Back in the swim

Woke in the early hours feeling really hungry and eat some curry and rice before going back to bed. The resulting dreams were impressive, the Japanese were invading the East Yorkshire coast and the land was being flooded to foil them. At one point I dreamt I was in the front line shooting at the oncoming hordes, but there were more than I could kill. Fortunately when I woke up the land was dry, although there had been a light shower, and there wasn't a Japanese in sight. After a breakfast of cream cheese and smoked salmon on Ryvita, Norman and I collected Dolly and Teddy and arrived on the Westwood for about ten fifteen. When we got to Black Mill, our highland bullock, who we have nicknamed, Angus, was sat on his own. There must be a couple of hundred cows on the common and he is the only highlander. Perhaps the other cows don't like great big hairy jocks! Still it is a little sad. We get back at ten to twelve and Pip tells me she is going to the cinema with Sarah and Louis, so I am stood down from gardening for today. Seizing my opportunity I drive back to Tickton and drop Normy off, before gathering my swimming bag and heading for the Leisure Centre. I arrive poolside around 12:15, and the place is packed, but I find a training lane with just a few people in it and warm up with a slow 200m freestyle. The pool closes at 1:30 to allow the lifeguards to set up the inflatables for the kids during the summer holidays, so they stop admitting swimmers from 12:30. Consequently the pool soon thins out and I am able to find a free lane and swim 200m easy backstroke and then 200m breastroke. I am concentrating on technique and relaxation, but after a month out of the water I can feel the loss of condition. Nevertheless it is great to be back in the swim and after the , I switch to individual medleys and swim 4 x 100m IM and then finish off with 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke. Seeing that there are five minutes left to 1:30, I squeeze in another individual medley before showering and dressing. In the cafe the regulars are glad to see me, and I stick to my diet and just have a tea with a couple of oaties I brought in a Tupperware container. It is a lovely warm sunny afternoon, so I spend a pleasant hour mooching through town before returning home just before four. By now I am feeling quite hungry, so I finish the lamb and rice with side dishes of cucumber raita and tomato and onion salad. I eat this in the garden and save some lamb and rice for Norman, who much prefers my food to his dog tin. After lunch I do a puzzle for an hour and then wash the pots before driving back to Beverley to visit Felicity with Norman. I had left my brolly there last week and the forecast is for showers from tomorrow. When we arrive she is watching TV, but we go into her little garden and drink tea and exchange news. Felicity is going to Sewerby, near Bridlington, the weekend after next for a short break, funded by social services. Her daughter and granddaughter are going with her and she is greatly looking forward to it. She tires after half an hour and so Norman and I drive home, getting back about a quarter past eight. After giving Normy his dinner, we have a quick walk down the lane, before returning to make myself a snack of Ryvita, cheese and Parma ham. Norman puts himself to bed and I spend an hour on my puzzle before turning in around ten thirty.