Life!

I went back to London on Wednesday afternoon, and had a nice quiet day to myself on Thursday.  Mike had texted to say all was going well - and he had done a beer run to Asda for himself and his roommate so rehab was well under way! Elora was born to Lee and Emma on Thursday 12th April. Neville and Beau seem to have taken to her ok - the blanket in the last photo was crocheted by me!  I quickly got the date stitched into a cross stitch I had ready - and I found a few moments the next day to make a card and send it off so it was there soon after they took her home. I went to Steve's to ring handbells on Friday morning - we attempted a peal of Superlative with Peter B and Peter K (me on 5-6) but it was miscalled.  So we rang a bit more to practice and then I got off to go to Stoke Mandeville to get Mike nice and early.  We got home and had a cup of tea and then it was off to Barnes to ring a QP!  Hammersmith Bob Triples never really got going s...

I popped back to London on the Tuesday after Easter as Mike was being seen by the consultant the next day and I wanted to be around in case he got a discharge date.  Wayne started on the flat roof as I was leaving - which was good timing (until the weather turned!). I went to see Mike on the Wednesday and was there for 3 hours - just got back to the car before the 3-hour parking period expired.  Unfortunately I couldn't stay long enough to hear what Derry had to say - although he had appeared on the ward to do his rounds he didn't get to Mike before I left. However Mike texted later to say that the dressing was now off and he would be off the hot air bed on Friday and sitting in the chair on Monday.  Great news - and also the easiest for me logistically as I could now take Jayne straight to Devon after picking her up at Heathrow the next day. Thursday was the hottest day of the year so far, with lots of sunshine and blue skies. I spent the morning doing enough shoppin...

When I arrived in Devon the sun was shining and the birds were singing - just like last time only warmer.  I went and sat on the terrace steps in the hot sunshine with a cup of tea and rang Mike for a chat - just as good as visiting really and less exhausting for me.  With the clocks going forward the evenings were now much lighter and I was able to take Suki out a bit later and still be in the daylight.  I drove to the tourist information car park and we walked to Parke from there.  It was a lovely evening. Monday morning was beautiful - although rain was forecast for later - and we actually made it up on to the moor for the first time since last Autumn.  It was beautiful up there and we had a good long walk - from the small car park up on to Black Hill, with its lovely view over Manaton, then down to the tramway and back along it. I went bellringing on Monday evening - well attended - and even went for a drink afterwards.  However the week wa...