4th August

Yesterday, Sue, Lucas, Sarah, and I travelled to Newark. The week’s forecast looked promising, though with rain predicted towards the weekend, it seemed wise to seize the sunshine and paint the outside of Charlotte’s house while we had the chance. We left early, stopping at Jewson’s Tool Hire in Balderton to order a set of ladders.

When we eventually arrived, Suraj had already left to visit Charlotte in the hospital, but I had a key, so gaining entry wasn’t a problem. The ladders arrived soon after, and I spent the day painting. Following a fish and chip lunch from the local chippie, Sue, Lucas, and Sarah left me to my brushes and rollers while they headed to Lincoln to visit Charlotte.

The painting went smoothly, though I did have to buy some sand and cement to repoint the chimney; the brickwork was decidedly “iffy” and most of it needed stabilising before paint could be applied. We’d chosen a bright creamy yellow, and under the sun’s glare, it felt rather like working inside a giant lampshade. I soon had to hunt out a hat to protect my bonce. My only distraction came when a farmer began combining a field of wheat across the lane. Luckily, the slight breeze carried the dust and insects away from my fresh paintwork.

Mid-afternoon, while perched on the roof, I heard loud knocking and banging from next door. Eventually, a lady appeared and asked if we had a leak, as water was pouring through her ceiling. Alarmed, I scrambled down the ladder and searched our house from top to bottom, not a drop to be found. I returned to tell her we were bone dry. She vanished in a panic, only to reappear hours later with a man in a smart suit and a clipboard. If he was there to give an estimate, I can only assume it wasn’t going to be cheap.

The painting was meant to be a surprise for Charlotte, but when Sue made an excuse for my absence, Charlotte guessed immediately. So much for the big reveal. Sue and Lucas returned at around 5 p.m., minus Sarah, who had decided to stay at the hospital and return the following day with Suraj. He was due to be interviewed for a job in Thrapston in the morning. I finished painting at 6 p.m., and we had an uneventful, mercifully sick-free journey home.

The latest from the hospital is encouraging: Charlotte can now get out of bed and move about. She’s able to pick up and hold little Ellis David and has even managed a trip to the loo unaided. Her legs and feet are still swollen, but she got through the night feeding Ellis without needing the nurses to step in. Suraj spends all day with her but finds the ward stiflingly hot and escapes outside regularly to cool off. The other beds in the ward seem to have a revolving cast of occupants, but Charlotte remains the long-term star of the show. Suraj thinks she may be coming home on Thursday.