My first working day after breakfast with my family on the best day I have had for weeks in health terms as my delayed treatment delivers results. More activity reviewing Joan’s case with her, feeding the ducks and doves and some light work on the alarms; interspersed with reading to pace myself. A callous 10% increase in prescription charges (1000% since 1978), NASA find the crashed cockpit with human remains within and Islamic extremists still hold French TV crew members
A splendid night and nice awakening. I do not think I have woken feeling so well since I started this three week bout of illness. I welcomed my morning tea, greeted all in sight and then donned my dressing gown and slippers to go downstairs. I met Diana with my breakfast tray on the way up, but joined the rest of the family at the breakfast table in the end, which was more sociable. Toast, marmalade and fruit juice was the menu.
Straight to the bathroom after and to start my ablutions after the use of the toilet. For once all family members wanted to go at the same time! I gave way to Debbie upstairs and then Daniel downstairs to Diana, who was getting desperate by this time. Soon Daniel off to school and then Debbie. Deb was worried about having to do some new work from her maths book and cried as she went to school. She needn’t have worried as she successfully completed a page correctly later on. I opened up the house for the workmen and then settled to some work of my own. Feeling much better, I had decided to try filling the channels cut out for the alarm wires and I managed to do this, in spells, throughout the morning. I got over my weakness and lack of stamina by interleaving other periods of reading and walking. I went out for the first time to feed the doves and chat to Pete about the earth mountain. He has looked worried about the volume and shear problem of disposing of it and also lacked instructions on how to proceed. That done, I also took in the cable to The Lady’s boat heater (which had been praying on my conscience) before going in to read. After the paper and mail (all computer magazines) I looked over Joan’s papers and advised her on tactics, which seem fairly straight forward. Di back for a lunch of sandwiches and then I took the afternoon rather more easily. Out to put the ducks away at 3.00pm and managed to feed them before Marilyn. Today the plumber, decorator and chippie were all working and three men progressed the swimming pool and grass verge. Tea and then the evening in bed, tired with the exertions of an early day up. News tonight of a father’s success in getting £600,000 damages for his brain damaged 6 year old daughter. But also of a callous 10% increase in prescription charges, which have now increased by 1000% from the original 20p that the Tories took over on assuming office in 1978. It is now an appalling £2.20p. The other day I was in a pharmacy when a boy brought in a multiple prescription, which he got from visiting the doctor that cost £6.00 – people just cannot afford this financing of the system by the sick and poor. Health issues now join others to put the government under political pressures. The fated shuttle’s crew cabin has now been found by NASA, with the remains of the crew inside. There is an intensified debate over the safety investigation and the crew’s bodies add additional poignancy. French television crew members are still held hostage by Islamic extremists in the Lebanon and there are reports of the first of them being killed. This in the last week’s run up to a French General Election.