3rd September 2025

Earlier in the month, we’d had a parade of window installers round to price up some work. The aim: to replace our draughty old curtains separating the lounge and sun room, in the hope of retaining a bit of heat instead of donating it all to the National Grid. Sadly, the work won’t start for another 6–10 weeks, so the curtains continue their creaky reign.

We had also planned a jaunt down to Buckfastleigh in Devon to visit Sue’s sister Philippa, but that had to be binned thanks to my medical diary clashing like cymbals. Still, some joy came on the day of my scan prep: Lucas bagged himself a place at Leicester University to study Geology. That put an end to all the nail-biting over A-level results and let everyone pivot towards the more cheerful task of shopping for his new life away from home. Charlotte and Sue wasted no time in drawing up a list of “student essentials”, while Lucas no doubt prioritised finding the nearest pub.

On the day of my scan itself, Sarah and her lot were due for a spa break near Hinckley. Having her phone hacked had taken quite a toll, so a day being marinated in warm water seemed the perfect antidote. Unfortunately, their dog-sitter bailed at the last minute, so yours truly was dispatched to Lutterworth to collect Mia en route. We kept her until the 19th, when she was returned (slightly spoiled) to Sarah and Alice over lunch at The Elms.

On the 22nd, while Sue was swanning about Husbands Bosworth on a U3A Architecture outing, and I was yanking out the last of the maize at the allotment, Jamie arrived with Nala to deposit her for a fortnight’s holiday at “Granny and Grandad’s Kennels” while he and Ruth flew to Mumbai. That evening, they headed off to the Hilton at Heathrow for their early flight, leaving us with Nala and our usual quiet company.

Later that afternoon, Sue, Nala, and I motored over to Newbold Verdon for a family BBQ at Sarah’s. It also doubled up as a birthday meal for Sue, whose birthday was the following day. Lee’s parents were there too, and Charlotte, Lucas, Ellis and Harry all arrived after school. Suraj was off in Shrewsbury, enjoying a “lads’ holiday” (code for too much beer and not enough sleep). Alice, now free of her plaster cast but still not quite Olympic standard, nevertheless bounced about with her usual flair, mostly in cahoots with Archie, who continues to prove that mischief is hereditary.

Conveniently, the BBQ coincided with the opening of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, with England facing the USA at 7.30 pm. Needless to say, as soon as the whistle blew, Ian, Nala, Mia and I were firmly planted in front of the telly, watching a satisfyingly one-sided affair in England’s favour. A fine end to a month of medical melodrama, canine capers, and the odd sausage.

On the 23rd, Sue celebrated her 71st birthday. After opening her cards and presents, we took Nala for a celebratory stroll into Welland Park, where, most appropriately, a Food and Music Festival was in full swing. Although the endless rows of food stalls did their best to lure us in, we resisted (a small miracle) and instead paused to enjoy a surprisingly decent band thrashing out a few numbers. Once we’d had our cultural fix, we wandered back to Willow Bank. That evening, in keeping with long-standing birthday tradition, we treated ourselves to a Chinese takeaway, because nothing says happy birthday quite like king prawn chowmein.

Having flown first class to Mumbai via Frankfurt, Jamie and Ruth are now giving themselves the full ‘India’ experience,  swapping caviar for curry, flatbeds for sleeper bunks that redefine the word ‘compact’, and sightseeing at ‘lesser-known attractions’.

As the three-month drought finally gave way to a few half-hearted thunderstorms and showers, Charlotte and Ellis arrived at Willow Bank on the afternoon of the 28th, bringing Harry along for his holiday. The Rothwells, meanwhile, had sensibly decided to take a five-day break in Poland before Lucas heads off to university and the summer quietly slips into autumn. They caught the bleary-eyed 6.30 am flight from Birmingham to Kraków, and after checking into their apartment in the Jewish Quarter, they immediately did the most British thing imaginable abroad, bought cheese at a nearby Lidl. Having secured this vital taste of home, they turned to their first proper tourist attraction: Oskar Schindler’s Factory.

In India, Jamie and Ruth also continued their adventures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie and Ruth returned from India on the last day of August to collect Nala on their way home. Unfortunately, Ruth had picked up a dose of Delhi belly during the final days of their trip, an ever-present risk when visiting the subcontinent. No matter how careful you are, Sue and I experienced the same misfortune many years ago. On finally arriving home, they discovered that their family had grown in their absence, as their rabbit, Willow, had given birth to six kits.

On a less pleasant note, Jamie had been selling his Aston Martin through a London/Glasgow-based car dealer specialising in supercars. Whilst in India, he was notified that the car had been issued a parking ticket. On contacting the company, he was told the vehicle had been sold, only to learn later that the firm had gone into liquidation before Jamie received any payment. A check with the DVLA revealed that he was still listed as the registered keeper. He is now seeking legal advice to recover the Aston.

Charlotte and family, despite having their trip to Auschwitz and Birkenhau cancelled at short notice, managed to travel to the camp and grab upgraded tours of the site. From their photos and comments on Messenger, they appeared deeply moved by the experience. They also taxied to another of Krakow’s famous tourist attractions, the Salt Mines. A few years ago, Sue and I had been very impressed with this historical site, and so were they.

They flew back into the country late on the 2nd of September and, after dropping Ellis off at school the following morning, collected Harry from Willow Bank. I was out walking the dog when they arrived at Willow Bank, and after enjoying a coffee and a chat, they returned home with an eager pooch.

On the 7th of September, Sarah and her family appeared at Willow Bank to drop Mia off to stay with us for the day while they visited the showground in Harborough to attend the Monster Country Festival, complete with monster trucks, hot air balloons and a fanfare of country music tributes. The weather forecast was indifferent, and they did have to briefly seek shelter when an unwelcome shower passed through. Returning to pick up Mia, they stopped awhile to eat a McDonald’s meal they bought on the way and extolled the great time they had, before leaving for home.

After a couple of weeks of intermittent yet politely persistent tummy grumbles, I paid a visit to the triage nurse at St Luke’s Hospital. She handed me a FIT test (otherwise known as the dignified art of posting one’s stool through the NHS system).

Three days later, on 4th August, I had an appointment with my GP, who cautiously raised the possibility of bowel cancer. Not exactly the sort of news one wants with one’s morning toast. He promptly ordered a CT scan of my colon, along with a blood test for good measure.

On 14th August, I made my way to Leicester General to be prepared for the procedure. Having endured the disagreeable preparations over the following days, the 17th brought scan day. As I’d had a CT scan back in 2016, I knew what to expect: an unpleasant potion to drink beforehand, followed by the dubious pleasure of having one’s colon inflated like a bouncy castle. Painful? Certainly. Character-building? Not in the slightest.

After several follow-ups with Leicester General following my CT scan, I eventually received a letter with the results on 12th September, some 26 days later. The best news is that there is no evidence of bowel cancer, and I have been discharged from the cancer pathway. There was, however, some indication of diverticulitis (a common enough condition), which I had half-suspected, as my mother suffered from the same complaint. The report also mentioned a fatty liver, though a recent blood test showed normal readings. I shall book a GP appointment to discuss the findings further.