It was on Friday 13 January last year that I took my symptoms to see the doctor. He didn’t give me a diagnosis there and then, but launched the process. A couple of weeks later a colonoscopy confirmed what I thought. Unfortunately, it also provoked serious bleeding, then a ride in an ambulance and a few nights in hospital. Thank goodness Martyn was at home to see me pass out. The ensuing year has been one hospital visit after another - well over 30 - and another stay of a week or so after surgery in September.
Maybe no surprise that I didn’t feel like making marmalade last year. Back on course this year: the batch in the photo is now made and in its jars, having set well, and the electrical contraptions are back in the cupboard. Batch 2 soon followed, so with luck we won’t have to resort to the shop-bought variety, or the half-way house of cans of prepared Seville oranges.
On Thursday evening we went with Sandra to choral evensong at Rochester cathedral. She and the late Michael had endowed that evening’s music, and the service was pretty well attended. I’m not interested in the liturgy, but the choir was very good, and the organ, well, very English. We repaired afterwards to a nearby fish restaurant, where the food was good, the ambiance suitable for conversation and the service prompt, if largely charm-free. An eyebrow rose slightly on finding an automatic 12.5% service charge on the bill. In the circumstances I would have tipped a bit less. But a decent meal in the best company is already worth a lot.
No comments:
Post a Comment