The Dreaded Health Check

L has been called in for the dreaded health check by her GP, like the one I had at Christmas and got a rollicking for. It does appear though that the nurse didn’t shout at her and L probably remembered to put her rucksack down when they weighed her. Actually, L points out that she changed into a nice light summer dress especially. Not an option that was open to me. I just hope she’s left it on.

She’s off work again today, which upset the boys routine. MD soon got over his shock, had a good stretch and then skipped off for his ball. They also met me off the bus later and helped me hobble home.

Tonight’s special is Baked Elastic (Alaska) that L has cooked. That, wine and the summer dress should make for a very good night. 

(Friday 6^th June)

Drubbing Down

It was odd having a night back at home without the dogs but on Friday morning the peace is shattered as we pick them up from kennels and bring them home. They seem to be pleased to see us, as long as no one mentions the takeaway they missed last night.

While we’re home for the day, re-bonding with the dogs, we get a chap in to service the boiler and I go to the doctors to finally get the drubbing down I deserve over my D minus on my health check report card.

Only instead I get praised. My figures may not have been perfect but apparently they are far better than everyone else’s. So that’s something at least. Double bonus is apparently both my liver and kidneys have all passed with flying colours. 

‘Cut back on the cheese’ the nurse tells me ‘but generally carry on with what you’re doing’.

That’s a dangerous thing to say... 

(Friday 21^st February)

Oh How I Reminisce

More park and more clearing out. Primarily this time a large box of orienteering memorabilia, mainly maps. Loads of them. Oh how I reminisce. We ought to do some for old time’s sake or perhaps not, considering how much I used to complain about it. I do have a look at all the old orienteering websites to see what’s coming up but sadly it doesn’t seem to have become any more accessible. Which was partly why we gave it up in the first place.

We head over to Derby in the evening, eat at Quad and see a film there.

‘Like Father Like Son’ is about two Japanese families whose sons were swapped at birth by a nurse who was having a relationship crises and decided to make herself feel better by sabotaging other peoples’ lives.

It is six years later before it comes to light what has happened, as the boys are blood tested as they are admitted to school. Clearly this is some quirk of the Japanese education system.

The film goes on to explore the impact on the two sets of parents as they get to know their ‘new’ son and eventually decide whether to switch children or not.

The two families are from contrasting backgrounds and have very different approaches to parenting. One is a wealthy family where the father Ryota is a high flying business man and the mother Midori is a bit of a doormat. He is rarely at home with either his wife or his son and it shows. He believes his son Keita should be independent as well as ‘talented’ and driven like himself. So he’s clearly baffled by his son's poor piano playing and his lack of desire to get any better. So it comes as quite a relief to him when Keita turns out not to be his son after all.

His blood son Ryusei lives with the Saiki family who are shop keepers. The father Yudai has a more relaxed approach to life and believes in giving his children as much of his time as they need. Ryota takes an instant dislike to him and even offers him money to take Ryusei off is hands.

It is not surprising that Ryota wants to switch. His wife isn’t so keen and contemplates running away with Keita. 

It’s never really clear what Yudai wants but as they do the switch it quickly becomes clear that both boys favour Yudai which eventually brings Ryota round to reconsider his views and his priorities in life.

This wasn't a film I particularly expected to like but I did. It’s well made and all the performances are
top notch. Standby for the Hollywood remake.

(Sunday 17^th November)

Bad Girl Instincts

The old back injury, that I didn't know I had, flares up overnight. Yes I did something when pulling up the tent pegs back in May but it's been fine since. I was just lying in bed. Yes, just lying there.

L nurses me back to health, forces paracetamol down me and applies a hot water bottle to the affected area. She would make a good nurse, if only she had the outfit.

I recover enough to head off to work but decide it's perhaps best to skip my planned run tonight.

L checks regularly on my condition via email and utters sweet nothings such as ‘take two paracetamol every four hours’. Hmmm. Do I look like a druggie?

She even makes rice pudding in the evening, which at first I think is to be used as a soothing poultice on my injured back but is actually served in a bowl with ice cream. Any excuse to get ice cream into the house. I do try to quell her bad girl instincts but it’s all in vain.

(Friday 8^th November)

Butter Wouldn’t Melt

The patient has his check up this morning which he passes with flying colours. It’s interesting to note that the grumpy old man, who growls at us when we try and inspect his stitches, is bestest pals both with his surgeon and the nurse. They’re all on first name terms and does he growl when they inspect his stitches, oh no, butter wouldn’t melt.

He’s given the all clear but is banned from agility for a further week. Which means no competing tomorrow and no training on Wednesday. I had already decided to retire him anyway, which means at our next event, which probably won’t be until December, I’ll run him in Veterans.

After a trip to the opticians I actually have the rest of the day and evening free... Hmmm... so what happens now then? I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do in situations like this. Chill out and watch TV or something? Not sure I know how to do that. So L and I embark on a bit of a house tidy and take a load of stuff to the tip. Not that we’re trying to expunge any signs of Son or Daughter from the place, perish the thought. We miss them dearly, on occasion.

At the tip, the council seem to totally ignore the WEEE electrical recycling regulations (it’s part of my job to know about these things) and dismantle our old computers (four of them!) and other defunct electric items with a large sledgehammer. I could have done that, saved them the trouble and had some fun into the bargain.

Then it’s pasta and a night in. L has a rather serious run and challenge match tomorrow.

(Saturday 8th October)