Springing Leslie

Wake at five needing the toilet and then sleep on until eight. Outside it is a clear morning, although heavy rain is forecast for this afternoon, the wind has veered to the south and the air is milder as a consequence. I make breakfast and share everything, except my egg and tomato, with Norman, who waits patiently until it is ready to serve. After breakfast I drink coffee and read the Guardian on my iPad, before getting showered, dressed and collecting Dolly and Teddy around ten. The sky has clouded over by the time we reach the Westwood and I wonder whether we will complete our walk before it rains. When we get to Black Mill, I decide that, on the balance of probability it will stay dry, so we walk the whole common again. Today we make our way through Burton Bushes, the muddy paths have almost dried out and the smell of the leaves from the oak trees perfumes the air. There is no place more peaceful or beautiful than mixed deciduous woodland in the Autumn, how nice it must have been when the whole of East Yorkshire and indeed the whole of England, was covered by woods like these. Beverley was founded in a clearing in the great wood of Deira, which was the name of the kingdom north of the Humber when Saint John established his monastery in the seventh century. The dogs have enjoyed their walk and we stroll along contentedly down hill, parallel with the racecourse, on our way back to the car. We arrive at Two Riggs around noon and Norman has a drink and some biscuits with Dolly and Teddy before we leave, as I need to call in at Morrison's for some shopping on the way home. I buy a couple of loaves of German bread, cocoa, aubergine, salad, pork chops, lamb burgers, black pudding and bacon as well as deodorant and kitchen towels. We get home for ten to one, make tea and sandwiches and eat these in the garden, as surprisingly the sun has reappeared. I do a puzzle after lunch and then get changed, before driving to Castle Hill Hospital to visit Leslie. He is much improved, back to Norman I would say, but is in the dark as to when he will be allowed home. I ask if he wants me to enquire of the nursing staff and he gratefully accepts. When I ask, they tell me he is awaiting social services assessment of his living conditions at home prior to release and it is unlikely to be before the weekend. I relay this information to Leslie and he tells me that the bungalow he lives in has already been adapted for his disabled wife, who is now deceased. This is conveyed to the nursing staff and further enquiry elicits the option of weekend leave from hospital. Leslie would like this very much, as once he is home he can choose whether to come back or not. So he officially requests weekend leave and for this to be confirmed with the consultant in the morning. I offer to pick him up from hospital should he need it and to help him getting up and going to bed at home over the weekend until he can arrange nursing care. Leslie has enough money to easily afford this. There is little point in him remaining in hospital while he waits for the social service bureaucracy to catch up. I get home for five thirty, feed Norman and then walk him down the lane, it is still dry, but there are spots of rain in the air. When we arrive home, I use up the last of the marinated chicken, noodles and vegetables to make another stir fry and then make coffee and take this in the Garden Room. The rain finally arrives, but so far at least, it is not as heavy as predicted. Normy sits on my knee and we listen to the sound of the wind and rain outside. It makes being indoors, snug, warm and dry, all the sweeter. To bed for ten.