Flu jab and Friday 13th!

In the afternoon I walked down to the doctor to have a seasonal flu injection. There were a lot of us waiting, and before I went in a patient came out feeling rather faint, and he said it had been very painful. When it was my turn it was quick and painless, and then I was told I should have a swine flu injection, and should book an appointment before I left.

I went off to the library and returned my books, and then found some new ones to take home. Looking at the biographies I was surprised to see that John Le Mesurer had been divorced from Hatti Jacques, and that his subsequent wife had an affair with his best friend Tony Hancock. If all that had happened today it would have kept the gossipy celebrity magazines going for months.

Pete phoned, and we chatted for a while which was cheering. In the evening we watched The Odd couple by Neil Simon, with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, which had some very funny scenes.

Today I walked off to Edgware as we had a circular telling us that Mas should have a swine flue jab too, (because he lives with me) so I went to make an appointment for him. There was a lady shouting in the reception area in a very arrogant way, and I was pleased to leave as it had been so noisy I could not hear myself think. I also picked up Mason's medicines from Boots chemists, but when I got home we found that they had left out the essential medication.

We drove down to Edgware and sorted it all out. The drivers all seem to be driving in a reckless and strange way today, so we then went off to Stanmore, and Mas had another go at sorting out his bank account and setting up direct debits. Everything seems very annoying today, and we remembered it was Friday the 13th (ooo err). This done, we had lunch in the Man in the Moon to cheer ourselves up, and a glass of red wine, and left feeling more relaxed.

Stinging nettle arms, corkscrew neck and toothache

I had a routine appointment with my doctor and then walked home. Mas and I had planned to have lunch at the Man in the Moon and get some shopping, but when I reached home Margaret phoned and asked if I would like to go blackberrying with her and John. I left quickly after finding some plastic boxes to put the blackberries in in and went round to their house.

We walked over to Arches field, and they showed me their favourite picking place. The weather was hot and sunny, and in short order we had picked enough to fill all our boxes, and having displaced a wasps nest we went home. I invited them to come for lunch with us, so we all drove off in John's car to Stanmore.

We had a cheery lunch together, and then collected shopping. We had caught the sun a little getting the blackberries, and all felt quite sleepy. They dropped us home before driving to their house. In the evening I froze about 8lbs of blackberries and made jam with the rest.

Today I finished off the curtains, and re hung them which was the worst part of the job, and involved me screwing my neck around like the child from 'The Exorcist'. That job done, I tidied and vacuumed as there were cotton threads all over the house, and hoped my neck would return to normal before too long.

Mas has got bad toothache which sends pain along the jaw and up into his temple, but he has to wait for his dental appointment on Friday so is taking paracetamol every four hours. We watched Simon Baker (who is also in The Mentalist) in The Guardian. After that I washed up and played with Salty and left Mas to watch Numbers.

Walking and exercising

Mas and I walked to Stanmore for exercise, and we had lunch at The Man in the Moon, and bussed back afterwards. The pub had been completely full which is odd for a Monday, and everyone seemed very cheerful; it seems people are trying to enjoy the present and forget all the recession problems.

Later Mas went off to the dentist to have his crown fitted, and I went for another walk. In the evening I spoke to Toby which was nice.

This morning Mas was doing more gardening and later went down to Edgware Hospital to have physiotherapy, but when he arrived found it had been cancelled, but he had not been told.

I did the usual chores and played with the cat, and did a long session on the exercycle which was monitored by Salty, luckily not sitting on my shoulders, while I listened to a programme about Maurice Ravel's mental health and how it may possibly be seen in his music which was interesting.

In the evening we watched the old film Inn of the Sixth Happiness, which we both enjoyed

Blood tests and electric cat

Monday morning and Mas had to be at hospital by 9.00am for a blood test, then had to wait there for another one after two hours. I managed to get Salty to use the cat door by throwing his toys through it.

Mas came back very hungry after his fasting blood tests, so we went out to The Man in the Moon for lunch which was a nice break. Later I took a long walk, and got back as it began to get dark.

Playing with Salty in the gloom I touched his nose which gave out a sizable flash of static electricity, but it did not seem to bother him.

He is now going in and out of the house every few minutes, and came back one time completely soaked, but dried off quickly. Shame about all the muddy paw prints though.

Fashion victim in St.Albans

Mas and I went off to St.Albans to have lunch at the Thai restaurant with Tania and Robert, and later pick up some fruit and vegetables. Apparently in Thailand white cats with dark tails are lucky cats, we could do with some of that!

This little dog attracted attention wherever he went!

When we got home again we found our nameless kitten had been asleep in his bed while we were gone.

Lunch with Tania and Robert followed by dark stories

We were going as usual to St. Albans, but our friends phoned and invited us to lunch at their house instead of meeting in town. It was a bright and sunny day and the drive up was lovely. We sat about talking for a while and then we had lunch. Tania had made a delicious fish meal followed by the nicest cheesecake Mas and I have ever tasted. We were having such a nice time talking that we left it too late to go to the market, and as I had got very tired we went directly home afterwards.


At home I lay down for a rest, and after a while Florence phoned, and we talked for almost an hour. She has an infectious laugh, and I felt very cheered up. In the evening we watched The Bill and Silent Witness, both with good plots, but very dark stories.

Brighton breakfast and lunch

On Thursday we got up and were all greeted by a purring Calliope. We has a lovely relaxed breakfast with fresh coffee and bread and currant bread too that Pete had just bought from his favourite bakers. Later I washed up our few dishes, but while I did this Calliope ran up the back of my legs and back so that she could sit on my shoulders and watch everything that was going on in the garden too, I kept putting her on the chair,but she ran up to my shoulders five times. At one point she was standing on my head, and I had to be careful that she did not fall into the water. She is very entertaining and funny.



















Pete went off briefly to the chiropractor for another session, all useful places seem to be a stone's throw from Pete's house which is really useful. Mas and I packed our stuff up, and we all went to lunch at The Sussex Yeoman pub (just around the corner)where I also managed to get some ginger beer, which is my substitute for red wine for the time being, and a nice lunch. Looking out of the pub window the sunny houses opposite reminded me of Folkestone.

Quite soon afterwards we walked to the station and sadly left Pete at the barrier before going off to London on the train. The view crossing over the Thames was very picturesque in the sunlight, and before too long we were home again. I really enjoyed our Brighton trip and seeing Pete in his sun filled home. I believe Mas wants to get a kitten of our own now as he liked Calliope so much, but we were surprised at how much they cost now. Previously people used to give kittens away and were glad that the cats were going to a good home.

Diane had left a few messages so I phoned her and we bought each other up to date with what has been going on.

St. Albans lunch and I Claudius

Today we went to St. Albans to have lunch with Tania and Robert and get fruit and vegetables from the market. The drive was lovely as all the trees are in leaf now and everything looked fresh and green; it seems a long time since we last did this customary drive.

Despite the gloomy overcast weather the market was busy and we got most of the shopping before going to Buai Thai restaurant.

We had a lot to catch up on as we had not seen each other for a while, and both Robert and I had been in hospital and we had a lot to talk about. We had a lovely lunch and as usual the friendly owner came to talk with us, she almost wants us to eat there for nothing, and we have to insist on leaving a tip as she tries to give it back to us, and kisses us when we leave.













This is part of a wall panel in the restaurant, the inlaid fish are all mother of pearl.

This evening we are planning to start watching reruns of 'I Claudius' which was an excellent historical production, even though it is now so old. There is so little of any interest shown on TV lately.