Friday 17th November 2017

Another trip to Suffolk to visit Mum. Which means a day off work as I have business to do in her bank before going to visit her.

It was dark again when the alarm went off, I suppose it will be now until into February, but with a clear sky outside, it promised to be a fine day for traveling. But if the traffic would agree is another thing. Jools was going to pick up a hire car, so I had to drop her off down the docks, then she would go to work, and I would head north to brave the traffic at Dartford.

A cold and clear dawn broke, and the sun came up just as we left the house, filling the sky with a golden light. Once we reached the docks, I stopped whilst Jools tried to start the car, then I could carry on north towards Suffolk. Of course, in theory, it should be a four hour run to Lowestoft, but at rush hour, on a Friday, anything could happen, and it might take a week to get there.

As the sun rises, the air clears and the day is spectacular, trees that still have leaves, look yellow mostly in the light, and so on fire. THey look sensational against the dark blue sky too. This would be a feature of the day.

Whichever was I went, I would almost always have to go through the tunnel; all roads that join the M25 funnel traffic here, and despite being four lanes trough it, and no tollbooths now, traffic should flow well. But with the lanes already clogged, traffic like me joining from the M20 and then the M2 meant that we slowed to a walk, then stopped. And so moved forward twenty yards at a time.

I don't know how long it took to get through; an hour? But we crawled through the tunnel and out the other side into sunny Essex. It was stop start for miles, especially when the four lanes were reduced to three, but come nine I was at the junction with the M11, waiting to join the northbound traffic. This road leads past Stansted Airport and on to Cambridge, so it was going to be busy. At least I was able to have the radio on and looking out admire the stunning day with the clear blue skies and bright yellow trees.

I am past Cambridge by ten in the morning: it took three hours, should taken half that. But traffic thins out and I get up to the speed limit for the first time in nearly two hours. I know this road so well, as well as the turn off onto the A11 to Newmarket, past Saffron Walden and ever northwards. I stop for a drink and comfort break after the road joins with the A14. Feeling better, maybe 90 minutes to go. For a change I decide to go up the Norwich-Ipswich road, which meant following the 14 past the beet factory at Bury, and getting to within 10 miles of Ipswich before turning off and going north again.

The road is not too bad, maybe better than the A143 if I'm honest; there are parts of dual carriageway, but then there are villages to go through when the speed limit is just 30. I get to Diss, and from there is was back onto our old friend, the 143, past the ever familiar places and churches: I don't stop this time, as I have work to do when I get to Lowestoft.

Crossing the marshes between Haddiscoe and St Olaves I could see the towers of several churches, two of which, Reedham and Herringfleet I recognised, but the others maybe I need to seek out. But I was back on the roads of my youth, turning onto the road to Somerleyton, past Herringfleet church and finally into Oulton Broad. It was quarter past twelve when I got to Lowestoft, parked near to the old Labour Exchange and walked through to the High Street to Mum's bank to get some advice, and in the end get forms I need, later Mum would sign these so we can look after her money when she is unable to.

I walk back to the car, past the library, I see no one I know, as usual. You wouldn't know I had lived here for nearly 30 years on and off. Maybe all my friends just moved away too?

From the town centre, it was just a half twenty minute drive to the hospital in Gorleston, the car park nearly full, which will be good news for whoever rakes the cash in from the parking charges. There is a cafe in the entrance, so I stop to have a snack; sausage roll and a Coke, then to ward 16 to see Mum.

I had heard she had improved, and right away I could see this was true. She was sitting in the chair, still has a catheter, but other than that no other wires or tubes in her. Although she had another semi-permanent valve in her arm to match the one in her neck, for the easy administering of drugs. But she is in good spirits, and her face has good colour. We talk for ages; I have not been here for two weeks, and not able to speak with her on the phone. But there is news, good wishes from people.

I have to leave before its dark, as I need to get in the house, and the key is locked in a safe on the wall, don't ask, and without a torch it would be impossible to get the key once dark. So, I bid her farewell, there is a chance she might be out in two weeks, but there was no staff around to ask for an accurate prognosis.

I walk back to the car, pay £3 to release the car; it is a tax on the sick and their families, like we can anything else but stump up the cost. How did it come to this, and why do we accept it?

I go home, back down what used to be the A12 but is now the A47 for some reason, why the change is, I don't know. Anyway, I get back to the old family home, just in time so I can open the key safe and let myself in. There is still the stale smell of cigarettes, but we think that is mostly coming from the curtains, and as they are velvet, they would have to be dry-cleaned, even if I could work out how they could be taken down.

I have brought The Book of Dust with me, but before I get lost in the world of Lyra again, I need to do some tidying up; so tackle a wardrobe filled with nothing by paperback books, most of which were unread.

I do then delve into the world of the Trout beside the River, and of babies and plots. A couple of hours passed.

I call Jools as we have been very concerned with Molly, due to her change in behaviour, and there was a strong possibility that she might be going blind. But tests showed she is find, just getting older and is losing her alpha female role in the house to Scully, which is why she now sleeps on the sofa between us of an evening, rather than Molly. Her high blood pressure is now under control, which is something.

At seven, I go out to the chippy in Fir Lane in the hope they would have skate again. They did, and it was ready cooked, so it is popped into the paper along with a huge portion of ships, salt and vinegary applied, then wrapped. All for seven quid, not bad all in all. And there was enough chips for two. And it was delicious, the skate lovely and fresh. As usual I save the crispy bits at the edge till last and eat those up. Lovely.

I watch Mastermind and Only Connect then read in bed for an hour, until sleep takes me from this and Lyra's worlds.