David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
Walking Sam on a day of high wind and heavy rainfall and suffering as a consequence. Viewing houses for acquisition and homing on one in Monarch Road. Daniel got stranded with car problems and we rescued him again.
Norwich City just missed out against Inter Milan, and I enjoyed an evening game of snooker with Nigel. The House of Commons to adopt the "compromise" solution on Sunday opening.
The fronts of a vigorous depression were racing across the country overnight and again today which gave rise to a situation of heavy rainfall and high wind. I wrapped up in my rubber waterproofs to get out with Sam first thing and kept dry but did not have a very good time with him. I tried him too hard on the water retrieves and lost a dummy and was then not vigilant enough as he came upon a covey of pheasants and flushed them before I had noticed!
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After a stormy night, it was dry and bright but cold enough for a log fire in my office as I tackled paperwork and roasted chestnuts for Debbie and I. Diana recovered sufficiently to enjoy her pampering session at Henlow Grange
It was touch and go this morning whether Diana was going to be able to go to her Henlow Grange "Top to Toe" day. She had arranged to go with Lynn some time ago but had not reckoned with her latest bout of influenza. She tottered off and, as I found out later, she not only survived the day but thoroughly enjoyed it as well. I made my own lunch of mackerel salad and then cooked herrings for tea. Debbie joined me but Daniel and Della opted out and just had toast.
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Sam shines with his water work on a fine and dry day, albeit a little cooler than of late. Diana recovers from her ‘flu and was much better today as I tackled correspondence and watched the North London football Derby on tv.
A frantic start as I look round the house at 7.30am and find nobody else up. The girls ran round and still made it to the school bus stop in time. Diana was much better today but was still on light duties and I had to help her by getting the shopping and preparing the vegetables for this evening's meal. Two good sessions with Sam but the water-work nearly went wrong this morning as Sam was reluctant with the first retrieve which I had again thrown too far.
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I still attended Sam's training day as Diana falls ill, but he does well on his retrieves if not obedience. Diana seemed a little better tonight and I got her up for a bath before going to bed myself.
I had come late to bed again last night as usual and ran foul of Diana when I snuggled up to her with cold feet. She normally complains but hit the roof this time and ran off to the lounge to sleep which should have triggered alarm bells but didn't. This morning, I got up, ran Sam and looked her up upon my return when Della was laying up for breakfast. I found Diana prostrate in the lounge, feeling cold and achy having gone down with the so-called "Bejing 'Flu".
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A relaxing day training Sam for some water retrieves and then watching the Barbarians give the All Blacks a run for their money before taking Gary with Dan to lunch.
Some time on my computer installation and then at evening at St Mary's Church to see Handel's Messiah by the St Neots Choral Society in the front row by invitation of sponsors Nigel and Lynne Smith
I had a day of relaxation; watching Rugby Union in the afternoon and then going out in the evening. I would have liked a bit of a lay in to start with, but Diana woke me up before 7.00am with my morning tea and got us all going. Della did not want to join me for Sam's run and so I took him out on his own and did some water work. Now that the weather was a lot milder, I thought I should get him back to retrieving from water.
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A later start to walk Sam and then linking my computer to the boat Wayplan navigational system to update charts etc.
Back to Paxton in time to walk Sam and then a quite evening watching the Rugby League on the TV
Another very late night and slept right through until my radio alarm went off at 8.00am. Sam was a little grumpy but waited until I had washed and eaten breakfast and then we had a walk along Crabbett's Marsh. At this time of year there is just the couple in the chalet opposite who say hello. There living accommodation seems to be a single room but yet they survive the cold and damp and still tend the garden lovingly.
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