I went to the theatre last night.
Jeez, tubes can be tricky when busy.
It’s not the trains, it’s the people on them and the small percentage of people who seem capable of THINKING.

A family got on. Mum, Dad, 3 kids. A suitcase and a pram.
They wedged the pram behind me, and the suitcase in front of me. Immediately I felt totally hemmed in. That’ll be because I was.
The dad was in front of me, with the suitcase. I kept looking at him, my expression one of being a guy in a wheelchair trapped in a train carriage by a family with a suitcase and a pram.
He didn’t pick up on my expression

I had to say – do you think I have any chance of getting out without ramming you or the pram?
Surprised look on Dad face. Clearly had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA that I wasn’t able to just move sideways..

I came back the 10 miles on the road.
Give me the roads and the traffic any time.
Yes I’ll almost certainly come to a squashy end but I’m ok with that.

I’ve been regularly visiting my one time father in law in hospital these last 5 weeks, initially after what was deemed a ‘ seizure’. Later it was labelled as a mini stroke He’s had several since, as well as sepsis as a consequence of an advanced UTI.
Hospitals catheterise people very readily, and then fail to ensure absolute hygiene and hydration protocols are followed. As sure as eggs is eggs, UTI’s follow. The UTI’s go undiagnosed for far too long, by which time they have wreaked havoc to the patient’s body and mind. I of all people understand the errors hospitals make, what they don’t do, which in the elderly ultimately kills the patient.

Each time I’ve gone I’ve seen him slip further away from him being as he was – a switched on, alert and educated man. He”s gone from recognising and talking to me, to hardly seeming to understand he has a visitor.

Today he was far further along the road to leaving us altogether.
It is hard seeing him so close to the end.
I don’t know if he could hear me talking to him, let alone understanding my words.
Sadly I don’t expect him to recover, just instead to slip away.

Very distressing.

And on this day 11 years ago I walked onto a plane heading to France. That was the last plane I walked onto.

Saw me lovely old Mucker, Charlie Horse’s Arse Perkins the other day. He’s lived in Hong Pong for forever. He was my housemate in Uni and the Best Man at my wedding. He organised unspeakable things at my Stag Night. .. happy memories ( mostly! 😂).
Thanks CP for the visit!

Also I’ve been visiting my one time father in law in hospital ( talking about ex relatives ). Having had a stroke of some ‘ variety’ my ex FIL isn’t at his best atm. Not particularly aware that he’s even in hospital ( he thinks he’s in a restaurant most of the time ) it makes for interesting conversation. He’s a fine man that I’ll always be indebted to, and I dearly hope that better days are ahead.
❤️