Pat improving, and a lively night

A bit strange to wake up in my new house on my own. Lorraine staying with Maureen. The good news was that Pat was improved today, and feeling a bit better. He has pneumonia but hadn't had the stroke that certainly we had first feared. Good for Lorraine to be there, and we spoke several times over the day.

Lorraine had arranged for a tree surgeon called Gary to arrive first thing, arrived with his boy Henry. He and backed into the bottom of the garden from the alley and proceeded to feed branches into the chewing machine, and took down the remainder of the bough of the sycamore, and stripped a ring in the bark around the other one, which we discovered was actually supporting the fence, and was full of screws and nails. We are going to kill what is effectively an overgrown stump. I take succour in the idea that we are going to be planting more trees. Gary a nice bloke who clearly knew lots about plants and trees, and Henry, who was I guess 12 or 13 a surprisingly hard little worker.

This all done before noon, and then I had a long stroll down by the sea, and climbed up some of Seaford Head, to get a look back at the town. Good to walk and feel free. Walking home along the seafront I met Pemma who was zooming along on her bicycle. Stopped for a good chat with her -- turns out she has moved to Newhaven, just down the coast, not long ago. Made me feel happy bumping into an old friend in a new town.

Home for a bit of a rest, and then loitered outside my house, looking at the stars till Brian and Yvonne pulled up. We drove off to Sally and Marek's house, about an hour's drive from here in Pulborough. Gorgeous house, which looked magical with lights and uncurtained windows as you approached. Inside Sally's tasteful interior decoration with dark red walls looked like something out of a design magazine. Patrick and Adele there already. Lovely to see everyone, although I missed having Lorraine with me. A delivery curry and after we ate, Patrick borrowed Marek's guitar and began singing, at which point the four or five dogs joined in and got completely over-excited. The noise was hilarious and cacophonous. Had lovely chats with everyone. A collection of very interesting people. Brian and Yvonne drove me home.  

Below very lively folks Patrick, Brian, Adele, Sally, Yvonne, and Marek.