Update 27
On Monday we went to Madley for supper with the junior Blackmores and had a wonderful Lasagne accompanied by some very fine Primitivo. All went well until for the second time I failed to mount a staircase. All fours did it and I was able to straighten up for the final assault. It’s a bit humiliating but at least I’m learning not to panic - just review the situation and then make a logical assessment of the best way to move forward.
Nurse Michelle had called earlier and recommended a steroid reduction to 3 mgs from tomorrow. I agreed but said that after my previous experience (loss of taste) I’d be nervous of going lower than 2mg. The only obvious side effect of steroids so far is swelling of my ankles if I forget to keep my legs horizontal for too long.
At the weekend my ipad (purchased new back in May), decided it no longer wanted to be charged, so on Thursday morning I took it to Western Computer who are the Apple agents for Cheltenham. They sell everything Apple and have their own team of technicians. They checked it over, declared it not to be working and said they’d replace it with a new machine within a week or so – if only everything went that easily. In celebration we visited the Artisan Baker for coffee and a mince pie and then popped into a local gallery where artist friends were hanging their new exhibition. Quite an adventurous morning for me, made possible by the substantial support of Mrs B and my Rollator.
On our way from the Artisan Baker we passed by the statue of local composer Gustav Holst doing his thing in our most excellent Imperial Gardens.
But hold on there for just a moment. By the time we got home an updated message had been received from Western Computer: the “limited Apple Guarantee” would not cover the ipad problem because the contacts within the charging port were damaged. This was surprising since I’d only ever used the recommended type C connector to charge the thing so what could possibly have gone wrong? Their proposed charge for replacement of the port was an astounding £868 – taking my total expenditure (purchase + repair) within the machine’s first six months to £1967. I decided this was not on and declined their repair. I have done a bit of research and it looks as though an alternative repairer could do the job for around £200.
Meanwhile the world turns; Baroness Mone has gone into hiding, Matt Hancock is in denial about his failings, at least 15 MPs are in disgrace, or at least living beneath a cloud, Johnson is making his millions again, just from talking tosh, the BBC continues to quake before the Government’s threats and still no one wants to face up to the giant con that Brexit is somehow good for us. Since so many still seem to want to take us back to what they see as the glory days of the early 20th century, I’ve decided to read my first ever Agatha Christie novel – I’ve chosen ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ -I’ll let you know how I get on. Bob Dylan has published a brand new book ‘The Philosophy of Modern Song’ and it’s a fascinating read.
Wednesday was M’s birthday which we celebrated à deux over some steak and a bottle of ‘The Hedonist’ Shiraz – thoroughly recommended and currently waiting for you on the Waitrose Cellar wine list
