under another sun

Breakfast, and a few bits of writing and chatting to Mum, then collected my new specs from Specsavers Particularly liking the slightly longer focus ones, which means I can see everything on my desk sharply and I don't have to press my face against the computer screen.  Lorraine was sitting outside in the car, and we sped off the four or five minutes to Beth and James's house. A glorious sunny day at last, and arriving at about twenty past noon, we spent all afternoon in the garden, I cleared some overgrown stairs in the garden, and emptied the conservatory gutters and a few other bits. James mowing his lawn for the first time with a new electric mower. Beth doing stuff too. All good fun, and I really enjoyed the day. Walking back to the car to stow some bits with Lorraine, looking at the sunshine on the big square of grass in the middle of Seafield Close, I felt really happy for them, and that they would enjoy life there.  We had sandwiches outside halfway through, sitting in ...

So a really poor night again, with gut pain keeping me awake again. Spoke to different doctor, who prescribed some antibiotics, and has set up a blood test. I am going next week. If the antibiotics don't sort it next step a colonoscopy or MRI.  Not getting too alarmed so far, boosted by my cancer test a few weeks ago being negative. Apprised Keith of this, as I'm  not in the business of taking a stressful brief next week. After doing a smidge of work for a couple of hours for some folks in Munich, I strode down London Road to pick up my horsepills and on down to West Street Specsavers. One of the nose pads on my Harry Potterish specs had disappeared, probably after I sat on them. Always very helpful in there. My pad replaced, my screws tightened, glasses polished.   A plaguey bus home sat among teenagers.  Shortly after I got home, Beth popped in for a coffee and Sam, Beth and I had an enjoyable hour's chatting. Had my first coffee for a few days, and the three of us...

Achey eyes lately, and so went for an eye test.  General eye health very good apparently, which is nice to know. Nice ophthalmologist with whom I had quite an in depth chat about AMD and other subjects I have written about. He was screamed at with glee by two little girls after he took me upstairs. These turned out to be his daughters. Lorraine arrived to give me a second opinion and have ordered some new prescription reading specs. Two intellectual looking pairs on order, both not previously sat on, which will be nice.   Then to see Janet and Ken. Ken in vigorous spirits, and upstairs with a man helping to sort his computer out. The occasional nautical language spilling downstairs as Ken described cyber struggles. He actually looks much better than I have seen him for some time. Janet showing us all kinds of new techniques she has learned for her embroidery work, which includes printing patterns onto silk using a computer printer. All rather excellent, and Lorraine was ge...

Portly Prince To Specsavers to get my reading glasses bent back into shape, after I sat on about a year ago. Can't believe it has taken me so long. Put into a fury today by a person unknown, who parked their rucksack in my front garden crushing loads of plants. I hurled it venemously down the Twitten, and when I returned from Specsavers it was gone. To the costume shop again, where I met Beth who helped me, with the excellent Jessica, sort out some remarkable purple and black clothes for the concert. A 100 year old black silk top hat with purple filly band, black tails, purple waistcoat, some species of purple frilly cravat, pointed shoes, and a cummerbund. Suave, like a large portly version of Prince. Then Beth and I off to Sussex University for the final rehearsal with the Tacet Ensemble and the choir. All went fairly well, I think. Though I was not using a microphone, which I will do at the concert, so was always at the top of my voice, which meant I lost some of the colouring....