28th January 2013

Overnight, the wind and rain swept away the snow, bringing a brief rise in temperature. By morning, the white blanket had gone, leaving us with the all-too-familiar sight of a swollen, flooded river. Same script, different week.

Charlotte has been in the wars with her tooth. The dentist initially found nothing amiss, but a second look at her head scan revealed a shadow on the jaw, indicating an infection that had been present for some time. What was meant to be a tidy little scrape turned into something more surgical, involving stitches, painkillers, and a temporary resemblance to a prize boxer. Suraj gallantly stepped in, taking time off to cope with the boys while Charlotte recovered, though she still flinches if anyone so much as looks at her cheek. I, of course, made the error of kissing her goodbye, eliciting a yelp that will echo in my conscience for a while yet.

Sarah came down midweek, armed with passport forms and dreams of Camp America. She went straight to Charlotte’s to lend a hand with the boys, then joined us all on Friday for Curry Night. Miraculously, the boys entertained themselves with puzzles and construction kits, blissful silence for once. Charlotte managed a curry, though it was more cautious nibbling than ravenous feasting.

Friday also brought an unexpected visit from David, who, fresh off the train, accompanied me to see Nan. We were joined by Sarah, then Sue, and all four of us lunched at The Waterfront. Afterwards, David and I had a wander around the Basin, where he inspected the shiny new builds that now stand on the site of our old house. The afternoon was rounded off with vintage family videos before he dashed for his train north, en route back to Bulgaria next week.

Saturday was devoted to Sarah’s Camp America promotional video. With YouTube already brimming with glossy competition, the pressure was on. We raided the photo archives, scribbled a storyboard, and shot some clips, eventually cobbling together something that we hope screams “employable, enthusiastic, and adventurous,” rather than “frantic family bodge job.” Fingers crossed. CAMP AMERICA VIDEO

Sunday saw Charlotte, the boys, Sarah, and Sue off to Welland Park for Cinderella. Ellis sat through the performance without so much as a wriggle, praise indeed. Dinner was Jamie’s contribution: a roast chicken large enough to feed an army, half of which was dispatched to the Rothwells as edible aid.

Nan, meanwhile, finally acquired a proper splint for her bent finger. After an X-ray at the Cottage Hospital, she was fitted with a rigid brace and strict instructions to wear it for six weeks. Given she discarded my makeshift cotton-bud version within hours, I give it… a week, maybe two.

Elsewhere, Sarah’s passport application was duly posted, at an eye-watering cost. I footed the bill while Nan chipped in towards her petrol. Sue packed Sarah’s car with food supplies before waving her off back to Sheffield, doubtless with half the pantry in tow.

Jamie had his own dramas: I dropped by to deliver a framed painting he’d brought back from Bali, ready for pride of place in his flat. He was off to celebrate a friend’s 24th later, hopefully avoiding a repeat of his last night out, when his new date reversed into his car, snapping the wing mirror. His work van hasn’t been much better behaved, suffering a broken clutch cable in Birmingham, though at least he enjoyed three warehouse-bound “rest days” while it was repaired.

On the health front, the NHS seems determined to sample the entire family. Sue and I both had check-ups this week, blood tests, the works, while Jamie managed to forget his appointment altogether. I’m due back on Monday for results. The sheer admin of testing us all must be costing the country a small fortune.

Evenings have found me glued to The Walking Dead. Having polished off season one, I’ve plunged headlong into season two. I can’t quite justify the appeal of watching decomposing corpses lumbering around, devouring the living. Perhaps it’s escapism, or perhaps I’m finally losing my marbles and empathising with the zombies.