under another sun

Lorraine and I walked down to Pat and Maureen's, with a card for their 68th wedding anniversary. There we met Lorraine's cousin Stephen and his wife Sarah who had been staying in Seaford after a wedding.Turns out Sarah's brother lives a few streets from us. Lorraine's nephew Pete had also arrived. Maureen enjoying having people around, and telling Steve that he went to school in a bow tie, which he seems not to remember. Maureen going through the whole gamut of family names when talking to anyone.  Pat and Maureen married 68 years today.  Pete doing well, and loving living with Sharleen in Pat and Maureen's old house -- which was his home too for years. Pat a little confused again, when I took him to the loo to empty his bag and he never remembers he has a catheter. But he enjoyed having people around I think. Maureen a bit sad when they all left. So I was sent out to Morrisons to get P and M some lunch, and Lorraine did a bit of tidying and straightening. When I re...

Up early, snatched a small breakfast and loaded up the car as Beth and James arrived. Then Lorraine drove the four of us to Ashford to celebrate Maureen's 85th birthday. Thanks to Betty we used google maps navigation which is more up to date than Lorraine's on board sat nav. We shaved plenty of time off on our journey back this evening too. We arrived at noon, to find the birthday girl in cheery spirits, and she enjoyed opening a few more presents, loving the pressed flower picture Beth had bought her. Then Lorraine, with me helping, warmed up the meal of peppered beef curry, and veggie curry and we just had to make the rice. Washed down with a glass of bubbly.  After lunch, a cheeky bout of shopping. Lorraine drove Beth, James and myself off to the Ashford Outlet, where you can buy various brands at cheaper prices. Beth and James wandered off on their own missions, while Lorraine came with me while I bought two nice Barbour shirts and a pair of Nike gym shoes. Then back to Pat...

Up and helping Lorraine on with her clothes and into socks and so on this morning. Pat and Maureen off home today, but before that we were all driven by Beth into town. She did very well despite being stressed by having what she calls 'precious cargo' in the back.  Into various shops with Lorraine, Pat and Maureen. I bought present for Mum, after phoning her and her first saying that she wanted a box of time. Lorraine managing to buy a pair of jeans despite being one armed. We had coffee in Debenhams, which Maureen said was a nice sit down. Then home, in a cab and Pat and Maureen were collected by Lorraine's nephew Pete, who came in for a bit of a chat. Fond farewells with Pat and Maureen.  Pat has acquired a new coat from somewhere, but nobody knows where it came from. Beth off to see pals overnight, leaving Lorraine and I to a little quiet time, nesting alone on the gold sofa, and watch a film adaptation of The Turn of The Screw  and a couple of episodes of Wisting,...

We got up early and before breakfast a new van-load boxes and belongings. But before we got up, we watched this video of Jim Carrey, and very much enjoyed this jolt of positivity . This time it was Pete and Pat who had kindly brought the garage-load of stuff. Having worked like ants to clear some space yesterday, this was all filled up again we all brought the absolute bloody final stuff into the house. Pat and Pete drove off back home to Kent, as Maureen had already put the Sunday lunch on, and then we spent the rest of the day getting things straight. Lorraine did a heroic job in the dungeon where lots of our stuff is now stored. A day of hauling things, but enjoyable despite my leg hurting lots by the end of the day. My office is in shape enough to simply get up and do work in it too. Betty back from her rehearsal as Mrs Klaus, which went very well. John arrived this evening too, and we all had roast pork for supper, and a drop of bubbly to celebrate his birthday, which had be...

Lorraine and I had a poorish night’s sleep being somewhat overtired. The disorientated cats waking us up periodically, with Brian springing up from the side of the bed into Lorraine’s face twice in the night. Can’t remember feeling as happy as I did this morning. Apart from the sheer pleasure of moving in to the house Lorraine and I have bought together, there is the unadulterated joy of knowing that the years of property-related uncertainty, delay and frustration have at last ended. We live here. And Betty is delighted too. After her uncertainty about where she was living, she now knows she has a solid foundation and home to flourish out from. Very tired but skipping about cheerily. A bit of a survey this morning, and prioritising what needs to be done. The bobbly biscuit coloured wallpaper needs to go pronto. The colour scheme in much of the house is of discordant beiges. Other people's colour sense baffles me sometimes. Pat and Peter were due to arrive at lunchtime with a...

Off with Betty and Lorraine to Ashford today to see Maureen and Pat, as we have things there we needed to collect, but once we were there I decided that one of the items, a fridge, shouldn't be transported on its side in the back of the car. Maureen cooked a particularly nice Sunday lunch which we ate with much enjoyment, despite Lorraine being told off for not putting the vegetables on the plates with enough neatness. Pete was also there, popping in and out and playing tank warfare games upstairs. Luckily he has agreed to drive the stuff we have stored in their garage to our new home, when we get there. Lorraine also advanced the theory that having a footlong beard, Pete's pride and joy, didn't show off his handsome face enough and rolled it up to demonstrate as only an aunt can. After lunch Beth read out the long list of Christmas treats and foods that we had constructed last night to last us over the Christmas period, which we had done last night instead of broodin...