... and back again

An earlyish start, wending our way through London at around ten miles an hour, firstly to drop off some bits and pieces at the mini-Minx's house in Chiswick, and thence on to the M4 to escape north. 

I took this photo from Battersea Bridge, looking west. Do you see all those boats, above the waterline on the right? We went past them and they are houseboats. When the tide is out, they don't lie flat, which must make them odd to live in. 

Anyway, once we were out of London, it wasn't a bad drive, actually: clear and dry, with a tolerable amount of traffic, although I was feeling progressively worse. I had to duck out of a meeting I had planned for this afternoon, and when the Minx decided she'd go over to Sheffield to take some things to Abi, who is, unsurprisingly, being kept in hospital, it was pretty obvious I couldn't go, too. 

Thus I stayed home in Salford, in front of the fire, whilst the Minx firstly shopped for Abi - pyjamas, slippers, toiletries, and treats - and then went across to Sheffield to deliver them. 

The photo she sent me of Abi's ear made me want to cry, the poor girl. How on earth did they keep her in A&E for nine hours?! Her ear drum has 'popped' apparently, which does sound painful, but now she's been admitted, the NHS is surpassing itself, as it usually does: intravenous antibiotics, steroids, and painkillers.