Herb-crusted fish, roasted veg, chops

Firstly, to all (any?) US readers, happy 4th of July!

Secondly, Emma Radacanu is coming onto court any minute, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.

My day started early (well, not early early, but earlier than I would like) with mum waking me from a deep sleep to tell me her stomach was hurting. When I didn’t immediately provide a response – being very newly awake – she huffed off back to bed.

Having recently run out of one of my meds, which protects my stomach from all the other drugs I take, I suddenly recognised mum’s description of her symptoms from my own experience. Now I have an idea of what’s happening, I will arrange a phone GP appointment for mum at the start of next week to try and get her something similar.

(And I absolutely didn’t work this out by giving mum one of my prescribed tablets in a moment of exhausted frustration (and/or frustrated exhaustion) and seeing the impressive effect it had on making her feel better, as that would be unethical and possibly illegal, even if it is basically just a super-charged antacid. (I know, I know, and I promise I won’t do it again.))

When I woke up a second time, I had a headache, wobbly legs, and a deep, lingering fatigue, none of which have shifted for the rest of the day. I have been off-colour enough that mum noticed and made a few empathetic comments, which would usually mean I’m at death’s door. I think I’m just very, very tired.

Today was shaping up to be another day with nothing much to write about, but then I received a phone call from a representative of a consumer panel run by a big-name supermarket. I signed up to this last summer and then, what with everything else that’s going on, pretty much forgot about it.

It seems, though, that they hadn’t forgotten me and, short of attendees for an in-person focus group next week, called me up to ask if I could attend.

My initial response was “no”, because it’s being held some distance from home, but the offer to cover the cost of a taxi, the amount being paid for attendance, and mum’s assurance that she would be fine on her own for a few hours, all combined to convince me to say yes.

Mum has since expressed concerns but these have mostly been eased by my promise to bring back cake (we’re easily distracted in this family!). I’m second-guessing my decision to go now, but the thought of being out of the house, with other people, doing something different, is just too tempting to pass up. I will of course report back what happens, at least as far as I’m allowed by any confidentiality agreement attached to the event.

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Dinner was fish with a herb crust (panko breadcrumbs, dried mixed herbs, garlic powder, and seasoning, stuck onto the fish with a bit of oil), roasted Mediterranean veg, and oven chips. Mum enjoyed it, and ate most of her portion, which is increasingly my main criterion for food.

With that, and with Emma in full flight on Centre Court, I will once more take my leave. See you tomorrow, all.