One Monday in December

After a much better night's sleep, Norman stirs me from my slumbers around a quarter to eight, without wishing to prejudice the outcome, I have to admit I am feeling a little better. Outside it is already full daylight, to the east there are banks of dark cloud, but otherwise the sky is a clear, bright blue. After a leisurely breakfast and coffee, as I read the guardian, it is time to change and collect the terriers from Cherry Burton, but first Sarah phones, Louis has left his lunch box in her car and she wants to know if I will drive the six miles to her clinic in North Hull and take it to Saint Mary's for him. I have a better idea and phone the school and book lunch for Louis, and promise to drop the £2:10p off with his teacher, Mrs. Wildboar, when I collect him this afternoon. The road through Wawne to the clinic in which Sarah is working at North Bransholme, might only be six miles away, but it is a country road, with sections of single track and numerous hairpins. The round trip would take almost an hour. After collecting Dolly and Teddy we arrive down Newbald Road, just after ten, I carry Norman, resplendent in his blue coat, over the boggy patch and into the woods of Newbegin Pits. He and Teddy run off after squirrels, the rabbits seem to be keeping a low profile after the floods, while Dolly and I weave around the worst of the mud in the paths through the woods. The beautiful russet and gold leaves of Autumn have been transmuted into a soggy brown mush and an icy breeze issues from the North, mercifully light and intermittent. When we emerge onto the common, I swap teddy for Dolly on the lead and we make our way towards Black Mill. There are no cattle on the Westwood now, as they have either been sold to market, or returned to their winter quarters. Beverley lies twelve miles inland from the North Sea and towards the coast, banks of dark clouds are forming, showers of rain, sleet and even snow are forecast for later in the day, but for now the sun is shining, and although low in the December sky, there is still the hint of warmth in its reflection. Dolly comes back to the lead at Black Mill, but before I can tether Norman, the old boy has set off downhill, back towards the car. As I am feeling better, my intention was to push on to Burton Bushes and stay out longer, but by the time we have caught up with Normy, we are half way back to where we parked and the ominous black clouds from the coast are suddenly overhead. I give in and walk the remaining quarter of a mile to Newbald Road and load the dogs into the Chrysler, just as the heavens open and a sleety squall rakes the common. Well done Norman! We drop Dolly and Teddy in Cherry and then drive back to Tickton, through the sleet shower and by the time we arrive, it has passed and the sun is shining again. I had taken a pork chop out of the freezer before we left, so I fry this with some onions and then make a gravy for lunch, accompanied by potatoes, carrot and swede mash and spring greens, which are prepared in the pressure cooker. Norman has the fat from the chop and a sausage, with gravy, mash and vegetables. Then despite feeling better, the glands are only swollen on the left side of my neck today, I feel tired and so lie down for an hour, before collecting Louis from Saint Mary's at a quarter past three. Norman wants to come with me, so we park down New Walk and then walk the quarter mile to the school, where I have to tie Normy to the school railings, before collecting Louis. He arrives with two school ties, but no jumper and coat, his teacher, Mrs. Wildboar, explains that they have just had P.E.,as I hand her Louis' dinner money, before taking him back to the classroom, in order to dress him against the cold. We walk back to the car down Bleach Yard, past the stables, Louis holding Norman and I carrying his book bag, P.E. and swimming togs and a case with Louis' toys, that he isn't supposed to take to school. That is why he left his lunch box, contraband toys were more important to him. Once indoors, I prepare his tea and Louis commandeers my iPad and proceeds to search eBay for "Transformer" toys, which he manages to spell correctly, his facility with digital technology is amazing. He is a digital native and I am just an immigrant. I remind myself of those older Pakistanis from myyouth, that were brought to England by their children, but never acquired the language or the culture, despite being educated and literate in their own country. Louis demolishes his ante pasta and we prepare to depart for his swimming lessons, when I discover he has only one stocking, he tells me he lost the other in a tug of war with a girl called Ellie, whilst changing after P.E. Somehow I deliver him to the poolside in time for his lesson and then buy a mug of drinking chocolate, before watching the proceedings through the large window behind reception. Louis is a natural swimmer, his balance in the water is perfect and he is not afraid of putting his face under the surface. Unfortunately his teacher this week, isn't a swimmer, and has learned to teach by rote. Kids can spot a fake a mile away and they largely ignore her. Nevertheless, he enjoys the exercise, and afterwards, I dry and change him before driving him back to Sarah's for six. Sarah follows us through the door, looking tired after her day in the clinic and we chat for a while, Sarah, Alice, Louis and I, ffor half an hour. I am amazed to learn that Alice has never heard of "Great Expectations", so I arrange to take her to see the new adaptation at the Cinema on Wednesday, before driving home, through another heavy sleet shower. Once indoors, I give Norman his tin and then have a light supper of bread and cheese, before letting him into the garden for his final ablutions. To bed at nine.