Thursday 23rd October 2025

Day four of the kitchen work, and it appears that a corner has been turned, with cupboards and cabinets on the wall and in place.

What the day for the fitter was getting all frames in line and level, so although he worked hard all day, on the face of it, little progress has been made, but from here on in, we hop, there will be obvious signs of progress.

Though because of the work top having to be measured before the stone cut, we will not have a hob or sink until 5th November, which means two more weeks of eating out and/or takeaways.

We did go to the gym not quite first thing, bust just before seven. The heavy rain that was to fall all day had arrived, and the roads were very wet and slick with more fallen leaves.

I cycled round Toledo for 40 minutes, did some time on the hand bike, and we were done, and heading back home via Tesco for eight fifteen, so to be there when the fitter arrived.

Rain hammered down all morning, so I sat in the back office re-reading the second Book of Dust, The Secret Commonwealth, as the third part was due for delivery.

So with work ongoing downstairs, I read of Oxford and Lyra.

A quick lunch of pasties and a bresh brew, before I had to go out to have my feet checked, as I am now diabetic.

There is a clinic in Deal, so I drove along the main road, the road really slippery at Oxney Bottom with the sharp bends and large amounts of fallen leaves.

I find a place to park near the clinic, wait until five minutes before the appointment, and am then shown in.

I have young person's feet, but old person's legs. And there is some damage to the nerves meaning I can't feel in my feet as clearly as I should.

I am hoping my new fitness and reduced drinking will have an effect, and hope to see improvement next Tuesday when I have a blood test.

I drive back via the offy, where I buy two large bottles of Chimay Bleu, as I really, really love that beer.

Then back home now in bright sunshine as the clouds had cleared, though there would be the first air frost of the night under the clearing skies.

Dinner was microwaved Chinese left over from Wednesday, and once again we were shattered, so went to bed fairly early. Too cold to have the bedroom window open for the first time since early spring.