Southern fried chicken, parmentier potatoes, roasted Mediterranean veg
Early this morning, when it was barely light outside, I woke up needing the loo. I put it off as long as possible, knowing that hearing me moving would send mum into a panic, but eventually I just had to go.
That started a 30 minute marathon of “are you leaving me?” “I feel terrible.” “I just want to lie down. “You’re not going to leave me, are you?” Every time it went quiet and I started to doze off, mum called out again.
Of course, when it got to actually morning, mum refused to get up. She laid in bed, complaining in a recurring loop of all her health problems, refusing her meds, making me chivvy and cajole her, and finally getting up in a dramatic display of self-sacrifice on my behalf. By that time I really didn’t care what she did as long as she stopped complaining.
After a bit of peaceful birdwatching from my bed – one of the few small pleasures in my life is the wide range of birds I can see without moving – I received a phone call from a letting agent: the application I submitted for a private rental property has been approved, meaning I can go and view it on Tuesday. (I still say that’s the wrong way round, but it is what it is.)
This property is in a small village not far from Ryde, in the north east of the Island. It’s a bungalow rather than a flat, with a garden room but no garden, and two bedrooms. It’s at the upper range of my budget, and more rural than I would like, so I’ll have some real thinking to do if I like the place.
Whatever I think, I’m going to take the opportunity to have lunch while I’m out, probably somewhere in Ryde but maybe Seaview (just along the coast), depending on how I feel. I am very divided in my feelings about viewing the flat, but lunch out is something I am greatly looking forward to.
Now it’s post dinner and I’m in my room, hiding from Strictly Come Dancing: I know millions of people love it, but I find it deeply dull, despite being perhaps the sparkliest show on tv. If anyone wants me, I’ll be in a book for the next hour or so.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
