Not a swanky hotel

If ever there was a morning that justified stopping working this was it. The military operation planned morning went like clockwork until 9.20am.

Then there was a phone call from the hospital asking for Jackson to come in for a retest of last week's bloods as his renal function test was abnormal. The message was do not go to school, do not pass Go, come in right now but there's undoubtedly nothing to worry about. Hmm. Okay, won't worry then. Actually can't waste time worrying because....go upstairs to tell Jackson to change out of school uniform for the change in plan. Come down to find the poor mutt had vomited in 3 places in the kitchen. Attempt to clean up vomit quicker than the dog can eat it, as considerate as tidying up after yourself is, it really doesn't add to the cuteness. Cancel doggy daycare. Cancel school. Cancel handyman coming to sort the hall project. Keys to dog walker to come and check on Albi during his break from being a barista in local coffee shop. Head into town.

To this. Which I think looks like a swish modern hotel with lovely spa pool and sauna but is actually one of London's oldest hospitals. It's ageing better than I am. Wonder if it did it's own facelift? It looks much better in real life than this very hurried snap does justice. I wouldn't necessarily add it to your list of London tourist attractions but if you are passing it is worth a second glance.

Getting to business, the hospital were swift and efficient and we were back home for lunch with promises of a call with the no doubt absolutely nothing but a blip in the lab results in the morning.

In total contrast the afternoon seems to have consisted of little more than stroking the docile but non vomity dog and folding laundry listening to the soothing tones of June Whitfield as Miss Marple. And FaceTiming with the LA one and trying to be matter of fact about the appointment thingy with Jackson yelling requests for a kidney and a dialysis machine in the background. Bless him for keeping a healthy sense of humour.

The chilled out afternoon was slightly disrupted when I tried to remember the convoluted conversation with Anna as she departed this morning about whether I was to meet her from netball practice or whether she was walking home with her mates. Fortunately I guessed right as she didn't have snacks or money for snacks and her mates were taking the bus.

The plan for the rest of the day is to ferry her to and from some dance classes and then curl up on the sofa and finish my book. I don't see what could possibly go wrong.

Oh, and in tenuously related hospital news I received a text this afternoon that my last blood donation had been used at the Royal Sussex Hospital. I think a slightly odd and unnecessary part of the service but quaint and endearing at the same time.

Lesley x