It is quite a long time since I wrote the last blog, and so much has happened since then. I am sure I won’t be able to recall everything, but Charlotte requested I put my finger on the keyboard, so I am taking time out from the drudgery of housework and writing one now before it all fades into that little corner of my brain called the recycle bin.

Highs: Sue is at last beginning to show signs 0f recovery, thankfully she has been sensible and taken things easy. A good analogy would be to compare her to ‘Little Weed’ who grew in her pot between Bill and Ben (The Flowerpot Men) down by the potting shed. She didn’t move much but smiled all day in the sunshine and of course, knew about everything that went on in the garden. I watched Sue the other day reading the newspaper at the table on the patio. The sun was shining, and her head began to droop, then slowly rested her head on the paper and fell asleep. Never seen her do that before.

The other day, I came home from buying bread and milk (the self-filling fridge and bread bin had lost their magic) and was about to take Sarah to Kibworth (more about that later), when I couldn’t find Sue. We checked inside the house, but no Sue. We checked in the garden, but also no Sue. Sarah ran to the neighbours in the bungalow, but no Sue. They checked their garden and no Sue. They went down the river bank with a torch, and still no Sue. Sarah ran to our other neighbour and there she was! Panic over.

Last Saturday, Charlotte and  Lucas came for the day and we went out for lunch to Welland Lodge.  They were still here at tea time and Charlotte cooked us a lovely curry. I was so grateful, it was the first time in a long time I didn’t have to prepare a meal, it was heaven.

I have been fortunate to acquire enough wood/logs for the winter. A friend is having a new house built and asked if I wanted the trees that were felled on his property. They were already chopped into 2m lengths and stacked. It took four full car trips and a lot of perspiration to move them, but I did it. I am now the proud owner of half a forest and the Newark Palmers are jealous of my good fortune.

Jamie has had a lot of interviews for a variety of positions, and all of them promised to inform him of the result, but never have. At last, he has been successful and has a new job. Not as a carpenter, but he will be using his newly acquired qualification as a Forklift Operator at Magna Park (a large industrial warehouse complex in Lutterworth). It is only until Christmas but may be made permanent after that. Wisely, he is continuing to look for jobs as a carpenter.

Charlotte, Suraj and Lucas have returned from the Dominican Republic.

Sarah started the sixth Form and has begun her ‘A’ level Biology, Geography, Psychology and Sociology courses. She seems to be enjoying it and certainly is taking her studies seriously, spending up to two hours each night writing up her notes.

Suraj has a new car, a BMW 3 series, but I have not seen it yet.

I made thirty-two paper bricks, using my brick maker. It is not as intellectually challenging as housework but is refreshingly relaxing.

Lows: Housework!!!!

Sarah recently took an evening job at a Fish and Chip shop in Kibworth. Unfortunately, after the second shift, she tearfully announced that she had resigned. The couple who run the shop are Turkish and had been very unpleasant to her. The husband, in particular, was, in her words, always watching her. I am so glad she was brave enough to tell me and do something about it. I am much relieved.

Ten days before Charlotte went to the Dominican Republic, she caught  ‘Swine Flu’ and was very ill. Luckily, she recovered in time to fly, only to spend the first  48 hours in a Dominican Republic Hospital with dehydration and a very nasty stomach bug. She recovered from that just in time to fly home. At present, she is well.

I think I have a hole in my car exhaust and it sounds so much meaner than Jamie’s very expensive back box which he paid a fortune for.

I was expecting to take Nan to Bulgaria to see David in October, but now I am not. David and Genya came to the UK last week to sort out some issues with their music and education business in Rotherham. They discussed plans for our upcoming visit, but when they returned to Ritya on Tuesday, they discovered that the builders employed to install a central heating system while they were away, had made a mess of things. When it was fired up, the house filled with smoke and only a third of the radiators worked. Not good for such a big house. The pump they had installed wasn’t big enough for the system and it will have to be replaced. David doesn’t want Nan there while everything is cold and in a mess. We shall be going hopefully in the spring.

My knee is hurting again (old tennis wound), it is all the kneeling and scrubbing of floors I have to do.

Saga: Jamie says there is a hole in my exhaust. Dad says put it over the pit and let’s look at it. Jamie says look the pipe has nearly cracked through. Dad says ok I’ll get a friend to weld it in a couple of hours, it won’t cost anything, but don’t drive the car or it will drop off and will be difficult to weld in the right place. Half an hour later, Jamie drives off (somewhere), and returns pretty quickly. Jamie says the pipe fell off. Dad says what a shame (and other things that escape my memory). The welder says which way did the pipe fit? Jamie says this way, definitely. Welder says there you are a perfect job. Later back at the pit, Jamie says Dad the bolts won’t fit now. Dad says what a shame it must have been welded at the wrong angle (and other things that escape my mind). Jamie drives to the scrap yard for another pipe (cost £15). Jamie says it doesn’t fit Dad. Dad says what a shame. Jamie drives around Harborough for 2 weeks without an exhaust (luckily we now have Hi-tech double glazing and couldn’t hear him). Jamie says I bought a new pipe Dad. Dad says how much? Jamie says £30. Dad says good that should be fine now. Jamie says it needs a bracket welding on. Dad says ok I’ll get a friend to weld it in a couple of hours, it won’t cost much. Jamie waits. Welder says there you are a perfect job. Dad says how much does he owe you? The welder says £5. Back at the pit, Jamie says it fitted ok Dad and drives off into the setting sun.