2007 — 4 November: nicely sunny Sunday
Time now (09:19) and I'm just finishing breakfast and getting dressed, ready for my next drive out to the hospice. Don't forget the fruit drink, David!
Morning visit and drive
I didn't forget it, and She seemed to enjoy the sips I helped Her to take.
Anyway, here I am, just (11:45) back from the hospice via Allington Lane and the Aquajardin shop from which my co-pilot Shelagh hopes to obtain some toads to replace the recently-departed axolotl Amadeus. Also traversed Poles Lane and the Potters Heron once again to clock up 23.2 miles of further practice.
As for my poor poorly Christa. What else can I say, I wonder? She is drifting in and out of wakefulness, but is perfectly rational (which, honestly, is both pleasing and distressing in about equal measure) when briefly awake. She is not in pain, does not want to write to or call anyone, and is in (I suppose) a sort of peaceful limbo as She slips into longer periods of quiescence. She actually told me to go this morning, so I sat outside in the sunshine for a while, wept1 a little, and then knitted myself back together, as it were, for the return drive.
Afternoon visit and drive
It's 15:50 or so and 37.6 miles further on. I stayed at the hospice only for a little this time, but She stirred briefly at some noise, and was pleased2 (though a little confused) to see me there and realise I was holding Her hand.
Then it was time for my co-pilot to steer me through Bishop's Waltham, Corhampton, and some nasty, pedestrian-thronged, tiny lanes inside Winchester around the college, returning via Otterbourne to a much-needed cuppa tea. I must say the sight of lots of smiling, young couples (with or without baby-transporting paraphernalia) is rather a poignant one for me just at the moment. That, I suspect, is the Human Condition. Life just goes on going on, doesn't it?
Evening visit
If all goes according to my cunning plan, I shall be driving out to the hospice once more tonight, this time with Christa's chum Heidi as my co-pilot. Well, I also swung by Eastleigh to pick up Marita, then we all three whizzed over to the hospice, where they chattered briefly in their shared native tongue. Christa was less sleepy at this point, obviously, but very soon got tired, so they left me alone with Her for a while (thank you). A safe return journey. The time is now 19:56 and I've been warned that precise timing is vital for scallops, so I have my instructions to be in the bungalow at 20:15 precisely. There I shall be.