Thursday 29th May 2025

I think we have achieved normality.

Normality in the sense that we felt well enough to go to the gym.

Needless to say, I laid in to twenty five past seven, and it would have been all too easy to bin phys, but after coffee, I put on my pumps and shorts, and off we went.

I did 30 minutes on the level i reached at the start of last week. I won't say it was enjoyable, but I did complete the thirty minutes, something which appeared impossible twenty minutes before.

We went home and had breakfast, sitting on the patio.

I had a shower, got dressed, and then it was a case of twiddling our fingers until quarter past twelve, as we attended another leaving party.

Jools's old boss, Andy, had been offered a package, and had accepted it. So, we were to attend the leaving "do" drinks in Hythe, although I knew almost no one there.

The Tree Mariners is a fine old pub, a former Shepherd Neame, judging by the artwork outside, but with a good choice of ales.

I had a pint before those from Woodings appeared, before I switched to Coke, thus allowing Jools to drink Weston's Vintage Cider.

People queued up to shake Jools's hand, or give her a hug, making it slightly embarrassing, as it was supposed to be Andy's day.

Andy has been through hell, really. Four years ago diagnosed with bone cancer as his back disintegrated. But he recovered, and came back to work, between relapses. His eyes tell a hard story, but he smiled, weakly.

There was much mirth and laughter, a pub on a workday lunchtime, and the tab picked up by the MD.

But come quarter to two, all had left, just leaving Jools and I and Andy. We chatted, and then said goodbye, we went home over the downs to Folkestone and back home, then spent the rest of the afternoon trying to stay awake.

We feasted on dinner of chicken Kyiv, salad and roast potatoes. Which worked well. Very crispy spuds.

The sun came out and it looked like summer, even if it didn't feel like it.