The end is nigh

The tulips have done their stuff for another year. I do enjoy them in all stages.

Today I had to be chauffeured to Morpeth to the dentist (£41 for 6 minutes in the chair) as I can’t drive till the DVLA tells me whether I can or not. Mr C went to Lidl and got some supplies for me to cook for 6 of us tomorrow. Carol, Phil, Katy and Colin are coming. It will no doubt take me all day as I’m so out of practice.

What a performance it is with health stuff these days.
1 - call to eye hospital to say my prescription for the glaucoma drops had not reached the GP. They’ll see to it.
2 - call to NHS/privatised physio unit to say the promised video and exercises email had not arrived. Also they can’t sort the appointment for July as it’s too soon so I have to call back next week.
3 - call to orthopaedic surgeon’s secretary to ask if my referral for the bone scan had gone through. It hadn’t - she’d been on holiday and the replacement hadn’t done it. So that’s us a month behind with that. She said she’d call back but hasn’t.
4 - call to dentist to get Mr C’s check up at the same time as mine.


In the afternoon I took time out to finish knitting the sleeve of #2 daughter’s coat - it’s been quite full-on since we got back from the Outer Hebrides. Then I spent some time on the book about the trip before tackling the complications of a Nigella pudding for tomorrow. Luckily I realised in time that it has to be assembled the day before so that the panettone can absorb all the Marsala and more in the fridge. There’s also mascarpone, cream, eggs and sugar whipped up with pistachios and dark chocolate bits added. That goes in layers with sliced Panettone. (We overbought it at Christmas as we didn’t have our usual guests and this recipe is perfect for using up the stale).

Her husband is with Georgina (my young GP) holding her hand as she slowly fades away with cancer in the hospice. The children have said goodbye. It’s unbearably sad. She looked after my daughter when she was dying.