We managed a lie in this morning and didn't get up until a quarter past seven, its Groundhog Day with the weather again, but at least we know what to expect. Boiled eggs and rye toast soldiers for breakfast this morning and Bakers again for Normy. He much prefers the kippers! We leave the house shortly after nine, me dressed in my thermals and Norman in his blue fur coat, to collect Louis and take him to Hull for his football coaching. Today he is delivered ten minutes early and runs off as soon as we enter the Sports Arena for a kick about with the other kids. Normy and I then drive to Cherry Burton, where we collect Dolly and Teddy for their walk on the Westwood. We were stood down by Pip yesterday, so the terriers probably haven't had a good run since Friday. The cold east wind is also very dry and the puddles and mud have almost completely disappeared in the wood and on the common, which makes it easier underfoot and keeps the car a little cleaner, although it is overdue a good wash and vac. Dolly and Norman are let off the lead first, and she scampers off after rabbits, while he sniffs the trees to see who has been by and then trots on behind Teddy and I. Later, when I let Teddy off the lead, he is checked out by a whippet, who is head and shoulders bigger than him and whom Teddy proceeds to chase. The whippet's owner and I laugh at the game, as the two dogs hurtle round us in a wide circle, the whippet obviously has the legs on Teddy, but not by much, although Ted has a much tighter turning circle and better stamina, eventually catching him and bowling him over, before starting the game again. The whippet's owner is incredulous and says he wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes. I tease him by saying he must have a slow whippet! There is no swimming today, as I am calling in to see Felicity in Castle Hill Hospital, on my way into Hull to collect Louis, so we extend our walk and take in the woods at Limekiln Pits. The hollow tree where the owls nested last year shows signs of life, as there is evidence of new nesting activity, with twigs and dry grasses protruding from the hole. It would be nice to see another big, fat, fluffy owlet peering out from there again. After dropping off the terriers, we return home for noon, where I switch on the oven, before hanging out a load of socks that I put on to wash first thing. Once that is done, I put some battered frozen haddock in the oven and after fifteen minutes add some frozen chips, by a quarter to one Norman and I are sitting down to Haddock, chips, garden peas, tea with bread and butter. He much prefers my dinners to dog food. At ten past one, I put fresh water out for Norman and then drive down the bypass to the Hospital at Cottingham, where I arrive thirty minutes later, held up by the roadworks that have been going on for over a year. All of Felicity's children are with her when I arrive on Ward twenty one, Melissa and Stuart I have met before, but this is the first time I have met Richard, he is a big fellow, about six foot one or two. Felicity is a little better today and rational again, so we sit and chat between us for forty five minutes, until I have to leave to collect Louis. I promise to visit again on Thursday, if she hasn't been discharged before then, the doctors are saying that it is her low sodium and potassium levels that are causing the problems, but don't say what is causing them to be low. Her kidneys are the likely culprits. Louis is still happily playing football when I arrive and I suspect he would be happy doing that for the rest of his life. Before taking him home, we call at the doctors in Molescroft to pick up a prescription, I leave him in the car with a problem to solve, how many seconds are there in a day. He wants to be as good at Maths as his big brother, Clement, and he is still working on it when I get back and has got as far as 3,600 seconds in an hour, but is struggling with 24 times this, so I suggest we double it and times by twelve instead. The answer 86,400, is cracked as we draw up at Sarah's house, Louis runs indoors and finds a drink of lemonade and some crisps, while I chat to Alice. She has finished editing my Swimathon video and promises to upload it to YouTube tonight, so I say I will send her the URL for my Swimathon fund raising page later. Hanne texts to enquire about Felicity and I tell her she is improving and will tell her more when I see her at the Poppy Seed, in the morning. When I arrive home it is almost five o'clock and there is just time to bring my socks in off the line, before the five o'clock news starts. Norman says he is starving, but he always says this, and as I am having toast and honey for tea, he decides to opt for a dog tin instead. Later in the evening I text my brother in law, Gino, to see if he wants to go to see Hull v Watford next Tuesday, as Louis will be in Scotland and then set up my Swimathon fund raising page properly, before emailing friends and family the link and posting it on Facebook. My sister responds within seconds and donates £20, and we arrange to meet on Friday, at the Mermaid Fish Restaurant in Morley, near Leeds, which is a favourite of ours. Later I read some more Philip Roth and then turn in early, as I will have to take the dogs out at eight, before delivering Louis to Hull, if I am to meet Hannah and the others at the Poppy Seed later. Perhaps someone else wants to go to see "Alice in Wonderland", beamed from the Royal Opera House on Thursday evening, it would be nice to experience something light, funny and beautiful this spring.
The link for Marie Curie Cancer Care Swimathon is:-
Http:/my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=423312
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