Saturday 30 October:

Tidied house first thing in preparation for visit from Chris+Sarah (for Brunch).
A really strange, almost April, day of heavy rain showers and bright sunshine.
Went shopping for newspaper and supplies we forgot to buy yesterday(!).
C+S arrived just after 11am (and stayed until 2.30pm+). SO lovely to see them… and they seemed in very good form (having just returned from holiday in Italy).
Lots to natter about and generally catch up. Interesting to hear that Chris was considering the possibility of working as part-time vicar (perhaps 3 days/week) in a local Anglican church about 90minutes from aRocha. Very early days… and maybe nothing will come of it.
In the evening a group of Blokes Prayer blokes (just Tom, Ed, Dru, Chris and me) got together with Chris at Tom’s house for further catch-up drinks and chat.
Clocks went back tonight.
Image: Covid 1984 boat from Lytham. 

Friday 29 October:

Definitely in need of a day of chilling… and not travelling!
Slept pretty well and woke quite early (around 5.30am as usual)… and set about trying to catch up on various stuff: finished my Kate Atkinson book of short stories; organised photographs; finished my Lytham sketch; going through emails; emailing removers (asking them tto fetch their boxes); emailing Skipton Art Shop (saying I still hadn’t received my sketchbooks); writing up my book blog; catching up on ‘one day like this’ blog; catching up on facebook messages etc.
Moira and I enjoyed a reflective coffee time… and both agreed that the holiday had been lovely.
I went to Hugo’s to buy fruit+veg etc and also to Roots flower shop. Home by lunchtime.
Spent much of the afternoon still trying to sort out outstanding stuff (AND sorting out this year’s family ‘Secret Santa’ arrangements!
Evening telly: another Montalbano.
Image: Kestrel from Lytham seafront.

Thursday 28 October:

A lovely day of gentle preparation for returning home.
Alice collected us from the Motel at 9am (I had a very disturbed night’s sleep for some reason – nothing to do with the accommodation) and took us home for breakfast.
Spent the morning chilling and drinking coffee… then walked through local housing estate to feed the ducks (Mikes) and then on through some nearby ancient woodland. Really beautiful and quite a surprise… very Autumnal; played Poo Sticks in the stream.
Soup lunch, followed by more chilling and chatting and then Alice+Mikes took us to Preston station. Train journeys pretty straightforward and uneventful (change at New Street)… arrived back home by 9.30pm (in the rain). It felt good to be back in our new apartment.
Downloaded photos and re-charged my phone etc.
Bed by 10.30pm to read more of my Atkinson short story book.
Image: ancient woodland walk.

Wednesday 27 October:

Transition Day… hotel breakfast, followed by Alice collecting us and driving us to Buckshaw.
We booked into Charnock Farm Motel (on Alice’s recommendation – it was only a 5 minute drive from their house). Pleasant enough… and clean.
Then on to Buckshaw and it was lovely seeing everyone again – and, this time, being able to spend time with everyone.
Gentle lunch and general natter… and followed in the afternoon by a trip to a range of rural studio buildings-cum farm-cum cafés.
Watched (at Jemima’s suggestion) “Our Yorkshire Farm” – about a couple with nine children(!) and their sheep farm. It really was quite lovely.
Returned to the Motel around 8pm.
Image: Grandchildren (and us!). 

Tuesday 26 October:

I went for a pre-breakfast walk along the promenade (in the rain). Not nice weather but lovely to be by the sea again (or at least the Ribble estuary!).
Good full breakfast for me (Moira had much healthier fruit etc) and then we both went walking along the seafront (fortunately the rain had stopped and the sun had come out!). Walked as far as Stanner Point (via Granny’s Bay!) and stopped for coffee at the boathouse (2 miles away).
Then walked back into Lytham and found a small restaurant for a light lunch.
Relaxed back in the hotel for part of the afternoon (I finished my Dorian Gray book) and also took a walk before our early evening restaurant meal (at Lytham House restaurant, five minutes from the hotel). The meal and the venue were both fine but it took simply ages for us to be given drinks or for our food orders to be taken etc. All a little disappointing and hugely frustrating.
Image: Lytham Windmill (minus one sail - lost in storm at the beginning of October). 

Monday 25 October:

Off on the train up to Lytham… via Brum and Preston.
Pretty crowded trains and the number of people wearing facemasks depressingly few.
All five Buckleys were there to meet us on the platform, which was lovely. The first time we’ve actually seen our grandchildren in TWO years! Alice+Dan took us on to Lytham (and for a walk along the seafront in the sunshine before we could book into our hotel – The Queens Hotel).
Moira and I settled in and then I went out ‘exploring’ a little before our early evening meal in the hotel’s restaurant (good value).
Tiring day… earlyish to bed.
Image: people out walking along the seafront.

Sunday 24 October:

Church first thing (Saint Stephen’s)… I was on the welcome desk with Ruth. Interesting service (if somewhat long). We were originally going to go to Temple Meads immediately after church to collect our tickets in advance… but the rain put us off.
Ian brought his scanner to church to pass on to me (his printer incorporates a scanner)… which was very kind of him.
Sunday paper, lunch and then preparing (in my case packing – no ironing!) for our trip off up north tomorrow.
Read more of my ‘Dorian Gray’ book (quite enjoying it).
Dave managed to get in touch with his plywood supplier before he departed on holiday – so he’s quoted £790 to put together our ‘workbench’ (which we’ve gratefully accepted)… he hopes to have it installed by the end of November.
Evening telly: the usual ‘Antiques’ and early to be to read.
Image: this morning’s red sky morning. 

Saturday 23 October:

Something of a strange day… perhaps thinking ahead to next week’s Lancashire break.
Thinking of Ru+co as they embark on their train journey to Cornwall (all six of them!).
I continued to modify the shelving in my bedroom… it’s now probably as good as it’ll get.
Fetched the newspaper and Moira and I spent some ambling through them over coffee.
I took our large wooden picture frame to the Corn Street market – which was gratefully received by one of the stallholders. I tried to get Lateral Flow Test kits from both Boots and Superdrug – both completely out of them (same for the smaller Boots store just
around the corner from us).
Dave had been thinking about worktop… and ended up sending us some computer images (very sensible, linked, three-work station arrangement). Looks like a good plan!
I spent some of the afternoon reading; trying to watch a film about old guys robbing a bank to get revenge for what judged to be poor performance of banks over the years (gave up well before the end); and also re-watched the last of Lucy Worsley’s series on Russia.
Evening telly: ‘Shetland’.
Image: more from our shelves! 

Friday 22 October:

Well, the plumber DID come this morning (at 8.15am, not 8am!). He was a personable, experienced man… he looked at our loo and said that they would need to take out the loo in order to replace the defective part (effectively, he said: “fortunately, these days, they’ve anticipated such problems and in the new generation loos, it’s not a problem and we can get easy access“!). He took various photos and said he would email later in the day. It could end up being pretty expensive – tiling needs to be removed etc.
Meanwhile, Moira had coffee with Ru at Mokoko… they’re about to go on holiday (and also taking two friends of Rosa’s and Iris’s), but their car has problems (passed its MOT, but ongoing issues that the garage haven’t yet been able to resolve). Poor things… they’ve decided to travel down to Penzance by train (we’ve sent them some money!).
John Lewis duly delivered my armchair… and at the time they’d advised. Happy.
Dave’s shelves also meant that we had some ‘spare’ book storage at the base (hidden behind the sofa)… which means that, suddenly, there are gaps appearing on my bedroom shelves! Whoop!!
Moira and I went to the Watershed to see Wes Anderson’s film “The French Dispatch”… which was excellent (Moira also enjoyed it despite napping in parts!).
Evening telly: ‘Montalbano’.
Image: coloured boats by the balcony. 

Thursday 21 October:

A significant day… Alice+Dave were travelling down from Lancashire to erect our last bookshelf unit. They arrived just after 11am (the traffic was apparently pretty awful)… and Dave got down to work immediately. Incredibly impressed by how brilliantly he’d thought through the project and how he’d prepared all the fixings/connections in advance. Lots of clever fixings and carrying cases etc. It was hugely impressive… I felt like a non-league player by comparison. I spent a fair amount of time reading on the balcony in the sunshine. Dave had completed it all by 2.30pm(?)… and (after a quick soup lunch) then they were popping round to Han+Fee’s to check some possible work for them.
I spent the entire afternoon, loading books on to the shelves (we’ve now emptied ALL our cardboard boxes!!)… and it all seemed to have worked out pretty well.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait Artist’
Early to bed and read for a while.
Image: a pretty poor pic of our shelving (duly loaded with books!).

Wednesday 20 October:

Thunder+lightning very first thing (no pics!)… although the day improved markedly and the sun came out later…
Entirely cleared the furniture out of the living/dining room very first thing this morning… in preparation for carpet-fitters. Three guys arrived just before 9am and we’re ‘done and dusted’ by 10.45am! Very efficient or skillful.
I finished my ‘Buried Giant’ book while the carpet was being fitted (and also sketched our folding chairs… vaguely!).
I’d put a note on facebook bemoaning the demise of my ancient scanner… and Ian contacted me saying I could have his (his new printer incorporates a scanner)… which is excellent news.
After lunch, Moira and I ‘put together’ our new Habitat dining table.
Even managed to spend a little reading (‘Dorian Gray’) on the balcony.
Evening telly: ‘GBBO’ and ‘Repair Shop’
Image: living/dining room cleared for carpet! 

Tuesday 19 October:

The fire alarm went off yet again this morning (8.40am) in Core One. The bad news is that that’s the third time since we moved into the development less than two months ago – and, frankly, that’s just not acceptable. However, the good news is that BNS responded to my phonecall (on this occasion, I actually got through to a real person despite it being outside office hours) and got someone on site within 25 minutes to deal with the alarm.
Having chatted to one of our neighbours (who had been in residence for far longer than us), the sad (and very concerning) thing is that, apparently, some residents are so fed up with the regularity of the false alarms that they’ve switched off the alarm in their own apartments.
Moira and I decided to go to Spicer+Cole for coffee+bacon sandwiches while things got sorted out!
Asda delivery (on time… no van breakdown this week!).
We’re due to have our carpet laid tomorrow (all confirmed in email)… but rang them for confirmation (but had to leave message). Surely, they won’t let us down!
Bristol Boilers were due to come and sort out our loo at 2pm (after failing to get to us last Friday)… in the event (and somewhat predictably), the plumber got ‘delayed’ again! But I had to ring them to find out(!)… they’re going to be here at 8am (first call) on Friday. Aargh!!
Frustrated by scanner… think it’s finally given up the ghost!
Read more of my ‘Buried Giant’ book.
Moira ordered her armchair (at last!)… 5-6 weeks delivery.
Started preparing the living room for tomorrow’s carpet-laying (ie. all boxes taken out)… that just leaves chairs to sort out first thing tomorrow morning.
Evening telly: 'Saving Lives at Sea' and 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.
Image: Pen pot sketch.

Monday 18 October:

Something of a ‘preparation’ day for the coming week (plumber, carpet-fitter, Dave’s shelf unit, armchair delivery, Saturday brunch with Chris+Sarah).
Woke very early (3.30am) and read for an hour (almost felt like ‘old times’!).
Thought about going for an early walk (the red sky was an encouragement – see pic – but it disappeared within 5minutes), but ended up sorting out all the recycling and rubbish… and also I got rid of our old melamine IKEA table and screw-on legs (to make room for carpet etc). All pretty straightforward, but involving several trips in the lift!
Hung Moira’s mirror and jewellery hooks.
Took a load of boxed IKEA glasses down to Saint Stephen’s (Dave had suggested they needed them!).
Keen to make more progress with my ‘Buried Giant’ book and so dabbled at various times during the course of the day… and also did a pretty rubbish sketch of a vase.
Moira went for her booster Covid jab.
Had a message from Karine Polwart(!)… who sympathised with Iris not being able to attend her concert and said she’d like to “pop a wee something in the post for her”… which was rather lovely.
Evening telly: usual Monday night stuff (‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’)… I also watched another Lucy Worsley documentary about Catherine The Great.
I scribbled a message to Judith (urban sketcher) whose husband has lung fibrosis (and who is about to be given access to oxygen etc to assist his walking… poignant and a very sharp reminder of what I thought had been my predicament.
Image: today’s early morning red sky (from the balcony). 

Sunday 17 October:

We decided on no church today (combination of HTH and alterations due to West Bristol Arts Trail).
Instead, we decided to walk up to Clifton Village (long time since we’d been there!). Moira found the uphills pretty tough, but it was good to get there… and we bought some provisions and had coffee (on the street) at Chandos Deli. Walked home through Victoria Square (very Autumnal feel… brown leaves scattering the ground) and then down park Street. I bought (two!) pasties for (my!) lunch!
I spent some of the afternoon reading and also watching ‘Swallows and Amazons’ film on the box…
Early evening telly: Lucy Worsley’s ‘Crime’ series (repeat) and then a bit of ‘Antiques’.
Image: Rowan in berry (from our walk this morning)… suddenly everything feels Autumnal. 

Saturday 16 October:

Sore arm in the night after the booster jab (ended up sleeping on my back).
Loo has stopped flushing altogether and so I’m left pouring jugs of water down the pan!
Spent a little time after breakfast reorganising things in the ‘washing machine cupboard’ and, thankfully, managed to create some order from the chaos!
Took my easel down to the market traders in Corn Street and one of the stallholders was delighted to accept it (which felt good).
Urban sketching at Broken Dock at lunchtime (some 17 turned up… and the sun shone!). A lovely get-together and also good to sit down over a beer afterwards.
Read a little on the balcony when I got home.
Both Villa and Bears lost (Villa 2-3 to Wolves after being 2-0 ahead with 10 minutes to go!).
Felt very tired and went to bed very early (7.15pm) to read…
Image: today’s urban sketch. 

Friday 15 October:

I had my Covid booster jab booked in for 8am (pharmacy opposite St Mary Redcliffe)… all very efficient and straightforward… and, wonder of wonders, I also managed to collect my medication from the Bedminster pharmacy at 8.30am!!
Went back home before venturing out again for a meeting with Jeanette at Saint Stephen’s (to discuss potential locations for the Black Jesus icon).
Went to the library briefly after lunch and also did a quick Bridget Riley-type pattern sketch (while waiting the plumber to come and check out the toilet flush in the bathroom)… the plumber was due to arrive at 3.30pm… but I ended up phoning his office an hour later to be told “he’s been dealing with an emergency and won’t be able to make the appointment and we’ll need to arrange another day” (oh, thank you very much for phoning me and letting me know!!). Just not good enough really, but I couldn’t be bothered to have to go through the business of finding another plumber.
Have arranged for Alan and David to come to Bristol for lunch on Tuesday 9 November (eating at the Riverstation)… I think they’re both going to stay overnight in a local hotel.
Horrible news that a Tory MP had been stabbed and killed in his constituency office.
Evening telly: ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and ‘Montalbano’ again!
Went to bed with a sore arm after my jab.
Image: moon from last night. 

Thursday 14 October:

Strange morning…
After Moira and I had had coffee, I departed on a ‘trip’ to the pharmacy, Hugo’s and to deliver our package to Rosa.
First, it wasn’t until I’d walked to ‘We The Curious’ that I realised I’d forgotten Rosa’s package… and had to return home to collect it.
Second, I went to collect my prescription from the pharmacy (it was a repeat prescription and SHOULD have been included when I collected the rest of medication 8 days ago; they asked me to come back in 5 days; today, they asked if I call back in 4 hours’ time as it hadn’t yet been made up)(it’s four blister packs of pills for goodness sake)…
Third, I was attacked by an old lady’s dog (note: the dog was COMPLETELY unprovoked, I hasten to add!) and was very fortunate to escape without injury (the reactions of an athlete?!)… the lady gave me one of those ‘he-doesn’t-usually-do-that’ looks!)…
Fourth, I got on a pretty crowded bus and was very depressed to find less than 5% of passengers were wearing face-masks…
Hey ho!
But there WERE some lovely skies to compensate… beautiful cloud formations, including mackerel skies. Very lovely.
I spent the afternoon mostly reading on the balcony (but making slow progress with my ‘Buried Giant’ book).
Evening telly: the return of ‘Portrait Artist’ (hurrah!)… and ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: mackerel skies. 

Wednesday 13 October:

Bloke’s Prayer sitting outside the Society Café (cold, but bright)(Ed, Nick, Dru, Robin and me). We all agreed we were like a group of grumpy old men bemoaning how things weren’t ‘like they used to be’!
After coffee with Moira, spent a fair amount of the morning hanging pictures in my bedroom and trying to sort out drawers (trying to hide all the clutter!).
Moira and I had lunch at the Watershed (which made a lovely change).
Read my book on the balcony for part of the afternoon (lucky to have decent weather in mid-October).
Had been intending to collect Iris and take her to the Karine Polwart concert at St Geoge’s but, after her Covid jab yesterday, was sent home from school feeling physically sick… she was desperate to go to the concert and tried to ‘sleep it off’ during the course of the day. Sadly, Ru phoned at 4.30pm to say Iris wasn’t feeling any better and so, very reluctantly, wouldn’t be able to get to the concert. Sad news all round. I emailed Ru suggesting a December Cara Dillon concert as a possible alternative (for both Iris and Rosa).
The one plus was that I was able to take advantage of our new home location and amble to St George’s a back in less than 10 minutes.
Karine Polwart concert was quit wonderful… a really lovely evening (despite no Iris) – good to meet up with Sarah+Dave.
Image: Polwart in concert.

Tuesday 12 October:

I went on an early morning walk to the harbour… bright but unremarkable morning weather-wise.
Spent the early part of the day ‘chatting’ online to someone on Virgin Media about adding SkyArts to our telly ‘package’ (and was told I already had access to it)… but then ended up phoning Virgin when our telly was clearly telling us we couldn’t get it. To cut a long story short (the online ‘conversation’ took ages – with LOTS of me waiting for my ‘agent’ to get back to me!) the telephone call indicated that we’d need to pay an extra £13/month… and that’s what I ended up doing(!).
I’d also been awaiting comeback from Bristol Boilers (about our bathroom loo issues) and ended up ringing them again… hopefully, a plumber will be round on Friday afternoon.
Did some sketching (poor-quality) on the balcony and read more of my ‘Buried Giant’ book.
Early evening was the Deanery Management AGM… well chaired MartinH(?)… occasional frustrations and people hogging the floor etc.
Evening telly: ‘Bake Off’.
Image: other people’s balconies: quick (unconvincing) sketch from the balcony. 

Monday 11 October:

Enjoyed watching the sun come up this morning from the balcony again (we’re very lucky).
Spent much of the morning trying to sort out the storage cupboard (opposite the front door) in the hallway. Some progress, but still not really dealt with effectively.
Emptied various recycling and rubbish boxes into the basement bins before lunch (very glad we have a lift!).
Moira and I went up Park Street after lunch to buy various things for Rosa (hopefully to help her through her tough Covid time). Came home and wrapped the various small packages ready for delivery (on Wednesday?). Picked up the Karine Polwart tickets for Wednesday’s concert (Iris is going to accompany me!) and also popped into the library.
Sat on the balcony sketching at the end of the afternoon… and four balloons passed overhead (lovely blue skies, little wind).
Evening zoom with Alan+David: good to 'get together' again… we nattered for more than 2 hours!
Image: evening balloons over the balcony. 

Sunday 10 October:

A busy day.
Finished my Peter Enn book.
Church at Saint Stephen’s (although I found the ‘Safeguarding Sunday’ service somewhat too much), followed by coffee at Society Café to discuss Peter Enn’s ‘Sin of Certainty’. Attended by Phil, Abbey, Frances, SarahM, Miriam and me… interesting.
After lunch, I actually went to the Watershed for the first time in 18 months (to see two films related to climate change/resources/greed etc). Powerful films (one made by a friend of H+F), but attended by only perhaps 25 people – AND, despite, the stated safety measures, half a dozen people weren’t wearing face-masks! Grrr!
Really excellent roast supper of wild boar(!), followed by the first ‘Forum’ meet-up for a long, long time at the Rose of Denmark (a general ‘what shall we discuss?’ exploration)… disappointingly only Phil, Chris, Cath, Liz, John and me attended.
Image: tonight’s crescent moon.

Saturday 9 October:

I actually went for an early harbourside walk today! Weather was pretty good, so I made the best of it. Frustratingly, both local supermarkets still hadn’t received their newspaper deliveries by 8am.
I HAD hoped to have taken Rosa out to lunch tomorrow – but, poor thing, she sent me a text to say she’d tested positive for Covid and had to self-isolate for 10 days. I felt SO sorry for her… she seems to having a really tough time at present.
Moira and I had coffee together (before I went out again to buy fetch the newspaper).
H+F+U came round for lunch (Ursa had been at Old Vic Youth Theatre), and then H+F went to see some short film(s) at the Watershed (one of them by their friend)… while Ursa+M+I went to the library and sit on College Green eating ice creams!
Evening telly: watched ‘Florence Foster Jennings’ on Netflix.
Image: 45minutes before sunrise on the balcony this morning. 

Friday 8 October:

Another grey morning (another no-walk day!).
I was meeting up with Marc at Society Café at 10am so ended up doing various routine jobs before venturing out.
Interesting chat with Marc – although it didn’t really feel as if it had any purpose or focus (but Marc is very nice bloke).
Went on from there to pick up my statins from the pharmacist but, ridiculously, they didn’t have them – but would order them (to be picked up in 5 days’ time!).
Went on to Storysmith to pick up the latest bookgroup book  (‘Dorian Gray’ by Wilde) and then back home in time for a late lunch.
Read and sketched during the course of the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Montalbano’.
Image: ‘Laffly’ car and train sketch (based on a 1930 poster). 

Thursday 7 October:

My original plan was go out ’early morning walking’, but it was pretty dull and drab, so I didn’t.
Spent the morning erecting roller blinds! Three in the living room and one in my bedroom.
John Lewis recommendations were a) only attempt if you’re reasonably proficient in DIY and b) each blind will take about an hour to fix. In the event, I’d fix them all in just over 2 hours (but I still have reservations about fixings to our walls). But, hey ho, another task completed!
It was also a washing and change the bedding day… and also trying to simplify/organise recycling.
Read some of my Bloke’s book (‘The Buried Giant’) in the afternoon on the balcony (and also enjoyed having a joss stick wafting around inside!).
Bought John Lewis armchair online (delivery 22 October… blimey!!).
Evening telly: ‘Blair+Brown’ documentary.
Image: Sketchbook scribble based on a Japanese train poster (another library trip!). 

Wednesday 6 October:

Bloke’s Prayers at The Society Café (Ed, Dru, Dave+Robin) on a lovely sunny (but extremely chilly) morning. Good to catch up (and laugh). Lovely also that Jennifer (from USk) came over to say hello.
Moira woke up feeling somewhat giddy+sick first thing, but was ok again by mid-morning.
Various deliveries scheduled for late afternoon, so I took the opportunity to go to the Farmers’ Market to buy meat, cheese and fruit. Nice people.
Asda delivery DID come today and, as usual, the delivery driver was brilliant.
In afternoon I did a quick sketch based on a Japanese railway poster of the 1930s.
John Lewis deliveries arrived just after 4pm (on schedule)… tomorrow will be a challenging day erecting roller blinds!
The sky was pretty wonderful today and now living on an upper floor (and with large windows) just enables to be conscious of the sky so much more.
I read on the balcony for a while before supper.
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: view out of the living room windows. 

Tuesday 5 October:

Something of a bizarre day…
Ru texted very first thing and she came round for early morning coffee – so lovely to see her (even though much of our time together related to how Iris+Rosa opt to opt out of everything… Ru - and especially Stu – feeling very frustrated.
Bristol Flooring emailed to say they could fit on 20 October.
We were due to receive an Asda order today (after the fiasco of last week’s non-show) – but Moira received a voicemail from Asda (which she accidently deleted without being able to listen to it). After frustrated attempts to contact Asda, I ended up walking to East Street Asda to find out more – only to be told that the van had broken down and so the order wouldn’t be delivered (again)! To make matters worse, we’d also been changed for last week’s non-delivery groceries!!
When I got home, I eventually managed to phone someone at Asda… and eventually managed to get our order re-scheduled for tomorrow (despite them insisting on charging us for the new delivery… even though it was THEIR van that broke down!)… and we’ve (hopefully) managed to get a re-fund on last week’s order.
To make matters worse, we had a delivery driver ring our bell (delivering my sketchbooks perhaps?), but then not wait for me to get down stairs before driving off without delivering any package.
Somewhat ironically, I’d finished the last page of my sketchbook and so ended up walking up Park Street to buy one from Bristol Fine Art.
Spent a little time in the afternoon sketching (based on a Gaudi mosaic).
Storysmith bookgroup gathering in the evening (‘The Hare With The Amber Eyes’): Another good discussion (people generally split on views).
Managed to call in to the pharmacy on the way home and collect my medication (sadly, the statins weren’t included!).
Image: another balcony dawn. 

Monday 4 October:

Moira and I decided to go to John Lewis to look at blinds etc and so there was no early morning walk (again!).
Spent the time immediately after breakfast stacking books on the second lot of shelves (just a few left over – perhaps a dozen?)(will we be able to squeeze them into bookcase no.3?).
Bussed off to Cribbs Causeway and it ‘sort of’ served its purpose (and we were able to select food caddy and undersink bin).
Back home by 1pm.
Popped into the library again immediately after lunch (returned some books and borrowed some more).
Moira and I placed some online orders at John Lewis (ironically, some of the info we picked up this morning was wrong!).
Spoke to Robin by phone (following my various emails about the management company etc)… useful conversation (and he DIDN’T try to change my mind!).
Moira and I ended up going out to Franco Branca for pizzas for early supper.
Evening telly (after some bedroom furniture shifting in M’s bedroom): ‘Only Connect’ and ‘Challenge’’
Image: more shelves in progress. 

Sunday 3 October:

A wet old day (although it did brighten up a little during the course of the afternoon).
Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Had considered going to the service at the cathedral (it’s a Holy Trinity week), but it appeared that we needed to have registered in order to attend (was that just if you wanted to take communion or what? website very unclear)… so we didn’t.
I ended up finishing off building (and decorating) the bookshelves… and then, towards the end of the afternoon, Moira and I went about trying to sort out the ‘non-Dave’ books.
We ended up filling the left-hand bookshelf completely – with A-L authors… I just hope there’s enough space left on the right-hand shelves for M-Z!
I was feeling a little anxious about the shelf fixings but, fingers firmly crossed, they seem to be ok (but the shorter right-hand shelf brackets have fewer fixings… so I’m still feeling nervous!).
Nevertheless, it makes a HUGE difference being able to get rid of a lot (maybe a dozen?) cardboard boxes off the living room floor!
Villa lost to Spurs away from home 1-2.
Evening telly: ‘Gone Fishing’ and ‘Midsommer Murders’.
Image: Shelves in progress.

Saturday 2 October:

Moira and I had flu jab appointments at 8.20/8.21am today, so it was a relatively early start (well, for Moira at least!)… we followed this with a very welcome visit to Hugo’s (opposite Asda) – to get some ‘real fruit and veg’! I later carried on to Wilko’s to buy pins and some wood glue.
Wet weather day from start to finish.
I spent the rest of the morning fixing the lipping to the MDF shelves and painting perhaps 50% of them (juggling space and avoiding painting the walls!). Hopefully, it’ll all be completed tomorrow (well, this part of the shelving at least)… and maybe we’ll be able to store some books too over the course of the next few days (with fingers firmly crossed that the wall fixings will be adequate).
Evening Netflix: ‘Miss Potter’ film.
Image: Quick scribble of a 1920’s house made while awaiting Thursday’s Asda non-delivery. 

Friday 1 October:

Another strange (and juggling) day…
I had an appointment with Dr Adamali at Southmead Hospital first thing (which involved pre-bus pass travel cost!). He was happy to ‘sign me off’ as far as lung fibrosis was concerned, but he was a little puzzled by my heart (“there’s a rustle”!) and decided to refer me to a cardiologist as a precaution, before seeing me (hopefully for the last time) in 8 months.
Travelled back to Han+Fee’s on the bus and then Fee very kindly drove me to Bishopston Hardware (who are brilliant) to collect my cut-to-size timber. It all worked out very well and the timber seems to be the correct size!
The lift was back working at Deanery Road (thankfully)… which helped with transporting stuff to number17.
Our re-scheduled Asda order failed to turn up again (but we think we might have missed out confirming online?)… we’ve cancelled and re-ordered for next Tuesday. Moira and I went shopping to the Co-op to top up supplies in the interim.
I’d been pondering whether or not I should offer to join the Board at Deanery Road over recent days… and have eventually decided that it’s perhaps a little premature (I’m very critical of BNS’s role and the likely workload put on to Board members). I’ve ended up deciding against it and have emailed Mark (Brough), Maggie and Kevin… and also Robin. Ultimately, I’ll respond to Mark Treasure and convey my misgivings.
Evening telly: another ‘Montalbano’ episode.
Image: Luke Jerram installation, College Green.