On the mend

Get up at six, feed and toilet Norman and then go back to bed until eight. When I eventually get up it's a lovely morning, made even better by the fact that my chest has almost cleared. I breakfast on Ryvita with smoked cheese and some of the marinated peppers I made the other day, and then take my coffee into the Garden Room and listen to the news. We collect Dolly and Teddy just after ten and Pip warns me that Dolly is coming into season, as she has been spotting blood. The dangerous receptive time is usually about ten days after this show, but she will be driving Teddy crackers for the next couple of weeks. We park by Newbegin Pits, and once in the woods, I let Teddy and Norman off the lead. Norman is gradually getting fitter and recovering a little of his Joie de vivre, I keep an eye on him, as he has a tendency to wander off and get lost. There is a cool, easterly breeze today that has taken the edge off the temperature and it makes for pleasant walking. As we leave the woods and start up the hill towards Black Mill, I swap Dolly and Teddy on the lead. She runs ahead, this is her Westwood and all the rest of us are just supporting cast, stopping for a pat with each person she meets. Most are regular dog walkers and know Dolly well and rub her belly as she rolls over to be patted. We rest under the trees on the bench by Black Mill again, to let Normy have a breather, I am feeling much stronger today and when we get back to Cherry I tackle the remaining bushes on the south side of the back garden. The garden is sheltered from the wind, so it is hot working in the sun, but I persevere and whilst I work Norman sleeps on the lawn and Dolly and Teddy play with a football. It is just too big for Teddy to burst and he dashes about the garden dribbling it in front of him with Dolly nipping at his ankles and acting suspiciously playfully again. Around one o'clock Andrew, who is working from home, comes out and brings me a pot of tea and is shortly followed by Pip. He throws the ball for Teddy and we all laugh at his antics. Andrew's girls are coming to stay for the weekend and Rebecca, who is autistic, has developed a strong bond with Teddy. He is remarkably gentle and docile with her. I wrap up about half past one and agree to have Teddy next week, if the situation with Dolly becomes intolerable. On my way home I call at the supermarket for supplies and leave Norman in the car with the windows wide open whilst I shop. I buy meat and vegetables, breakfast stuff, coffee and some whole wheat pasta, and am heading back to the car when I realise I have forgotten Norman's dog food, so pop back and correct my omission. When I get back to the car Normy is fast asleep on the back seat and doesn't wake up till we arrive back in Tickton. After unpacking the shopping, I make a light lunch of smoked salmon and cream cheese on Ryvita, and take this into the garden with the last of yesterday's white wine. Norman has his dog meat whilst I read the paper, between sips of wine and bites of my salmon and cheese. We finish lunch about half past three and lie down for an hour, but although I rest for a while, I don't sleep and get up after half an hour or so. I make myself a mug of Italian coffee and then mix up a fresh batch of oaties, having finished the last lot last night. Whilst they bake in the oven I wash the pots from breakfast and clean the food processor. After half an hour the biscuits are golden brown and done to perfection and I put them out to cool on the stove whilst I take Norman for his evening walk. As we approach the wooden bridge three girls and a boy are dragging a tree trunk up the path. I recognise it as one that fell down and lay next to the path in "nearly straight wood", the kids tell me they want to make a jump for their pony in the field by the farm. (Probably inspired by the olympic show jumping.) Another girl rides up on her bike to tell them they have to go home straight away for tea, so they leave the tree by the side of the path, I assure them that no one is likely to pinch, it because it is too big for one person to move. After giving Normy a pat and a cuddle, they all head back towards the village. He and I check the sticklebacks in the drain and then saunter back home. Tonight there is hardly a cloud in the sky, but the easterly wind is picking up a little. When we get back, I pull on a sweater, make a pot of tea and then weed the gravel drive by the house where I park my car. It only takes half an hour or so and whilst I weed, I listen to the last couple of chapters of my audio book. Around eight o'clock I clear away and then take some oaties and tea into the Garden Room and resume reading "The traveller of the century", until bedtime. For some reason I hadn't felt like reading whilst I was ill, hopefully the recovery will continue tomorrow.