Encouragement

Blue sky and sunshine, pleasantly warm today. Housework as usual after breakfast, then I started to record this Wednesday's Reflection and Morning Prayer. Unusually, I was interrupted by noise a couple of times and had to stop. Doing this broke my concentration as well as continuity, but in the end I was able to edit together recorded fragments of the Reflection into a whole, although it took a lot longer than usual. Clare made lunch and after we'd eaten I recorded the Office. 

After lunch Clare went by taxi to Rumney for a hairdo with Chris, while I walked to UHW for a cataract op check-up and lens measurement. It took me fifty minutes to reach the hospital, about the same amount of time as it took me the last time I walked all the way, about four years ago. Maybe I'm not deteriorating physically as much as I fear. But I do tire more quickly than I used to, that's for sure, and I'm better some days more than others. 

The check-up took an hour and involved several rounds of eye drops to secure required eye data, with a lot of flashing bright lights and repeated scans which I found quite stressful. My vision didn't return to normal sharpness for four hours, which was a bit disconcerting. I was impressed by the patient turnover speed, no doubt aided by recent digitisation of preliminary medical paperwork. The place was busy, but staff seemed to be in good spirits, perhaps because their job has been made a little easier. 

I sat in the concourse lounge recovering with a cup of hot coffee afterwards. It took so long to cool enough to take a sip that I walked to the bus stop instead where a number nine bus into town had just arrived. The journey into town was very slow as the rush hour had started. Clare returned to the city centre by bus, and went to John Lewis' for a cuppa, only to find its restaurants closed. That was my destination too, as I made up my mind to buy the Moto G24 on offer in the sale. We met at the entrance to Caroline Street as she was on her way to the bus station for the 61 bus, too tired to wait around for me to buy a phone. It didn't take me long, and I followed her home on the next 61 bus. 

Cousin Dianne emailed me to say that she's finally finished reading my Dai Troubadour novel. As a retired journalist she's still an avid reader with several books on the go at the same time, so it's taken her many months. I'm thrilled to learn that she enjoyed the story. It encourages me to think that self-publishing may be worth the effort after all.

I spent the evening recording and editing trying to eliminate as much as possible of intruding noises in the background. I also unpacked and charged my new phone, but propose to leave it until tomorrow to do the set up process. Jasmine and her boy friends Louis will be in the air from Phoenix while we sleep tonight, and arriving in Cardiff some time tomorrow afternoon if all goes to plan.