Post 349: Big Sis and no Big Bro.
It’s Friday, 10 o’clock, and it’s (not) Crackerjack. But it is time for my Darling to head off to the weigh-bridge with all her mates.
I was hoping she was being picked up, but as I looked down the staircase, she looked up at me in my gorgeous dressing gown, shouting, “See you later!”
I shouted back, “Are you going in Big Bro?”
“Yes,” she says.
“Oh… OK. Can you bring in the blue badge before you go, please?”
She nodded and said nothing, but she did run to the car and back, placing the disabled badge on the bottom stair.
She turned to me, then away, paused, and said, “I’ll see you later. Say hi to Big Sis and brother-in-law.” Then, as she started to close the door, I blew her a kiss and wished her well — and she was gone.
Damn, I thought. Now I’ll have to ask Bruv-in-law to take us all to town for a surprise gift hunt for my Darling.
⸻
It was another two hours before they were to arrive — and I wasn’t about to rush them. They can follow their own pace.
As it was, a text had just dropped in to say they were heading to the care home where Bruv-in-law’s 90-year-old mum is, on their way to me.
Fab. I can idle about a bit more in my jarmies and get ready at the last minute.
To be honest, I’d rather not go out today at all, but there’s a need. And if I don’t go down to town and get my Darling a wee pressy for Easter today, I won’t be able to until next year.
I was still feeling the pinch from my outing (with a long walk) last Wednesday, and the two-hour sit-down in an uncomfortable seat talking over my workplace possibilities the following day.
But since then, I’ve adopted an “ignorance is bliss” attitude towards any pains and aches that I might have picked up.
So I went back to my pit and lay there with the remote and a couple of K-dramas. That’s where I’d best be left, taking morphine every four hours and keeping the body pains in check.
⸻
That reminds me — we had a WhatsApp call last night from my badger-loving eldest son and daughter-in-law.
It seems she can visit us Tuesday or Wednesday next week for an evening meal. And after endless computations, she would love to be taken out to the Korean place we all love on Thursday evening.
Brilliant — a rare and wonderful thing.
We haven’t seen her since Christmas, and the Korean BBQ restaurant, with the extractor hoods over all the tables, will be great fun.
⸻
Back to this morning and my lazy attitude to the visitors arriving soon.
I kept one eye on the clock and one on the drama, and in the end thought I’d better get a wriggle on and give the dressing gown the heave-ho.
The doorbell called my attention to the visitors, and once the formalities were done — and the picnic basket and treats unpacked in the kitchen — I asked if I could take advantage of their helpfulness.
Could we all go down to the town centre - it’ll be easy to park with my blue badge?
“Of course we can go for a drive,” Big Sis replied.
Bruv-in-law was relieved that it was only one stop and then home for the sorely tempting picnic.
⸻
So I took some more morphine, collected the pills I’d need for the next couple of hours, and limped to the car.
I had to be helped in — seat and seatbelt — like I was an old git (which is exactly what I was this morning).
We set off, with the driver taking the mickey out of my huge winter coat over a deep purple hoodie (smoooooke on the waaaater… fi-yre in the sky-e).
But I had the last laugh, because the wind around the car after parking was bitterly cold and very strong. I had no worries with all my layers, unlike the Bruv in his lightweight shirt and jumper.
Ha ha!
⸻
Now, this is where I will say little about the shop we ended up in — just in case my Darling reads the blog and the surprise is spoiled.
Suffice to say, I had fun — but I drew a blank getting a pressy for Big Sis.
After we found what I needed for my Darling and left the shopping centre for the car, now came the big worry — would my Darling beat us home? That would mean needing a plan to hide the gift until Sunday morning.
As it was, we won the race. I got inside inside the house and found the perfect hiding spot for the now-wrapped goods…
Job done. Well done, team.
Now we can tuck into the picnic.
⸻
I’d just got the kettle on when my good lady arrived home — dying for a wee.
That was lucky timing 
the kettle isn’t even boiled yet.
My Darling joined us, and we all tucked into seeded malted rolls filled with eggy-noo. Who can resist egg mayo sarnies?
There was chatter, more tea, mugs of boiled water, and then mini egg crispy nest cupcakes — deep, dark, and tasty.
Even better, there were four of them — so the one left over is mine for tomorrow’s lunch.
Now that’s a great end to the day.
⸻
The only thing was, the day of morphine had not stifled the pain in my bum and both shoulders.
I’m gradually falling to pieces.
I’m meant to be keeping myself in-trim for the oncologist this Thursday. The way it’s going right now, I’m going to be a basket case by the time I get into the surgery.
The left shoulder and arm are worrying with their lack of movement and weakness, but the penguin walk is most painful and infuriating.
I wasn’t doing the penguin walk around the county town earlier this week.
Why is my body changing like the wind?
Damn it all.
⸻
I’ll rest up this very long weekend and hopefully get rid of the stupid penguin walk.
So here I am wishing you a healthy weekend and loads of treats — and walks (to balance the sugar intake) — in the sunshine of course.
Good night
(even if it is nearly mid-morning right now… sorry 
)
I hope you’re treated to an Easter gift that makes you smile too.
