18th November 2022

More than one family member has recently found themselves in the hospital for scans. One of Sarah’s routine check-ups confirmed that her baby is a boy and produced an incredible set of photographs. Isn’t modern technology marvellous?

Jamie’s latest scans and X-rays show encouraging signs of healing, and plans are now being made for his eventual discharge from the hospital. Surgery hasn’t been completely ruled out, but he’s feeling positive thanks to reassuring comments from the doctors and physiotherapist. He has settled into a routine, though disturbances are inevitable with six beds on the ward. One unfortunate patient, admitted due to a brain bleed, is very confused and frequently tries to escape, bringing some unwelcome excitement to otherwise monotonous days. On one occasion, while Charlotte was visiting, he attempted to leave with her, but fortunately, security intervened in time.

On Wednesday, 9th November, Sue and I set off on separate rambles, Sue to a forest near Peterborough with her U3A group, and I to Wymondham with Sean and John. I collected Sean from his home in Harborough and we drove the fifty minutes to meet John in the car park of the Berkeley Arms. On the way, we passed the spot in Church Langton where Jamie had his accident exactly a week earlier. There was little evidence of the crash now, apart from some scuffed turf on the verge.

It was a perfect day for a nine-mile walk, just a light breeze and a sky promising no rain. However, heavy and frequent showers in the preceding days had left the paths treacherous. Some sections were reduced to well-trodden sludge with a kind of super-viscosity, making us slip and slide uncontrollably. Just fifteen minutes in, Sean, who was already nursing a dodgy knee from a previous hike, slipped and fell hard while trying to cross a particularly muddy stile set on a steep incline. Though clearly in pain, he insisted on continuing.

Our route took us over a variety of surfaces: woodland paths, fields, rough farm tracks, and tarmacked country lanes. This part of the Leicestershire-Rutland border is exceptionally pretty, revealing truly inspiring views around almost every bend in the trail:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile, her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
— William Henry Davies

We returned to the Berkeley Arms tired and aching, but refreshed ourselves with some well-earned drinks and a very satisfying homemade steak and ale pie, complete with trimmings, the only proper way to end a strenuous hike.

Back home, Sue had some news: Jamie would be discharged from the hospital after 6 p.m. that evening. We quickly decided to collect him ourselves and bring him to Willow Bank, where Ruth would meet us and take him home to Waltham on the Wolds. It was around 7 p.m. when the doctor finally signed his discharge papers. We found Jamie ready and eager to escape the confines of his NHS bed, uncharacteristically cheerful and beaming from ear to ear.

Ruth and Joey were waiting in our driveway when we returned. They stayed long enough for a coffee and a family chat before bundling Jamie, along with his bag of clothes, walking frame, medication, and aching limbs, into the Audi and heading north.

Over the following days, Jamie continued to improve. Just a few days later, he even joined Ruth for an Indian meal in Melton Mowbray. Sitting upright for long periods still causes discomfort, and he must wear a back brace and occasionally take painkillers. But he’s much happier now that he’s home. With the company of Nala and Rocky during the day while Ruth is at work, and the ability to keep on top of his online business, FX Learning, Jamie is coping well, though it will still be some time before he returns to full-time work.

On 12th November, I travelled to Twickenham with five friends to watch England take on Japan. It was a very long day, beginning at 7:25 a.m. with a bus to Northampton. After a rather disappointing breakfast at the station, we boarded the first of four trains to our destination. By 11:30 a.m., we were striding down Twickenham High Street, along with several thousand other rugby supporters, heading towards our favourite watering hole, the White Swan, situated on the banks of the Thames.

Once suitably refreshed with several beers, we made our way to a small bistro in the old part of Twickenham for lunch and further refreshments, before joining the growing crowd streaming towards the stadium. We reached our seats just a few minutes before kick-off.

England, rather disappointingly, won the game with ease, 50:13. I had been hoping for a more competitive contest, but it seems the Japanese team were having an uncharacteristic off day and failed to show their usual Banzai energy. I had also looked forward to a large and enthusiastic Japanese contingent in the crowd, but they were thin on the ground. Though colourful, their natural reserve meant their presence was almost invisible. The lopsided scoreline likely didn’t help.

After the match, we joined the slow shuffle of spectators making their way back into Twickenham town centre. While many headed straight for the train station, we veered off to a busy Italian restaurant we’d visited before. A queue of hopeful diners was being turned away at the door, but we swept past them and boldly (and falsely) claimed a reserved table for six. After a moment of panic from the waiting staff, a table was hastily assembled.

Well-fed and satisfied, with plenty of good wine (one bottle donated by a group of opposition supporters) and pasta consumed, we made our way back to the station just in time to catch the first of our trains home to Harborough.

Over the past few weeks, there has been significant disruption to the UK’s rail system. Our journey was no exception; while our outward route went according to plan, the return did not. Our second train change was originally scheduled with an eight-minute connection, but upon reaching the platform, we discovered it had been delayed by an hour.

We passed the time chatting with other equally frustrated travellers, and at one point we were joined by one of London’s now-famous urban foxes. Entirely unbothered by those around, he appeared to be in full London commuter mode, ignoring all and sundry as he trotted past.

The delay had a knock-on effect on the rest of our journey, ultimately resulting in a one-and-a-half-hour wait for our pre-booked taxi in Northampton. We eventually arrived back in Harborough town centre at 12:30 a.m., tired, travel-weary, and very much ready for bed.

For me, Remembrance Sunday was a welcome day of rest, a chance for my poorly foot to recover from the previous day’s exertions. Sue, however, was up bright and early, off with the U3A nature group to track down more autumn fungi in the woods near Peterborough. Charlotte and her family attended Ellis’s first Air Cadets parade, while Sarah and her family went to church with the WI.

Monday began shrouded in fog and, rather gloomily, stayed that way throughout the day. Sue and I drove up to Waltham on the Wolds to visit Jamie and the dogs, and to take him out for lunch at the local pub. He seemed much improved, but as he was still unable to tackle the large pile of wood destined for the burner, I spent most of my time sawing it down to size while he and Sue chatted in the warmth of the lounge. With the wood basket filled and a substantial lunch enjoyed, I took the dogs for a walk around the village in the descending gloom before Sue and I returned to Willow Bank, reassured (fingers crossed) that our son was on the mend.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been quietly beavering away, editing the hundreds of photos and videos from our recent Greenland adventure. It’s surprising how distant the trip already feels, but seeing the images again stirred up half-forgotten memories. I’ve now finished putting together a video of the journey and posted it on YouTube under the title: GREENLAND.

*Click the link to see.