A very good night in bed, despite the fact that I had slept long during the day.
Unfortunately T awoke in a grump and I could tell that it was going to be one of those days. He really was not with it.
Zora and Co were due to arrive to wave their magic wands and sprays to clean our home. H has decided they are OK ( after 18 months) and that they are no longer worth a bark.
Ali and Dave ( 2 nights in Devon, 1 night in Streatley, 3 nights in Nottingham, 5 nights in Greece, 1 night in Streatley followed by a day at Commonwealth Games in Birmingham) have had a breathless time and texted to ask if we could walk Minnie.
Normally, no problem, because we had H to walk. Only a problem when I can’t find the keys to their house. Last seen? No idea. They are attached to the keys to Pen’s house. Except they are not. Pen’s key I had , but not Ali’s.
I dug deep into the mists of time, buried within my memory, but I unearthed nothing.
Both their spare key holders were away, so that left Lena. And I had no idea where she was.
Exchange of texts revealed she was cleaning, not far away but could only tell me the location, not house number etc. But we found each other! And she handed me her keys.
I rescued Minnie, and then I hid Lena’s key, and photographed the hiding place and texted it to Lena so she knew where to find it was.
Meanwhile, T, who was in the car through my shenanigans, was becoming explosively ill tempered. Minnie, H and T and I set off for a trek round Castle Meadows. Two poos and about 300 metres later, T was whinging about not being able to walk any further. Ill tempered whinging. Bad language whinging.
I’ll take you home, I told him.… his reply … 😡🤯😵💫😵💫🔨🔨❌… , (walk) without me was the response. I certainly was not going to leave him to get lost. We sat on a bench, whilst the dogs, having run off initial energy ( and deposited two poos) panted and watched.
I shouldn’t make excuses for his churlishness, but his dementia, coupled with being 76 years old, and the excitements and travel of the last few days, have probably left him totally exhausted. They have exhausted me!
After a few more, than a few moments, I persuaded grimpy old man to return to the car and I dumped him back at home with his grumps and sore knee and I escaped the evil vibes. With relief.
The dogs and I set off to continue the ’paused’ walk. This time over the field at Long Wittenham. The meadow grasses and flowers , so glorious and pretty a few weeks ago, are now dulled and a brittle brown. This didn’t bother the dogs who either trampled at high speed through them (Minnie) or bounced among them (H).
It was lovely to see Lena and Timur again as I dropped Minnie back home. But I was only briefly there. I had to get back to the geriatric whiner.
Lena and I made a tentative arrangement for a day at the seaside next Thursday.
T was alright and I fed him a hot drink and a snack which preempted further grumbles and allowed a more reasonable attitude to prevail.
I then fell asleep for rather a while. T appeared briefly and then disappeared again.
I watched some of the commonwealth games. Para events were taking place amongst events for the able bodied. I very much respect those para athletes who have dug deep within themselves to find triumph in the face of adversity.
Good on you!
The Illis had tickets for netball and hockey. Both very exciting!
Friday Morning Update:
Dave Roberts’ indisposition of last Monday ( when Vangelis examined him in our hotel room and he had a slight temperature) has turned out to be Covid. Positive this morning. Another late positive. Though I had offered him an LFT. May he recover quickly.
Thought for the day
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