22nd May 2012

The return drive from Heathrow to Harborough was remarkably smooth, with minimal traffic on a Sunday at 7 am. The rest of the day felt a little surreal, battling the cold weather while unpacking and trying valiantly to stay awake. We held out until 9 pm before surrendering to sleep, though we both dozed off for an hour in the lounge beforehand.

The next day, I checked the loft for water leaks and found a small trickle. Given the cold, damp weather, I postponed any major repairs apart from emptying the bucket. I did, however, manage to patch the hole in the ceiling where my knee had made an unexpected cameo while navigating the confined space. Meanwhile, Jamie started his new job at a small, family-run food company just five minutes away in Brixworth. He’s enjoying the variety of tasks and the friendly atmosphere.

The Rothwells visited in the afternoon; we exchanged gifts and watched a little TV. I usually reserve blogging for rainy days, but today’s unusually scorching heat made joining Sarah in the pool a rather unappealing prospect. Instead, I retreated to my cool study to type.

Last Wednesday evening, I drove to Sheffield to drop off suitcases at Sarah’s apartment, then continued to Nan’s for the night. She had stayed up to greet me, even though I have a key. After coffee and a chat, I headed to bed.

The following day, I arranged for EON to service Nan’s heating system. The engineer arrived at 9 am and spent a thorough hour on the job. Nan insisted I sit in the lounge and supervise! I also planted some curly kale in the garden that I had grown for her. Later, we drove to Rotherham for some banking errands and picked up Sarah for lunch. We visited Aunt Edna at a nearby pub; she hasn’t been feeling well and seemed increasingly confused. After about an hour, we dropped Sarah off at a party and returned to Thurcroft, where we watched some football on Sky before a late bedtime.

On Friday morning, Nan and I went shopping for new potatoes in Dinnington. A we arrived back in Thurcroft, Sarah rang and asked for a lift home. I offered her some lunch, but she was keen to get back to Willow Bank. A traffic accident on the M1 near Nottingham forced an annoying detour, adding an hour to the journey. As soon as we were back, Charlotte and the kids arrived about an hour later. The two sisters are inseparable, and it was lovely to see them so happy.

Saturday morning was spent picking up the summer batch of sodium hypochlorite (12 barrels) for the swimming pool. I’ve been vacuuming it daily, and it’s now ready for chemicals to clear the water and banish algae and any rogue insects. That afternoon, I watched Leinster vs. Ulster at the Angel with Roger Woolnough and Jim Hankers, and later at home, I watched Chelsea somehow defeat Bayern Munich. I have no idea how they managed it, but it was a fascinating spectacle. That evening, Sarah worked behind the bar at the Harley Davidson Weekend Meet at Harborough RUFC, returning home at 3 am.

In the afternoon, Nan called to report that her heating wasn’t working again. I guided her through some troubleshooting, then called EON, who sent someone within the hour. Later, when I checked in, Nan sheepishly admitted she had simply turned it off. I said nothing; blogs are forever, after all.

Sunday morning was devoted to planting lettuce and runner beans. After lunch, I drove Sarah to Charlotte’s to stay overnight; she wanted to join Charlotte at church in the morning. On the way back, I stopped at Roger’s for a coffee and a chat. Later in the evening, I began creating a video from our Borneo photos.

Monday, I planted tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse and onions, rocket, and carrots in the garden. Charlotte and the kids visited for tea, and we watched the finished Borneo video together.

Today, it’s scorching! Charlotte and Suraj have been collecting firewood for me, so on Sunday, I brought back a load from Rothwell and stacked it next to the garage. Inspiration struck this morning: I used some of the collected wood, planks nailed together with a 12 cm gap in the middle, to create mini-raised beds in my allotment. I dug, filled the gaps with compost, sowed carrots, and watered them. I managed to complete two rows before lunch and two more in the afternoon. These tiny raised beds look promising; no doubt they’ll become the talk of the allotment!