Convalescence by numbers

Wake at 5:30 to Norman scratching at the bedroom door wanting his breakfast, I feed him, let him out into the garden and then go back to sleep until nine. It was a cooler night and I did sleep a little better, but still feel tired this morning. Make some strong black coffee and some brown toast with honey for breakfast and then shower and dress and collect Dolly and Teddy from Cherry about ten thirty. Dolly is the smartest dog I have ever had, her latest trick is to use her paw to lower the electric window so that she can stick her head out whilst I drive. It's a much cooler day, the sky overcast and a soft breeze out of the south east, after yesterday's heat its a pleasant change. We make our way round our usual loop, the berries are thick on the hawthorn bushes, a reminder that autumn is not too far away. As we approach Black Mill the sun breaks through for a few minutes and it is hot again for a while. We see Elaine with her grandchildren and stop and chat for a minute. I tell her I have got some antibiotics for my chest and she says she wished she could get something for her emptiness now her husband has gone. It's impossible to know what to say, the children, a boy of about seven and a girl who looked nine or ten, looked I'll at ease and unsure what to do either. After dropping the dogs at Cherry, Norman and I called at Morrisons to re stock on German Rye bread, and also bought a crusty baguette, some camembert, a bottle of wine and an extreme sudoku book. When we got home I made crusty beef baguette, oven chips and a vinaigrette salad and ate lunch sat in the garden in the intermittent sunshine. After lunch I started on my puzzles, I like the really difficult killer and kakuro, I have to use algebra to crack the most difficult and it gives my brain a good workout, even if I can't yet do much physically. A text arrives from Sarah, she has got a 2:1 for her podiatry degree, outstanding considering she is a single mum with three children and had to commute sixty miles each way to University. I text my congratulations and update her on the progress with her house decoration, (I popped in on my way home). She texts back to say what a great holiday they are having and asks me to look after Louis whilst she puts her house back in order after the painters have finished. I answer, saying that I still feel to ill, but if the antibiotics have kicked in tomorrow, I will reconsider. Give Norman his dinner around seven and then take him for his walk down Carr Lane to the bridge. Later I eat some Camembert with crusty bread and a glass of wine and then wrestle with my puzzle until bed time.