Post 326: South West Dorset Here We Come.
My Darling poked her head around the door and said,
“I’m off to drop the key off to Mazda.”
“I’m coming too — wait for me” I replied in a don’t-leave-me-here sort of way a child might use.
With that my Darling went downstairs to make a cuppa and left me to get ready.
On the day a couple of weeks ago when we picked up my Darling’s new car “Big Bro” we were asked to pop back sometime with the second electronic key for the old car, “Miranda”. Today we would make good that promise.
As I came slowly downstairs on the stairlift I could hear the sisters talking away about the Irish holiday in the kitchen, on the WhatsApp video-link, a holiday we really wanted to arrange but just couldn’t yet get a break with the profiling bed.
As sometimes happens, you have to give up and reset your thinking to make it work another way.
The new and more likely way is now to wait until August when Kev’s year’s Mass is booked and use our niece’s bungalow (it’s really her dad’s but who’s counting) to install a profiling bed temporarily for me.
The break in the clouds, so to speak, happened when another sister of my Darling’s mentioned a friend who might be able to get a bed ordered up, last night.
It’s early days yet but we hope to hear soon if it’s possible. Then we will get planning for that eventuality.
I picked up my tea mug and said hello after eavesdropping on their conversation, all the way down the stairs, which I liked the sound of — and, as per usual, it was a while before the conversation stopped and my Darling could take a breath and sip her coffee.
That reminds me.
We must head off to get some more decaf grinds for my cafetière. I’m out; and missing the ritual, the smell and the taste of the fine black coffee.
Yes, we must go soon.
Mind you, now we have chosen a week off in the South West of Dorset for a farm cottage break, hurrah, with all the necessary assistance I need already in place, do I need grinds just now?
I emailed Disabled Holidays this morning choosing the holiday we preferred and await their response. It’s only a week and a half away now and we are so looking forward to a wee break in the wilds of Dorset where Monkey World and the dinosaur coast beckon.
We finished our hot drinks and headed out with the second key for delivery, then we could search out a seafront hostelry for a bite to eat.
As a bit of a surprise my Darling gave me the keys and asked if I could drive to Mazda — which was no skin of my nose.
She then explained that she was hanging after yesterday’s wedding wine.
I giggled quietly as the seat and mirrors reset for my long legs before I slid into Big Bro’s driver’s seat.
We arrived at the showroom where my Darling jumped out and delivered the key to one of the happy salesmen who looked after us when we purchased our Big Bro.
Sneakily she also asked about the headlights that were troubling her.
It seemed that the other day when she was on her way to work the headlights acted up.
The salesman put her mind at rest easily, saying that because the lights were on automatic the sensors dip and return to full beam automatically, with the left beam aiming slightly left on high.
She said nobody flashed her but it seemed like the lights hadn’t dipped.
He replied that the lights are simply so bright and well aimed that it takes a while to get used to them. They’re fantastic.
With my Darling satisfied that she wasn’t doing something wrong, we left the happy-to-help salesmen to their jobs and headed for the beach car park.
Although it was sunny there was a very cold breeze blowing us along the promenade after parking up.
We headed into town to find a bite to eat and ended up in a very large and very busy high street café, Poppins.
We sat down and had only just settled when a lad asked us what we wanted to drink. That was the style of service here — quick, friendly and efficient.
The meal came and went and there was a split decision on a dessert.
It wasn’t long before a banana long boat and a lemon meringue with ice cream arrived and astounded us, as todays photo shows.
There wasn’t a crumb left after a determined effort from both of us to clean our plates and we sat back and let the pudding settle before waddling off back to the car. Into the stiff and cold breeze.
It was then i noticed an email granting us the week in Blandford Forum, informing us how to pay and that all the details that would be emailed later — things like how to pick up the key and when to leave.
In a magical modern high-tech way, as my Darling drove home, I paid for the holiday and received the informational emails.
I love the technology in my hand that has now taken over my life. Gone are cheques and face-to-face meetings. Gone are the banks too. I’m not sure that’s so good, for some.
I know that a bit of human contact is good for everyone but sometimes this digital world is hard to beat.
We are still pursuing the Irish and northern holidays — that hasn’t changed — but they can wait.
Let’s enjoy a slice of spring in Dorset.
We watched the TV all evening until my eyelids repeatedly dropping ended the night for me and I went to bed with the back pain slightly worse than it had been all day.
But I expect that was due to the excitement and over-nourishment from the high street café.
Ha ha.
I’ll be better tomorrow.
The only other thing I should mention is the background grumbling worry and investigation into Radium‑223.
It sounds like a chemical used in secret-agent poisoned umbrellas, but it’s a possible last treatment for me.
The forum is talking about it and in a way I’m looking for answers about its efficacy.
Not much is known but dear Millibob gave another useful guide to Radium’s use and ability, in reply to the forum question.
I read all the info but still don’t know that it’s for me.
But thanks Brian.
Time will tell what I’ll do. There’s no push for it yet in any case.
That’s why I’m investing time and money in holidays with my Darling.
We want and need some time together away from life on the medical merry-go-round.
May we all get off safely…
Good night.
