Surprise

We’d called into town to kill an hour before we called to see my mum; as I was browsing in a shop John came running up to me and said “come and see who I’ve found” - my first thought was Wayne Rooney…..

Anyway, it was in fact my dad and step-mum. Long and complicated story but usually he isn’t up for visiting when I am in Plymouth so I haven’t seen him for a couple of years. He’s coming up to 90 and is doing incredibly well - my step-mum isn’t doing so well and didn’t want to be photographed. We had a quick catch up and they went on their way. It was a little surreal.

Then on to see my mum. She’s physically frail, mentally still sharp but let down by her memory - we tried taking her into the garden but she’s in such pain from her back that she couldn’t enjoy it. She’s also barely eating enough to survive, and pain medication makes her very sick so that exacerbates the eating situation even more. She was pleased to see us though.