Another reasonable night where I awoke around the usual 05.00. That allowed me to book a swimming slot at Didcot Wave, for 07.40-08.30. The times are quite loose, fortunately. And then I returned to bed for a bit of relaxation before departure time around 07.00.
I had forgotten it would still be dark for the drive there. It is a while since I have used this route so care was required. Storm Jocelyn added to the thrills in the form of debris and deep water in places.
The swim was lovely in a fairly quiet pool. I went in my towelling Dryrobe so no need to do battle with clinging Lycra- I could strip off and shower back at home. I swam around 500m, which was enough for today. And I certainly knew about it later. My legs were reluctant to cooperate with my intentions.
The drive home was in daylight and revealed flooded fields and that the gas station in Blewbury had been gutted and rebuilt.
Next up, was either walking H or getting ready for SW. H was pretty dormant so I resolved to walk her later. It was a fairly damp and miserable day at this point. But the conditions were supposed to improve.
At SW I had lost 1/2 Lb over two weeks. Remember my week away had been spectacularly naughty food-wise. This half pound took me to losing 10% of my body weight. There is an awful lot more to go. About another 40%!
Next up was a trip into the adjacent Waitrose for a parcel to collect for Ali and one or two groceries, and then home.
I gathered up H and we set off for Streatley Hill and the Illis and met Dave and Minnie who were also out for a quick stroll. In between business calls.
By now, the weather was transformed into sunshine and clouds so we enjoyed a stroll across Lardon Chase to the bushes where we will finally lay T to rest. I satisfied myself that he would have the best of views – on a clear day you can see the water tower at Greenham, across Streatley to the distant parts of the Ridgeway, towards Moulsford and up the Cwm. (Combe)
There is a nearby bench where we sometimes parked our backsides when out and about. I think we will scatter him at the end of March around the date of our 53rd wedding anniversary. I want it to be sunny and fresh.
I was expecting a visit at 3,00pm from someone who I thought was a counsellor from SR. This had been suggested at our Meeting on 10/1. The idea being to erase images of T’s final moments. But this nice man who came was not the counsellor I was expecting. He was some sort of chaplain / spiritual person, very pleasant and a good listener. But not a counsellor – I think she was called Natalie. So that’s another let down by Sue Ryder. He left me a leaflet about meditation which is quite interesting.
He also revealed other services we were not offered by SR – eg access to Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, which apparently has beautiful ground floor rooms, a fully present staff for carers and patients, and a proper day hospice service. Carers can stay overnight in some instances. It is, of course, in Berkshire, so serves Newbury, Reading and Wokingham. These places have joined up together and have a hub in Theale. Since NHS Care transcends boundaries (unlike social care) I’m not sure why S Oxfordshire is so badly overlooked where this hospice is concerned.
All the visit did was remind me how let down I feel by SR. He knew something of our history.
By this time it was 16.30 and I was hungry so I ate my brekkie/lunch/tea at this point . And – yes I fell asleep. I had trouble piecing together the events of the rest of the day as I was listening rather than watching to the TV. Traitors seemed to feature as part of the Late News, so was difficult to follow. I’d better check out this muddle later.
Thought for the Day
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