1st February 2018

I recently learned that germs can survive for two days or more when sneezed, coughed, or wiped onto a surface, lying in wait to be passed on. Door handles, bannisters, light switches, these are the primary culprits in this insidious transfer, though until recently, I had given them little thought. Of course, I knew germs typically enter the body through the mouth via food or respiration and, to a lesser extent, through an open sore or wound. However, I was surprised to discover another route: simply rubbing your eyes provides these tiny packets of evil with another pathway to wreak havoc.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, a couple of days before my bout of Christmas ill health, I developed an eye infection in both eyes, which I treated with drops. As my eyes began to clear, I started to feel unwell. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Neither Sue nor I have fully recovered from our New Year nightmare; improvement has been slow. Our systems took a heavy, prolonged knock, and returning to normal is proving challenging, with frequent setbacks. We both find ourselves easily exhausted by even minor physical tasks, and tiredness has become a constant companion. Charlotte’s recovery has also followed a similar trajectory, and now Jamie and Suraj have both succumbed to their beds with aches and pains, possibly the dreaded man-flu (a condition far more severe, of course, than its female counterpart).

Roll on the spring; I think the Palmers are overdue for a good dose of prolonged sunshine!

We recently received a phone call from an Indian call centre claiming to be from BT. The woman explained that, as long-standing and valued customers, we had been selected for a 25% discount on our bill for the next 12 months. She knew our address, the name of our bank, and the first four digits of my bank account. It seemed plausible until she asked me to go through security and provide the remaining digits of my bank card. Alarm bells rang!

I told her to call back in an hour while I checked the legitimacy of the offer. She replied that the discount was a limited offer and only available immediately. That was enough for me, I hung up.

Using BT’s website chat facility, I quickly confirmed the call was a scam. Next, I rang First Direct to inform them, pointing out that the scammer knew the first four digits of my bank card. They reassured me that everything was secure. The first four digits of a bank card are the same for all customers of a specific bank (a fact I didn’t know). They promised to monitor my account closely and check with me before processing any unusual transactions.

An hour later, we had a wonderful surprise. A stunning bouquet and a vase were delivered to our door. The accompanying card read: “Thinking of you both. Kindest regards, First Direct.”

What a lovely gesture, and from a bank, no less! While it had nothing to do with the attempted scam, we suspect they deduced from our transactions that we’d been ill and had to cancel our holiday. No wonder First Direct consistently tops customer satisfaction surveys! Naturally, I rang to thank them.

The weather in Leicestershire has been all over the place lately, swinging between days barely above freezing and occasional spells of 15 degrees or more! Rain has been a near-constant companion, leaving the ground thoroughly waterlogged.

On the 16th, Sarah was working in Northampton, so we had Mia for the day. I took her for a walk along the canal to Bridge 61 at Foxton Locks, stopping for lunch before returning through soggy fields. We made a detour to the Coach and Horses in Lubenham for further refreshments. By the time we got back to Willow Bank, little Mia, having such short legs, looked like a walking ball of mud. She was only too happy to have a warm shower in the downstairs bathroom.

Unlike any other dog I’ve known, Mia loves her showers. After every walk, she willingly jumps into the bath and patiently waits for the water to warm up. There’s no squirming or escape attempts; she simply stands there until every speck of dirt has swirled down the drain. Once she’s had a vigorous towel rub, she dashes into the kitchen to noisily flick her empty metal food bowl around, a not-so-subtle reminder that she deserves a treat for being so well-behaved.

The following day, Sue and I went to the cinema in Kettering. In the morning, we watched Wind River, an excellent film based on the true story of a murder on an Indian reservation. Afterwards, we drove a short distance to visit Charlotte for an hour before returning to the cinema to see Breathe. This inspiring film tells the true story of Robin Cavendish and his pioneering work to improve the lives of polio sufferers.

On Friday the 19th, we hosted nearly the entire family for Curry Night, with only Ashton absent as she was visiting her parents in Daventry. I prepared lamb koftas with rice and a spicy sauce, while Sue made lamb spring rolls. The meal was a hit, and there wasn’t much left over for Mia to clean up!

Ironically, that morning I’d been chatting with Bridget in Cyprus via Messenger while prepping the meal. I was making a Greek-inspired dish, while they were preparing some traditional British fare: fish and chips.

Lee and Sarah stayed the night, as they were catching an early 7:50 a.m. flight from Luton Airport to Berlin for a five-day break. We took care of Mia while they enjoyed a wintry escape in the German capital. Mia, of course, didn’t seem to mind one bit, especially as it meant more walks, showers, and treats!

On Tuesday, after a night of relentless rain, Mia and I set off for a walk to Braybrooke to visit Roger Woolnough. The journey was far from pleasant, taking us through waterlogged fields where my boots collected heavy layers of energy-sapping, sticky mud. Poor Mia had an equally hard time, struggling through the claggy terrain with her short legs.

By the time we arrived at Roger’s, we were far too muddy to accept a much-needed rest and coffee indoors. Instead, we stood on his doorstep, chatting for a while before turning back towards Harborough. The return journey felt even more arduous, leaving us both utterly exhausted and caked in grime.

Once home, we cleaned ourselves up, Mia having her now-customary shower, and then collapsed on the sofa for a well-earned nap. Two very tired and grubby bunnies indeed!

That evening, Sue and I dined at Avatar, a Nepalese restaurant in Harborough. It was particularly fitting, as this date last year found us in Nepal. This thoughtful Christmas present from Sue allowed us to relive the experience of their wonderful cuisine. Meanwhile, Mia was reluctantly confined to her cage in the kitchen until we returned.

On the 27th, I had the privilege of attending a Leicester Tigers match against Cardiff Blues as a corporate guest. As on my previous visit, the food and refreshments were both plentiful and excellent. Although the playing squads were somewhat depleted due to international call-ups, the game was an entertaining one, and the Tigers secured a rare win.

On the 28th, Charlotte, Sarah, and Mia joined an under-40s walking group for a ramble around Yelvertoft. It was a bright and beautiful morning, and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the long and somewhat demanding trek.

Around a year ago, Jamie embarked on a new business venture called Binary Destroyer. While I can’t claim to fully understand the intricacies of binary trading, his foray into the money markets has proven quite successful. He has fostered a strong sense of community within his business, building a ‘Family’ ethos based on mutual trust and support among its members.

Recently, Jamie has been trialling a new initiative called T.A.D. (The Auto Destroyer), software designed to simplify binary trading. This tool aims to make the process accessible to individuals who wish to trade but lack the time or up-to-date market knowledge required to manage their accounts effectively. The early results have been highly promising, with consistent profits reported. If this success continues, Jamie plans to launch the platform in February. His sisters have already expressed interest in acquiring the software, which should add an intriguing dynamic to future family Curry Nights!

On the 29th, Jamie fell ill with the flu and took to his bed again. Meanwhile, I made yet another visit to the doctor, leaving with a prescription to manage reflux. Fingers crossed, this will be my last medical appointment for some time.

With Jamie unwell, he was unable to join me that evening at Brockleby’s Bakery in Melton Mowbray to learn the art of crafting their famous Melton Mowbray pork pies, a thoughtful Christmas gift from him. Thankfully, Sue stepped in as a substitute, and together, along with 22 others, we spent an enjoyable couple of hours shaping and moulding our pies. It was a fun and satisfying experience!

Recently, I received some deeply unsettling news that serves as a stark reminder of how little control parents have over their children’s futures once they leave the nest. A former student of mine, a remarkably bright child from a lovely and highly respected family, is at the centre of a horrifying situation. His father was a minister at the local Baptist church, and his mother was a well-regarded town councillor and school governor. They had moved away from Harborough years ago, but the family remained active in the ministry. I was shocked to learn that he and his brother, along with a magician friend, had been arrested for the murder and defrauding of a part-time university lecturer, and also possibly an ex-headmistress who lived nearby. If true, my heart goes out to the parents and sister, now ensnared in a public nightmare. The phrase attributed to John Bradford, “There but for the grace of God, go I,” feels particularly apt here.

On January 30th, Sue and I drove up to Salford to visit Uncle Stanley at the Royal Hospital. The journey was a typical UK winter ordeal: heavy traffic on the motorway, coupled with relentless sleet showers that demanded total focus for the entire 3.5-hour drive.

Since Stanley had been in the hospital for five weeks, we decided to check on his house in Little Hulton before heading to the hospital. Arriving in a blizzard, we were grateful for the shelter the house provided, though its condition left much to be desired despite being cleaned. Shortly after our arrival, the next-door neighbour, Zena, stopped by to see what we were doing. Northerners, with their forthright approach, differ greatly from southerners in that regard! Not long after, Selena’s mother (a former neighbour) also dropped by to pick up a dressing gown for Stanley. After some brief chatter, we left, reassured that the house was well looked after, if not spotless.

For the night, we booked a stay at the Ivymount, just a short walk from the hospital. After parking the car, we walked to the Royal, which appears to be a modern extension attached to an older Victorian structure. The hospital was very busy, but we found Stanley in high spirits. Though he had lost significant weight, it seemed to suit him, and the chest wheeze we’d noticed on our last visit had significantly improved. Before leaving at the end of the afternoon visiting session, we confirmed with his social worker, Zainab, that Stanley would be moving to Worsley Lodge Care Home the following day.

After a quick stop at Subway (navigating their overly complicated sandwich ordering system), we returned to the Ivymount, where we settled in for the evening with the TV, unwilling to brave the miserable weather outside.

Later, during the evening visiting hours, we found Stanley in even better spirits. Selena and her daughter, Shanie, were already there and had brought him fish and chips, fulfilling a promise from the day before. They had also treated him to a bottle of Newcastle Brown, which he sipped through a straw from a tumbler, adding to his cheer. After a short visit, Selena and Shanie left, and we stayed for the remainder of the session. Stanley had grown visibly tired and was fast asleep by the time we said our goodbyes.

We picked up some fish and chips on our way back to the Ivymount and ate them in our room while watching TV. Much of the UK seemed to be scanning the skies in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Super Moon, but snow clouds ensured we saw nothing of the sort.

The next morning, after an excellent breakfast, we headed back to the hospital to see Stanley. The nurses had packed up his belongings, and he was already dressed and ready to leave, though still lying in bed. Unfortunately, he was not in the best of moods, nervous about the move and particularly annoyed that a bag of £1 coins seemed to have gone missing.

We searched through his belongings without success. A nervous nurse who had packed his things explained that all his coins had been placed in an envelope, which we did find. However, Stanley was adamant that another bag of coins was unaccounted for and refused to leave until it was found.

Further investigation revealed that he had indeed brought two bags of coins to the hospital. We found some additional coins in one of his coats, which seemed to pacify him temporarily. However, he later recalled that he might have given the money to Selena for purchases, such as beer. After some time to think, he told us to let it go, and his mood improved considerably.

With Stanley now much calmer and ready to move to the care home, we chatted until the end of visiting hours. Before leaving, I asked him, at Zainab’s request, if he had made a will. He admitted he hadn’t, so I promised to help him sort that out after his move.

We said our goodbyes and left him waiting for transportation. Selena planned to visit him that evening, and Philippa and Paul were scheduled to see him in the coming days.

Our return journey to Harborough was a scenic one via Snake Pass. Closed the previous evening due to snow, the route was now open and offered a far more pleasant drive than battling the endless convoy of juggernauts on the M6.

Hopefully, Stanley will continue to improve and reach his 97th birthday in July.

Other News

• Lucas: Is growing up quickly: he now walks home from school on his own, though Charlotte still worries about him.
• Jamie: His quad bike has been repaired and will be returning to Harborough soon. He and Ashton are busy decorating their apartment to prepare it for sale. Jamie has sold his snake, and both the rabbit and Ashton seem much happier for it.
• Sarah and Lee: They’ve booked a trip to Chernobyl, Ukraine, an unusual choice, but undoubtedly an experience unlike any other.
• Suraj: He has taken on a carpentry project and is laying flooring in the loft so Ellis can set up his train set permanently, freeing him from having to dismantle it after every play session.