go on to a Master’s Degree in the History of Political Ideas. I could feel myself growing as a person as I did the reading and the writing. I was in my 20s with a whole life ahead of me.

In my 70s, I am wrestling with the Mind-Body Problem on a different level. Now, 50 years on, it is the Being-Doing Problem. Retirement is a state of being. It is not an activity in itself. I regularly get up in the morning and realise I am retired; I have nothing which has to be done only options for things I could do if I so choose. When I was working, the idea of being free to choose was something of a luxury to be dreamed of. In retirement, the idea of having purpose is so often missing. I am a man in search of a purpose.

One of the purposes that many people fall upon in retirement is investigating the fabric of their lives by relocating past in present. I have found some sense of purpose by reconnecting with friends and acquaintances from earlier segments of my life. It forces us to reassess how we ‘played’ it, how it played us and formed our current condition. Maybe I am more self-reflective than most and too much for my own good. Perhaps my earlier life has made me that way.

In an earlier life, I ‘knew’ all these people in the photo above. I idolised them even though they were Welsh rugby players. I even had to play in Bleddyn Williams rugby boots. The man carrying the ball – Phil Bennett – was a magician on the rugby field. Unbelievable skill with a side step that we had to copy. This week, he died aged 73 .. aged just 73!! If this was me I would have just 2 years left. My mind screams, Impossible! My body says, Who knows?

Tuesday, 14th June, 2022

Gloriously hot & sunny day in prospect. The garden is a hive of industry as our electrician, a lad we have used a number of times and like very much arrived at 8.00 am and got started. He is running cable around the perimeter fence and installing 7 adjustable down lighters. These will be linked to our remote, online Hive hub so that the lighting can be controlled from my phone or tablet anywhere in the world.

This work is being done before the contractors move in to replace the lawns with synthetic grass which will be a bit of an adjustment but will make life a lot easier as we get back into travel more.

Mind you, won’t need much lighting in the garden tonight as the full moon beams down from a clear sky. This was the Marina last night on a warm, calm evening.

Lovely and warm day of clear blue sky and sunshine. We reached 25C/77F with much more predicted for the rest of the week. Did a three hour walk alone. So much time to contemplate ..

You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

The fields of Littlehampton and the village of Angmering both remind me so much of my childhood, of the village of Repton where I grew up. I was desperate to leave its suffocation and yet I have come full circle back to agriculture and community.

Wednesday, 15th June, 2022

Half way through June already and only a week away from the Longest Day and the downward slope towards Winter. Today is absolutely wonderful with 28C/82F of glorious sunshine throughout. Very hot walk and everything else is happening outside in the garden. This is my sort of weather and the next three days are forecast to get increasingly hotter towards 32C/90F. Will feel like a cool day in Greece!

Talking about Greece, we are just finishing a huge stock of ‘All day’ sun tan lotion. Actually, you can’t really buy it any more because opinion is that it doesn’t do what it claims and needs to be applied numerous times each day. I must admit, I am very bad about using it at all unless I am pinned down by my wife and have it applied. Spending so much time outside these days that I’ve agreed to be smothered … on my face.

Can you imagine the lack of moral principle and the lack of humanity of those exporting their Refugee responsibilities to a country like Rwanda – a country that locks people up who disagree with and speak out against its government?

It is almost beyond belief that they will go to such lengths with our money and yet, nothing really surprises us any more. I talk on a regular basis to John R., Kevin, Julie, David Roberts and John Morris and each one of them is appalled by the shame UK is being brought to. I know we are all of a similar age but we are not alone. Friends and relatives I speak to across the generational divide are equally appalled and ashamed. These people have to go. Boris Johnson’s own chosen Ethics Adviser has resigned tonight. Who can be surprised?

Thursday, 16th June, 2022

Summer days continue. Wonderfully hot and sunny throughout the day and the walk was very sweaty. Every year at these times, we rehearse our arguments for having air-conditioning installed in the bedrooms at least. Fortunately we have an electrician working in the garden again today installing the lights and sockets. We were discussing our dilemma with him while he worked. He suggested considering ceiling fans again. We had them in Greece and combined them with lights but we have low ceilings here and I could envisage getting up in the night and being decapitated by the fan blades.

Out of the discussion came the information that things had moved on in the last 5 years or so and there were excellent closed fan/lighting units available. These units only cost about £150.00 each with 4-speed fans, 3 different lighting shades and remote control. I’ve ordered a couple to start us off and see how good they are. The electrician will be back next week to install them

Just 11 years ago today, we were in Athens for Pauline to have her hair cut. We had left the island for 3 days. Suddenly, it became apparent that our retirement plans might not work as we had intended. There was rioting on the streets outside the Parliament within view of our hotel. The Greek government was under pressure. All would not remain calm and tranquil. Just 4 years later, we had sold up and gone before we lost everything we had invested. A project that we had started in 2000, finished prematurely in 2014. Such a pity but now we look outward and upward.

The lights looked reasonable on the hot and sultry evening at the back of the house. Can’t believe that lawn will soon be dug up and replaced.

Might have to re-adjust our plans to go North. There is so much to do and so many people to see. We had been intending to go in October but it will probably have to be earlier. Everything has to be fitted in.

Friday, 17th June, 2022

Hot, hot, hot … almost like a mild, Greek Summer’s day. 28C/83F and lovely for a long walk.

On this day each year, I feel lucky to be alive and breathing never mind able to walk. Exactly 42 years ago today, as I reiterate each year, we were driving our brand new, pageant blue mini to work at 8.00 am when some idiot crossed the road in his old works car and cut our mini in two parts. I was pronounced dead by the ambulance crew but, fortunately, they gave me a chance and revived me. But for that lucky occurrence, I would have missed the past 42 years of experiences.

Went out early to Sainsbury’s in Littlehampton. We wandered round just piling up our trolley with everything we wanted and somethings we certainly didn’t need. Spending £100.00 in 15 minutes without a care until we started to drive home and a headline I read this morning from the MEN/Oldham Times came back to me …

Far too late I felt the juxtaposition of that stark fact set against my activity and, as I did, Frances O’Grady, retiring Head of the TUC was being interviewed on the radio and she asked for this song to be played:

It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will

A Change Is Gonna Come – Song by Sam Cooke (1964)

I know I am a soppy, old man but I couldn’t hold back the tears. Much good it would do anyone but there was nothing I could do about it either.

And when you sit back and consider the theme of this devastating song and then compare its sentiments with the naked and vile racism of the BBC Question Time audience in Newcastle this week who had just one message for the government: We don’t want any more migrants coming to UK and we want to get rid of those who are here already. You realise that it’s going to continue to be a long time coming even now ….

Saturday, 18th June, 2022

Very strange day. At 7.00 am we had 22C/70F and high humidity. By mid day, it was 28C/83F and like a sauna. Our walk was rather sweaty. As the afternoon developed, we kept the heat but alternated between sunny spells and huge rain drops sporadically hitting the patio and almost immediately evaporating.

All of this is such a contrast with yesterday which was incredibly hot but with clear, blue skies and strong sun. The south coast was packed with sunbathers and beach lovers.

These are days when the Piers are popular. To the left is the former, burned out wreck of Brighton Pier still languishing in the crystal waters of the seaside. My sister, Cathy and her husband Laurie who live about 5 miles away posted photos of their trip to our local, Worthing Pier which has undergone extensive refurbishment in the past couple of years. The central café/restaurant looks really good again. Life seems to be treating them well and they both look very happy.

Haven’t been on the pier for ages now. In fact, it is a strange but we both said this morning that we had almost forgotten that we lived by the sea at all. We have hardly walked on the beach at all recently. Other things seem to be dominating our time.

Looking for flights to Tampa, Florida for the 3 months end of October to mid January. We are allowed 90 days in USA on our ESTA Visa. The difference between Business Class and Premium Economy is £2,200/£7,400.

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.

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.

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.

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!