Catch up Sunday

Woke early, at about quarter past six and after pulling back the curtains, throw open the bedroom window, it is dry outside and a pale sun shines from a cloudy sky. The rabbits are playing in the field and a gorgeously plumed pheasant is watching me from over the hedge. I feel OK and after putting on my dressing gown and slippers, hang the damp shirts from yesterday back on the line to dry, before making breakfast. Fancying a change from the full English, just make rye toast and honey with the usual black coffee, whilst listening to the news on the World service. After showering and dressing, I just have time to read the gas and electricity meters, to download to British Gas, before driving to Saint John's for 9 O'clock mass. After the service I pick up my old friend Leslie from Molescroft and drive to Caffe Nero in Saturday Market. We didn't meet last week as the bronchitis had laid me low, so we had much to discuss before later dropping him back home. Before I left he very kindly wrote me a cheque for £25 for the Marie Curie swim, this takes the total to £115, less than I had planned, but there is still a week to go. Back home my shirts are dry and the sun is shining, so take advantage of the weather and my returning health, by giving the place a clean through, vacuum cleaning the carpets and washing the floors in the kitchen and bathroom. This done I strip the bed and put on a fresh white linen duvet cover and clean sheet and pillowcases. I need new flowering plants for the Garden Room, but Sunday is a bad day for plant shopping as everywhere is crowded and prices are at their highest. It also begins to rain heavily, so Eat the last of the beef casserole for lunch. Afterwards put the used bedding in the washing machine and hope for a few hours of dry weather to hang it out tomorrow. Later Meditate for about an hour and then set too to make lunch for tomorrow, a hotpot of minced lamb with onion gravy, laid between alternate layers of sliced potato, swede and carrot. A sort of Yorkshire Mousaka but without the aubergines and tomatoes! After washing and drying the shirts, find there is a backlog of fifteen to iron, not my favourite pastime, even when practising mindfulness. Manage to get through about half of them whilst listening to an audio book of Mark Twain's experiences on the Mississippi river. Another day of good health and the house will be back in some sort of order, it's good to feel well again. I make smoked cheese and tomato sandwiches on rye, and then settle down with a book until bedtime.