Rachel's friends are jostling to pick up both children as they pass the door and Gabriel is particularly good in that role each morning. As long as I have both of them ready at the door, the normal school routine continues and they go off without a backward glance.
Today I needed to be here to let the electricians in, to complete some small tasks around the house. One of their friends had been meant to get a light hanging coupling (laymans terms) but unfortunately hadn't gotten round to it ... so I was sent off to source one! The electricians termed themselves as "imports" to the village so didn't know where anything was either, but in my explorations yesterday I'd come across a store that had absolutely everything - from kitchen utensils to building materials. So they were my first port of call. That was the one thing they didn't have, of course, but they suggested another store and I eventually got it there.
Rachel was right - I certainly needed some walking training. Without a car I'm walking miles each day, even to just get another litre of milk, and I wouldn't like to count how many times I've climbed to the top of the booming stairs each day! (Don't mention 42!)
Today friends who have visited me in New Zealand twice over recent years, drove for over an hour to visit me from their home village which is quite near Oxford. It was so good to see them and I even managed to locate a very nice restaurant which Philip took me to when I was last here over 2 years ago. He is a retired doctor so I was able to ask him about my troublesome feet (particularly across my instep on both feet). He tells me I have some soft tissue damage (I could have told him that myself, but I'd have been referring to my brain I fear) so I don't feel quite so elderly and infirm now as I hobble around. I had it before I left home, but assumed it would just come right. Evidently it will!
And I'm really pleased to be able to report that Rachel now has a room of her own at the hospice. I am to go to see her there tomorrow as long as she is still happy for me to do so. Today she was overrun with visitors, culminating in a very brief visit from Kitty and Henry with Philip and Rosemary. Will has been there all day and isn't yet home at 9.15 pm. He will be exhausted. As will she.
I don't think it is as any of them had hoped, but the staff are very caring and helpful. It is meant to be a place of calm and caring but reading between the lines I think she may be wondering whether she's done the right thing. It's a 17th century house with 16 patients ... all very much older than her. It can't be easy for any of them and I'm sure that's why Will is staying with her as much as possible.
Last night I prepared a casserole for the whole family but Philip and Rosemary didn't feel up to calling in on their way home. Will managed to polish off a goodly portion when he got home but there were still prepared vegetables waiting to be cooked.
Tonight Sarah came around with two chickens and more vegetables, so we roasted them and added the vegetables that were already here. I can't get used to buying everything (including peeled potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire puddings etc) in sealed plastic bags and simply throwing them into the oven. But we all ate together and Will's is on a plate ready to be reheated on his return home. I hope he won't be much longer.
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