16 April 2010
The die is cast to convert the downstairs bathroom into a wet room. I swallowed hard and accepted the quotation which was roughly twice as much as we envisaged, however, be that as it may, the work will begin on Monday next. It includes repositioning the existing lavatory and providing a new high level bowl, […]
15 April 2010
The highlight of today was a visit from my stockbroker Peter Long, of Brewin Dolphin, who very kindly made the journey here to see me rather than dragging me to London as I have done over the years. How does one hedge against a totally unpredictable general election; or a unexpected volcanic eruption in Iceland, […]
11 April 2010
An expected treat today, lunch with the William-Powlett’s as Judith’s 92 year old mother Beryl was visiting. Delicious food, as always with the WP’s and stimulating conversation, much of it inevitably about the possible outcome of the general election – Beryl still has all her marbles and is good company. There was also a little […]
10 April 2010
The alarm problem was reinforced today when I found myself stuck on the lower of my two office chairs. The main chair I have built up with three cushions and can manage to stand up by leaning on an adjacent table but the other one was too low and I struggled for over 10 minutes […]
9 April 2010
My brother and sister-in-law, John and Anne Garton–Jones came to lunch to see how we were, having trekked all the way from the other side of Shrewsbury in Shropshire. It was very kind of them particularly as John bought me a rather splendid bottle of 1975 Warres port. It was a beautiful spring day and […]
8 April 2010
My quarterly assessment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital today with Dr Chris Allen and Shelagh Smith. They noted the comments from Papworth Hospital but in summary considered I was doing quite well. When pressed, which Chris is never very keen about, he speculated that my arms might well continue as they for some months and that I […]
7 April 2010
London today, for a committee meeting of The Arbitration Club. Basically to discuss the setting up of an educational trust fund to visit China and to determine who will succeed me to deliver the annual lectures at the Faculty of Law, CUPL Beijing. No final resolution of either was achieved at a meeting but the […]
6 April 2010
The first truly spring-like day, sunny and bright but a chilly wind. I joined the geriatrics this morning and by sharing a buggy with Griggsy was able to walk and ride alternately and in this fashion probably walked about half of the course, albeit in a slow plodding fashion. There is certainly a noticeable deterioration […]
5 April 2010
I wonder if any reader remembers me discussing the problem of elderly people getting their fingernails cut. If they do they will recall that there is a free toenail service in Essex but no provision for cutting elderly people’s fingernails. So concerned was I, not so much myself as I can afford to have my […]
Easter Monday 2010
Chloe, Karl and three grandchildren came to lunch today. Fortunately the weather is on the mend and the children were able to run around in the garden. It was great to see them particularly as I now find it more difficult struggling all the way to East Dulwich where previously I always tried to go […]