Friends in need

Another disturbed night's sleep with strange dreams, in one an otter with adhesive feet and sharp teeth was clinging to me, begging not to be left behind. Woke at five in a cold sweat but managed to get back to sleep until eight thirty. Cloudy but dry outside, so hung out a line of shirts whilst the kettle boiled and the bread toasted. Breakfast on smoked salmon and cream cheese on rye, with a sprinkle of lemon juice and fresh cracked black pepper, washed down with a jug of strong, black, Italian coffee. After a shower, drove to Molescroft to pick up Leslie, and then into Beverley, parking at the Market Cross before walking the fifty yards or so to Caffe Nero. No pain au raisin again, so we have apricot, with yet more strong, black, Italian coffee. It's a wonder I haven't got palpitations, Leslie and I discuss the usual things, we feel that the next few weeks will decide young Cameron's mettle and we both feel that the French have decided that Sarkozy is a prat and is therefore dead in the water. Leslie has an attack of cramp, which I ease by manipulating his ankle and massaging his calf, the girl behind the counter brings a glass of water and some salt. This helps, and after a while, we leave and I take him home, he tells me in the car that is peripheral blood vessels are furring up and his mobility is in irreversible decline. He will be ninety in July, his mind is still sharp, and he is almost a father figure to me. I arrange for Felicity's care worker to ring him, he will need increasing help in the future, if he is to maintain his independence. Later call at pound stretcher to buy some storage boxes and a memory foam mattress topper, perhaps that may help me sleep, as the mattress I have inherited is orthopaedic and hard as rock. Felicity's friend, Rosemary, called this morning and wants to call in at tea time on her way back from Hornsea. She is a nice woman, and like so many of her age, recently bereaved, and so I agree. It is good for me to have company and it motivates me to tidy up. She arrives at five thirty, and I serve tea and sandwiches in the Garden Room and we chat until she leaves at seven thirty. So many older people are on their own and need company. Afterwards read until bedtime. Didn't get to run today, but friends need nurturing and support. I can always run tomorrow.