IT'S BEEN A...

... long day! Got back from Yorkshire about an hour ago. Good journey home. Helen and I went to see Mum this afternoon, while Charles and Bill started to move furniture around in her bungalow in an attempt to make it a little easier for her to get around when she is eventually discharged. Having seen her today I would think that it will be some time before she is fit to return home, although she has certainly made progress since I saw her last week. She looks very frail and seems to have lost a lot of confidence which is probably unsurprising after everything she's been through. However, we were able to have a good talk about all sorts of issues that are concerning her (and us) and Helen and I had a useful discussion with a member of staff about the assessments that will need to be carried out before discharge. In between the hospital visit, we've had a lovely time catching up with Helen and Bill. They'd been clearing the attic and had found some old photos from the time when they had first started going out together and came to stay with us in Faringdon. I think the original plan was for them to stay for a weekend, but they ended up staying for the summer! It was 1981, Christina was a year old and the Royal Wedding took place while they were with us. We have happy memories of White Horse Hill and the beacon the night before the wedding, taking Christina for her first swim, picnics and pub lunches. And we look so young in those photos - little more than kids really! Oh HAPPY DAYS!!