Dryish

I slept quite well but was awake at the usual early time. A swim beckoned so off I went to Didcot.

And the swim was pleasant enough. The Journey home was not, due to sudden road closures and general delays on the diversion route, which was via Wallingford. It should have taken me 20 minutes to get home. But it was more like 45 minutes.

Heidi and I went for a wander at Pangbourne which was also pleasant enough and there were no hold ups there or back.

Once home , it was more or less time to drive to Thatcham to meet carer friends . Marie had dipped out, weighed down by domestic and other pressures, never mind dealing with Anthony. He will be 90 in two weeks and is having a party at a location in Wantage. Brenda, Val and I will all be attending.
Back to today, Dame Sue indicated from the start that it would be tricky for her to attend. She has a lot to deal with these days – newish man in her life who rides bikes competitively, an ailing mother and his ailing mother, a nephew with disabilities…

The dreaded P, who kicked up a huge fuss about today’s gathering – about the date, location and venue, none of which suited her and all of which were rearranged to suit her, well she didn’t even bother to turn up or explain her absence. She leaves me speechless – the date change meant I missed out on a more local gathering, and it did not help Marie either. Babies and eviction of pram toys spring to mind.

But it was very lovely to see Val and Brenda.

I didn’t get home until around 5.00pm where H was pleased to welcome me home.

It is Tony’s birthday, tomorrow, 17 July (1946) he would have been 78. I shall go and wish him happy birthday. Pen will be on her way home from Mykonos. Alex is not very well today. So it will probably be just Heidi and myself with him. A year ago was the start of the cancer diagnosis and journey.

Ken Wardle died suddenly en route from Thessaloniki to Volos. Friends alerted the police when he did not arrive as expected. He was found dead in his car- must have felt ill and pulled over. This is very upsetting for Tina as he was a very old friend. He also was one of Alex’s lecturers at Birmingham University. We last saw him at Rupert’s wedding.
He was devastated when his wife died suddenly around the same time as T.

And on to more positive news – the weather man has promised great heat for all of two days at the end of the week.

Thought for the Day