Sleeping through Manuel Castells

Wake at seven, Normy is still asleep in his basket, outside it is a dull and wet morning, there are lighter streaks of grey to the south and east as day starts to break. I had a difficult night, with arthritic pain in my left hip, which eased somewhat after I took 600mg of ibuprofen. Low pressure and damp weather seems to make it more acute. I make smoked salmon and cream cheese on rye toast for breakfast, as the other half of the packet of salmon needs eating up. Norman is disappointed, as he really enjoys his full English, but settles for a tin of dog food instead. I read the Guardian on my iPad after breakfast, I guess I am just a Luddite at heart because I still prefer the paper version, the same is true of books. Outside it has started to rain, so any hopes of mowing the lawns at Cherry seem forlorn. I dig out my walking boots and dress for the weather, before driving to Cherry for half past nine. Before leaving, I make a small flask of Italian coffee and pack a couple of oaties into a container and then stow these in my bum bag. I still have quite a lot of phlegm coming off my chest in the morning and as I have Louis this afternoon, will defer swimming for another day. By the time we arrive on the Westwood, it has stopped raining, but the trees are still dripping with raindrops and the ground is boggy and churned to a quagmire in places by the cattle. Dolly and Teddy are a bit stir crazy, Andrew flew out to Los Angeles on Saturday morning, and Pip never takes them out. Norman is really glad to see his mates, and trots on happily behind them. As we walk towards Black Mill, Jim the neatherd, (pronounced netherd), is rounding up the cattle with his tractor and having a few problems with some recalcitrant bullocks. Neat is the old English word for cattle, and Jim is employed by the Pasture Masters to look after the cattle that are pastured on the Westwood. He has a cottage, that goes with the job, at the bottom of York road, where a finger of the Common extends almost into town, and a yard where he keeps his tractor and a few chickens. Felicity was given her border collie, Sam, by Jim three years ago when he was a pup and one of the problems she now has, is arranging for him to be walked every day now that her infirmity make it impossible for her. I would like to help but two terriers, a dachshund and a border collie does not compute. Low pressure is firmly in charge of the weather, but fortunately there is little wind and the walking is pleasant enough. A pale lemon sun occasionally penetrates the low grey clouds. We walk the whole Common again and then sit on a bench in the lee of Burton Bushes, while I drink my coffee and eat some oaties. After dropping the dogs at Two Riggs, Norman and I call at Tesco's, I forgot to get butter and onions yesterday and also pick up some more ibuprofen, until I can get a prescription from the doctors. When we arrive home, I give Normy some fresh water and dry dog food and then make a bowl of tomato soup for myself. After lunch I meditate and afterwards fall asleep for an hour, eventually woken by the alarm on my phone that tells me it is time to fetch Louis from school. Norman wants to come, so I pop him on the back seat and drive into Beverley. It has started to rain again, but has stopped by the time I park down past Saint Mary's primary school. They start to let the younger children out at a quarter past three, Louis is amongst them and once I have checked that he hasn't forgotten his swimming togs, we set off for the car. Louis is very happy to see Normy, although the feelings aren't fully reciprocated as Louis can be a little rough in the way he handles him sometimes. Normally we stop at the swing park in Tickton, in order to let Louis have a play before his tea, but today it is too wet, so we drive straight home. He plays on my iPad and can now type in "Ironman", into the google search engine, while I get his tea ready. Parma ham, chorizo, smoked cheese, olives and crusty bread, washed down with Grandad pop, (ice cream soda). It has become his ritual fare. Norman has his tea while Louis eats and then we take him down Carr Lane to the little wooden bridge, for his evening walk. On the way back we play praise and pat with Norman, but then have to find a dock leaf as Louis gets nettled playing in the bushes. We pause for five minutes by the huge split willow, that Louis has christened his, "pirate ship", while he climbs aboard and plays for a while. Arriving back at my bungalow for ten past five and having to set off for the Leisure centre immediately, for his swimming lesson at five thirty. We have to park right at the end of the access road, round the back, as the place is packed, and I manage to deliver Louis poolside with only seconds to spare. We have a little chat about listening to the instructor and then I retire outside and get a cocoa from the vending machine, which I drink while watching the lesson through the large glass window by reception with the other mums and dads. Louis mostly behaves himself, although he is a little frustrated by the slow progress of the group, he can already swim on his back and on his front, with his arms by his side, as if snorkelling. Sarah arrives at about five to six, she has some temporary work with the NHS in Hull, it is a very short term contract, as they won't appoint permanent positions because of fears of further cuts. Her current deal expires in two weeks. Still it is invaluable experience. She tells me that she and Richard, her long term boyfriend, took Louis to Jervaux Abbey at the weekend. Then it's time for me to collect Louis, after I dry him and put on his underwear, shirt and pants, he runs into the concourse, anxious to see his mum. She brings him back into the changing room and we complete his dressing between us. Sarah has an early start on Friday and needs me to take Louis to school, I agree and then the pair of them are away home. I ring Felicity to see how she is, hoping to call in and see her, but she has a urine infection and is under the weather, so I drive back to Tickton. I didn't eat with Louis and don't really feel like cooking or eating the Parmagiana in the fridge, so finish the baguette that I bought for Louis with some Camembert and a glass of wine. After dinner Norman sits on my knee, as we prepare to listen to Manuel Castells on radio four, he is talking about the networked economy and alternatives to capitalist market theories and practices that are emerging after the credit crash of 2008, but the combination of the glass of wine and the warm indoors, conspire against me and I nod off. I will have to catch it later on the iplayer. To bed for Nine fifteen.