Computer conundrums and French film fun.

I caught up with e-mails and correspondence today, but my computer began behaving strangely so I called Pete and tried to sort it out with him until his nerves became jangly. I did some therapeutic housework and gardening, and in the evening we watched a stylish Poirot.

The next day I managed to get my computer working enough to back up my files, so saving all the images of my paintings, which was a relief.

Things continued quietly over the weekend, but on Monday Mason got spammed with hundreds of e-mails, and spent a long time sorting all that out. As the weather was really warm and sunny, for a change, I pruned all the roses in the front garden without lacerating myself too much. Diane and Florence called and chatted later.

Mas then had a look at our TV and managed to sort the system out enough so that we can watch our CDs again. We watched Pete's film Les Goût des Autres which I really enjoyed, and Mas did not, but we agreed to differ on this.

Defragmenting and entertaining

On Wednesday I had computer problems , and Mas spent a long time defragmenting and doing other magical things to it. I spoke to Toby for a while hearing about the vatious stresses that they have been coping with; luckily these should be resolved now. Pete phoned and is worried that his small cat is ill as it is sneezing a lot.

Mas and I watched The Bill and had dinner before going off to bed early as I was feeling tired.

Today my computer was still playing up and Mas had gone off to see the bank manager, so I tidied up as we were expecting Robert and possibly Tania to call in for dinner.

Monika phoned and asked if she could come over briefly as they were going to be in the neighbourhood. It was lovely to see them, and they all looked very healthy after their long holiday. The baby Radovan has grown very fast, and is busy trying to walk although he is only seven months old, and Milan had made me a coaster mat of little beads that had to be clipped together, no doubt using up the last of his patience. Monika had bought all kinds of Turkish treats with her; exotic sweet and savoury pastries, a pineapple, pomegranates and fruit drinks that tasted of bubble gum.

In the meantime Mas had prepared dinner, and Robert arrived. Sadly Monika and Oktay had to leave and we will have to wait till next time to get all the news. We had a nice dinner with Robert who has passed the exam. he has recently taken, but has to do another exam next week!
After dinner Robert and Mas put the world to rights, and by the time they had finished I could barely totter off to bed.

Love Apple Island and headless nanny goat ghost

Mas and I had breakfast out in Stanmore before collecting some shopping, and going to the bank. I did lots of tidying up as I go to the hospital tomorrow, and I managed to finish one of the Skelly pictures for Pete which I sent him. I was relieved that he liked it, and will try to do another soon. Calliope the kitten seems to be settling in happily with Pete.

On Tuesday I went off to the hospital early, had blood tests and my treatment which took all day. Luckily I had saved half of my good book, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, to read during this time so the time passed fairly quickly. My medication has been reduced again as my blood levels were still quite low, so I felt well enough to go home under my own steam, and walked from the station home.

I had a nice surprise when I reached home as Betty had sent me a long letter and another book about Guernsey called The Love Apple Island; this one seems to be more of a biography with lots of photographs. I am looking forward to reading that, and will save it for the hospital again.
Betty had written clues for a charity walk near her home which she sent to me to see where they walked. Some of the clues were funny, and she sent them down a supposedly haunted lane that runs between grassy banks; as it was a sunny evening the ghost of the headless nanny goat was not seen.

Mas and I had dinner and watched the customary Pie in the Sky.

Autum car boot sale and a new kitten

Here are three types of fungi that are in our garden, a sure sign that autumn is here now.

It was a nice sunny day, and we did a little gardening and I went for a walk and got a brace for Mas to wear on his hand to stop him bending it in while he is asleep, and so straining his elbow. then we spent the rest of the day doing our usual things until we watched CSI in the evening.

On Sunday, after breakfast, we walked off to a car boot sale being held in Arches field, it was a huge affair and seemed to stretch over three fields. People were buying bagfuls of things, and looking pleased with themselves as they carried them home. I got two jazz CDs, one with Miles Davis and the other with John Coltraine, hoping they would be alright.

After lunch Pete phoned saying that he had collected a kitten with Lorraine and it was now settled in his home and asleep, and he gave me a full description of the kitten before putting the phone down. He called back in about two minutes for me to hear it meow and purr over the phone, which I could!

We watched a new series on TV called Merlin, and an Agatha Christy's Poirot with David Suchet before bedtime.

Visits from friends, and various cheerful plants

Photograph of Joan's cheerful sunflowers, just the right picture for a depressing rainy day!

On Tuesday, as planned, our neighbour Glen paid us a visit, and we sat talking, eating biscuits and drinking tea for a few hours catching up with world events. I managed to do some gardening, and some of the usual chores. I spoke to Pete for a while, and in the evening Mas and I watched watched our usual TV programme Pie in the Sky.

As usual on Wednesday we went off to St.Albans, had lunch at the Thai Restaurant and chatted to our friend there before going off to collect our fruit and vegetables from the market. Lately we have been driving back on a slightly different route through picturesque fields with farm animals on them. The countryside was looking nice as the sun had come out.

Today Mason had an appointment with the doctor which resulted in him being told he has tennis elbow, despite Mason not being able to think of anything that he could have done to hurt his arm.

Pat came over to see us travelling from the other end of the Northern Line, which is quite a journey, the last time this was planned I was too ill and it had to be put off, so it was really nice to see her this time. We have been friends for many years, and used to work in Euston together. She bought me an interesting outdoors plant, it is a Salvia called Hot Lips.



















This plant spreads for three feet, so I will have to find a spot in the garden where it will be happy. Pat has given me several plants for the garden, lots of small roses.

We had a leisurely lunch together and caught up with all her family news as she now has two grandchildren, but she forgot to bring the photos. Before it got too late I walked down to Edgware with her she had lost her way coming to visit us as the cinema that used to mark the turning has been replaced. I was quite sad to see her leave, and we had spent a nice afternoon together.

Ticking over as usual

We went off to Stanmore and did a few chores before we went to the Man in the Moon for an early lunch and then picked up some groceries. As it was not raining we did some gardening, and I cut the grass. Later I began painting the Skellie pictures for Pete while listening to the radio.

On Sunday Mas was busy with his website, and I walked down to Edgware as a French Market was being held there today. I resisted the cakes that were on display, but did buy some soap.
Later I phoned Monika and Pat, who arranged to visit us on Thursday.In the evening we watched an old 'Poirot' detective story with David Suchet; they are so stylish.

On Monday Glen, our neighbour called round just after breakfast with some flowers, cheerful yellow Chrysanthemums which lit up our dining room, what a nice surprise! Mas and I did our usual things all day, but had a break to watch 'Diagnosis Murder,' and then in the evening watched a rerun of 'New Tricks' before going off to bed.

Red Admiral butterflies and a happy visiter.

The weather changed and became sunny and as we were having breakfast we noticed a flock (swarm?) of Red Admiral butterflies in the garden. Mas would have said it was a slew of butterflies, and we went out and watched them feasting on the nectar of various plants, especially the ivy which is in flower now.



















We went out and watched them for a while as butterflies seem to have been in short supply this year.

I spent some time gardening, trying to get a good quota of vitamin D before going indoors and doing all the usual things.

On Friday I went for a walk in the afternoon as the weather was still nice. Later I seemed to spend a lot of time searching for misplaced things and mentioned to Mas that I seem to have a few screws loose lately, and he said I was the most screwed together person he knew ( screwed up?), which I took as a compliment.

Manu called round in the evening, and chatted over a glass of wine. As he left, he skipped down the passage saying he was completely happy now as I looked so well, which made me feel happy too.

Breakfast with Pete

We had a long breakfast, Mas talking about films which was making Pete laugh with Mason's descriptions and turn of phrase. Pete and I talked about the Skelly picture a bit, and I read some of the story which Pete had sent me earlier, but most had not been shown in the first download. I hope I can get Skelly right, and do justice to the story.

We took Pete off to the station just before lunch, and we went off and got some shopping before coming home again. Mas phoned Robert for a chat, and I called Diane, and Manu phoned too.

We watched Ghost Whisperer in the evening, the story line has got much more sinister and ended before the story was complete, which was a bit annoying.

Autumn flowers.

A lunch time feast with friends and visit from Pete

On Monday I heard from Poppy and Florence, and I tried to paint the right kind of skeleton face for Peter, but somehow he turned out too sinister. Mas went to the doctors with a list of things to discuss with him; it is hard to get an appointment so it is important not to miss anything. Despite the list Mas forgot to mention the most important thing, his hurting arm and leg, so another appointment will have to be made. I suggested it would be useful to give the list to the doctor in case anything was missed again.

On Tuesday we were invited by John and Margaret for lunch. Christiane and Eddie were invited too, having returned from France, and it was nice to see everyone. Margaret had prepared a really lovely lunch, lovely to look at as it was so well presented, and very tasty as lots of the vegetables were home grown. For dessert a colourful display of seven kinds of fruit were put in front of us, and there was a home made apple pie too. A variety of different cheeses were served with the coffee. We were very touched at how much thought and effort had gone into this meal, especially as it had only been arranged the evening before! Mason and I will obviously have to pull our socks up in the entertainment area!

Pete arrived around four as planned, and we spent a long time sitting in the conservatory which was warm and bright despite it being a rainy day as usual and talking and drinking tea. Mas showed Pete some of my pictures which have been framed, and look much improved by exactly the right framing and mounting; it seems to me that the framing is just as important as the picture in making the end result.

We had a leisurely dinner and lurked around for a while before going off to bed rather early as we were all a bit tired.

Lost in Austen and happy in Havana

On Wednesday as usual we went off to St.Albans, and got our shopping at the market and had lunch at Sazios. We did not meet up with Tania and Robert as he was swatting up for an exam tomorrow. We had lunch, and left feeling a bit too sazio (satisfied) and a bit uncomfortably full, but had enjoyed a very cheerful lunch. We decided just to eat some fruit for dinner later.

Later we watched a new production on TV called 'Lost in Austen', about a modern young woman who finds herself living in Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice'. We found it really irritating on several counts and will not watch the rest of the series which is a shame as there is so little that is interesting to watch lately.

On Thursday we did a little local shopping which seemed to take a long time. We committed the sin of watching daytime TV; 'Diagnosis Murder' which at least has a cheerful looking Dick Van Dyke in it. Later I blended and froze lots of strawberries and raspberries that we had bought from the market yesterday.

On Friday it was raining as usual, I seemed to spend most of the day phoning and e-mailing friends and family. We feel really lucky that we are not being inundated by floods, but the weather is so grey all the time it is depressing, and it is too wet to do any gardening.

On Saturday the weather is still terrible; one area had 6" of rain in twenty four hours, and there is terrible flooding and destruction; two people were drowned. this of course is nothing to what is happening in other places around the world.

Mas and I watched a really confusing sci-fi film called 'The 13th Floor', and by the time it finished we were still confused, and felt it would be reassuring to watch something really predictable afterwards!

On Sunday I spoke to Pete and then Toby. I had been trying to paint the skeleton picture for Pete, but without much success, Skelly is proving very elusive. For escapism I watched the old film 'Our Man in Havana' with Alec Guiness. It is nice when there are happy endings!

Potato Peel Pie Society and Pie in the Sky

Mas gave me a lift to the station and I took the tube to Belsize Park and walked to the hospital. I had the usual blood test and found my platelets have recovered enough for me to have my treatment today. Mason in the meantime collected some nice wood to make a cabinet for the video machine.

I took the book I had been saving, to read during the four hour treatment: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. I was soon lost in the book and was surprised how quickly the time went by, I did not even hear the alarm bleep on my drip when it was empty! It is an interesting and sometimes funny book.

As I had been given a reduced amount of medication I felt quite well enough to go home on the train and Mas collected me from the station. After dinner we watched our customary Pie in the Sky and Ghost Whisperer before going to bed.

Skeleton pictures and encounter with dentist not in disguise

On Monday morning I spoke to Diane and Pete, and commenced trying to do the skeleton picture for Pete, I did two rough drawings and sent them to him to see if they were along the right lines.

Mas went off to Edgware as he had an appointment at the bank, and because he had to wait for a while he went into the cafe opposite for a coffee. Our dentist was having lunch there and Mas had a chance to apologise. Recently Mas went to the cafe, and this pleasant man who Mas recognised, but could not place, came over and asked how we were, and Mason later asked the owner who he was, and when he said he was a dentist Mas immediately knew he was ours! When Mason explained to the dentist, the dentist said it was because he didn't have his white coat on!

Catching up with friends

We had a fairly quiet Saturday doing our usual things. Pete called, and we talked about the skeleton illustration for his book.....later there were cartoons of small dapper skeletons all around me on the floor, I was trying to get the right attitude to match what I know of Skelton Yawngrave! Later I did some washing up , which is something I can do without thinking at all!

On Suday we sprang to attention after a long relaxed breakfast, as Diane was coming for an early lunch. Mason immediately began rewiring the TV and Video so that they no longer sit in a cupboard surrounded by flammable videos which they had for years, but beside the TV(temporarily). Needless to say this took twice the time that he had allowed for it. However Diane arrived on time, lunch a little later, and there was a lot to catch up on as we had not seen her for a long time. The weather remained unsettled, and later as Mas gave her a lift to the station for her journey home the rain began in ernest again.

Later Mex phoned and we got up to date with what has been going on which was very interesting. Unexpectedly Marion called in for several hours which was nice, but by the time she left we were so tired we could only stare at the walls and could hardly drag ourselves off to bed.

Back to our routine

On Wednesday and Thursday we did our routine things, shopping, housework and gardening and sending emails, and I am trying to go for a walk everyday. The weather has been grey and overcast all month, to see any sun we have to watch TV, so I hope it will all change soon and we will have a bright September. I took this photo as it makes such a bright picture.

Breakfast surprise, treatment delay and news from Peter.

The postman bought a surprise package as we were having an early breakfast. Our little granddaughter Clare sent me a handmade 'Get Well Soon' card, done very carefully with a long message from her and an attractive necklace enclosed. What a nice start to the day!

I got to the hospital, had my blood test and later saw the consultant. Unfortunately my blood platelet count is still too low, so I had to leave without the treatment, and now have another appointment for next Tuesday. My blood group is AB Rh D positive which probably denotes that I am a direct descendant of Genghis Khan.

I walked home from the station and had a late lunch with Mason and watched Diagnosis Murder, it is somehow reassuring to see familiar things. Pete phoned to say he was back home again, but had had a lovely holiday in Crete, swimming for about two hours a day and looking at all the fish while snorkeling, and that he was feeling very relaxed and well, and has some freelance work in the pipeline too.

Mas and I watched Pie in the Sky before going off to bed.

Toby to Brighton and back to our usual routines

On Sunday Toby, Mas and I had breakfast together, and Toby began getting his things out for his return to Brighton. Pete is on holiday, but it was thought sensible for Toby to stay at his house overnight as it is such a short journey to Gatwick airport, and there were threatened strikes for the Bank Holiday when Toby was due to return to Toronto. We took Toby to Stanmore station and bid him a sad farewell before going off and getting some shopping.
When we went back we put the house to order and relaxed for most of the day.

This morning Toby phoned from the airport to say that the planes seemed to be flying as normal. Mas spent most of the day gardening, although it was still grey and cloudy it did not rain. I did some gardening too, and vacuumed the house in case I should feel ill after the hospital treatment tomorrow and not feel like housework. The house seemed very quiet without Toby. we watched some TV before having an early night.

Lunch at The Fishery pub and poking around in Pinner

On Friday we had breakfast, and then lunch with Toby before he went off to town, and Mas and I did our usual things, but took a break in the afternoon and watched 'Diagnosis Murder' with Dick Van Dyke.

On Saturday Mas, Toby and I went off to The Fishery pub beside Elstree Reservoir and had lunch together. Afterwards Mas dropped us off in Pinner, and Toby and I walked around looking at everything; this area has lots of old Tudor buildings.
We walked to the church, but a service was in progress so we walked around the graveyard. We noticed that this man was buried in 1775, aged 118 years. Two surgeons were also buried there in the 1700s, so possibly this was a very healthy place to live in during those times.



Click to enlarge!









The church hall was displaying a local art exhibition. On the notice board was a statement that the four local churches are working together in harmony, despite being Catholic, Church of England, Methodist and Unitarian.























We had a coffee in the Cafe Rouge, sitting outside on the pavement, and talked for a long time. We then had a quick look in some of the Charity Shops before taking the bus back to Stanmore the scenic way.

Walking in Hampstead with Toby

After breakfast Toby and I went off to Hampstead, and left Mas in peace and quiet to sort various things out. We walked all around, up Flask Walk and eventually came out by The Old White Bear pub, and then went off in a different direction. We both really like the houses and architecture, but I was unable to decide which would be mine (if only I could afford to live there).

Later we went into The Flask Pub and had some very refreshing ginger beer and a tasty snack. It is a nice pub as there is a conservatory kind of glass roof which makes it very light and airy in the eating area.

When we left there, we headed down towards the Vale of Health and walked on the Heath for a while, in an area where children usually fly kites.

We left there and walked around Christchurch, and past the small school that my mother attended when she was a child, before heading back.

As we walked back we saw people swimming in the mixed bathing pond, and saw that the fairground people were setting up the Fair for the Bank Holiday on Monday.

Mason's birthday lunch at Sazios

Tania and Robert could not meet us for lunch, but sent a nice birthday card to Mas today; Robert is cramming for an exam. Toby , Mas and I decided to go to St. Albans even though the weather did not look promising to get our usual fruit and vegetables.

Toby bought a birthday lunch for us at Sazios, and we all ate rather too much, The waiter was being very friendly, and bought Mas some extra almond cookies, and when he knew it was Mason's birthday was joking about putting candles on them and singing 'Happy Birthday'. As we left the sun was shining.

Toby saw some of his friends in the evening, and Mas and I watched 'The Bill' and a double programme of 'Ghost Whisperer'.

Pete off to Crete and my hospital treatment delayed

We all had breakfast together, and Pete left to go back to Brighton, and Toby went into London to see an exhibition. Mas and I had a relaxed day, and later in the evening we watched 'New Tricks' with Toby.

Early on Tuesday morning I went to hospital to have a blood test, and saw the professor who was charming and reassuring. There was a hold up with the blood analysis, and I got talking to another lady called Judith who was interesting, while we waited together. Unfortunately my blood platelet count was too low, and my treatment was put off till next week, so I phoned Mas and came home at about 5pm , and felt tired after hanging around all day. If I had to have another delay I reasoned that this was a good time for it as I would not feel too tired for the week while Toby is here.

Toby came home having spent the day in London, and we had dinner together and talked about what he had seen and where he had been. Later we watched 'Pie in the Sky'. Pete left for Crete this morning, for a weeks holiday.

Sunday dinner with Hellboy

Peter and Toby arrived as planned, and we sat about talking which was fun and interesting. Mas made his gaucho soup with venison, followed by turkey and all the fixings. He had in mind that we would not all be together at Christmas, so he made this Christmassy dinner early! Dinner took a long time as each course was filled with conversations.

Later on we watched Hellboy together, perhaps not my first choice, but it was stylish and interesting, and it was fun to be watching together. we finished off by eating some fruit crumble before going to bed.

Conversations and creativity

On Friday my half brother Peter visited as arranged, and we spent a long time talking and sitting in the conservatory and eating biscuits. Later Mas made an early dinner which we enjoyed before Mas dropped Peter off at the station. Peter lives in London, and we sometimes meet there and walk around the city as he is very familiar with lots of interesting places to see; I am looking forward to doing more walking with him next year.

I got a card from Diane with information about meditation enclosed, and later I phoned her. She is off to Germany for a weeks holiday soon. I began a smallish painting, done in bluish shades and gold. This gave me great satisfaction as I am beginning to feel creative again after spending so much time in never never land!

Today I had a nice email from Betty, and finished my painting. Mas went off and got some shopping, and we had a quiet evening.

Interesting book present and visit from Margaret

We had breakfast and an early lunch before Toby left to go to Pete's in Brighton, and Mas and I had a quiet day and got on with various things that needed doing, Mas mostly working on his website, and my head is clear enough now to get back to knitting socks without finding myself knitting backwards all the time!

Later we watched two episodes of 'Ghost Whisperer' in the evening which is entertaining, but quite sentimental too.

On Thursday the postman called early and bought me a surprise parcel from Betty in Guernsey; she sent a book called 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' about Guernsey while under German Occupation during the war, it is written by Mary Ann Shaffer who is American. I am saving this book to read next week when I have to spend the day in hospital again, and am really looking forward to it.

Mas and I went out to Edgware early and then went to The Man in the Moon in Stanmore for a traditional breakfast, and some shopping. Mas then had to go off to the bank, and Margaret called round unexpectedly, and we caught up with most of the news till Mason came in again, and we had some tea and more talk.

In the evening we watched 'The Bill', and both went off to bed rather early.

Lunch at Letchmore Heath

Today I took the last pills for this session, so felt pleased that my mealtimes are not so set now. Toby, Mas and I went off to 'The Three Horseshoes' for lunch and a change of scene; I had a delicious ginger beer which was nice . The weather was quite extreme, very sunny and bright for about five minutes followed by cloudburst rain, and some thunder, with this pattern repeating itself for most of the day.

Back home again, and Toby explained the mysteries of his ipod, and I listened to some old recordings of Tony Hancock's 'Hancock's Half Hours' from the late 1950s; they are still funny today.

Toby left to go out, and got multiple photos of rainbows while walking down to Edgware. Later Mas and I watched 'Pie in the Sky.'

Unsettled weather and health

The weather at the weekend was very unsettled, windy and pouring with rain most of the time.
Pete spent an anxious weekend waiting to see his doctor as his blood pressure is unreasonably high, and Toby and I lurked around talking a great deal which was very nice , but not very blogworthy news.

Our huge dark red hollyhock plant got blown over and lay prone on the grass until Mas strung it up and supported it. Some of the Geraniums have got rust, and I know how they feel! Alex phoned, and he too has a bad back at the moment.

On Monday Pete saw the doctor who prescribed pills and a blood test, and Pete is feeling somewhat better now. Toby went off to London to visit various galleries, and Mas and I got more shopping in. In the evening we watched 'New Tricks' together after dinner.

Creative stirrings and exhaustion

After a leisurely morning Toby left to go down to London, and Mas and I went to Edgware to get a few essential things. We had a quiet day, but lots of phone calls. The weather is really dreary and overcast if it is not raining, very strange for August.

I had a look at some of my paintings, and am now beginning to feel like doing some again. Perhaps something small scale and jewel like for a change. I would also like to have a go at marbling, but feel it would be so messy with bowls of water and oil based paint, that I had better try this in the garden later on. I can knit again, as my fingertips and thumbs have grown new skin now which is a relief.

Lela , Florence and Pete called. Toby returned and we had dinner before he went to meet his friend Danny who is down from Wales. Years ago Danny had a paper round, and would pass our house on his route, and would shout at Toby to wake up, as he passed, which annoyed Toby no end at the time.

I watched the spectacular opening of the Olympic Games with Mas on TV, but was feeling so tired by this time that I might as well have been watching an exploding ants' nest which is a shocking admission! And so to bed......zzzzzzz.

Lunch with Tania and Robert and the kindnes of strangers

We got up early, and Toby left to go to Cardiff to see friends. Mas and I had a nice drive to St. Albans and met Tania and Robert at our usual Thai restaurant. We had a lot to talk about, and had a really nice time. Afterwards we got some fresh fruit and vegetables and scampered off home again.

Pete called, and we watched 'The Bill', and I think 'Ghost Whisperer' by which time I felt fairly comatose and had to drag myself off to bed while I could still move.

On Thursday I did various things like getting a new road tax sticker for the car which cost £102 for our small car, and by mistake got on the wrong bus to go home, and went the scenic way to Edgware which took so long that I thought Mas would be beginning to worry about where I was. Walking back, I pounced on a a young gardener and asked if I could make a call on his mobile phone which I would pay him for; typically I had left mine at home. He was happy to oblige and would not take payment, and I left him grinning to himself after he told me he had done his good deed for the day. It is so reassuring to find goodness sometimes when all we hear on the news is disaster.

Toby arrived back from Cardiff, and we had a quiet evening.















This is one of the flies we saw at Wheathampstead, they were Banded Demoiselles, this one Pete photographed, all I could see where the black dots flying around!

Restful times.

On Monday Toby and I walked to Edgware, and got a couple of things from the shops. After lunch Manu, Lela and Rebecca phoned so I was busy chatting for a long time! Romy called, and it was so nice to hear her voice; luckily Toby walked into the house while she was still on the phone. Mas made a nice dinner and we heard about the things Toby had been looking at in London; he has been away so long he feels like a tourist now. Later we all watched 'New Tricks' which we enjoy on TV before turning in.

On Tuesday we all went off and had a pub lunch and got more shopping from Stanmore. Toby went off to London again in the afternoon, and I took it easy. Diane and Pat called and chatted too. I am still feeling quite well, just a bit tired.

Toby came back, we talked while we had dinner, and looked at his photographs while we had dinner, and later watched 'Pie in the Sky'. I am finding it quite difficult to sit in front of the TV for too long before feeling fidgety, I would generally rather listen to the radio while doing something else, but it is nice seeing some of these programmes which are old and mostly repeats.

Lunch at the Golden Elephant , Wheathampstead

Yesterday Pete arrived from Brighton, and we all set off to go to Wheathampstead for lunch at the Golden Elephant Thai restaurant which is inside a 400 year old former malt house.














We had a nice drive there through the countryside, despite the weather being very dreary, and we had a nice lunch together.

Afterwards we went for a short walk by the river, where some very large fish were spotted, and some fishermen were setting up for a bit of afternoon fishing. We saw rabbits scampering about, and some strange butterflies, but I could not get a close look at one. We did see some ponies, some looking like cartoon ones by Therwell. Then we came home and listened to old records for a while, chatting, and later Mas made a splendid rib dinner ; I think we all ate too much today. Mas also tried to take some photos of us, but we are not very good photographic subjects so I will not show them here! Pete left for Brighton after eight as he has an early appointment tomorrow.

Toby coming to stay, and Robert visiting

On Thursday we heard from Robert that he was going to a meeting in the morning, but would call in to see us as he would be driving back our way. Mas had also managed to get an appointment with the local doctor, who prescribed pills and said Mas needed an xray and blood tests, and we were looking forward to seeing Toby.

Toby arrived as planned, and we began catching up on all the news, then Robert arrived as well, and we heard that Tania has not been feeling very well. Afterwards we spent the rest of the day talking, and Mason made a nice celebration dinner too.

On Friday Toby and I walked to Edgware and I got Masons pills, while he went off for the blood tests and Xray. Later we had lunch at The man in the Moon, where Toby and Mas succumbed to the temptation of large desserts as well! Another day filled with talk, and then we watched a good Foyle's War episode on TVbefore going off to bed.

On Saturday Toby and I walked to the post office, but the weather was depressing and overcast most of the day. Mason's back is gradually feeling better thank goodness, but it is a slow business. I cannot believe how much better I am feeling now as well.