Bumingham/ Scarborough

With a day in hand on our schedule, we decided to make use of it. Mick headed off before 8am to pick up a hire car. I pottered and got things ready for a day away, maybe a night away. Tilly’s magic food bowl was set, we’d most definitely not be back in time for this evenings dingding.

We were away around 9, heading northwards to Scarborough to visit Frank. The journey was pretty swift and we made good time. The suggestion that there was a meeting happening at lunchtime made us head straight to the hospital so I could be with Frank to hear the outcome.

It was very good to see Frank, we chatted, he snoozed, we chatted. Mick headed to the house to get the washing machine working on lodgers bed linen, I waited with Frank for news. After an hour I asked at the desk. After another half hour I sent a message to the nurse who’d called yesterday. She actually called me back, the first person to do so! With the time line explained our hopes were dashed. We chatted some more before I headed back to the house myself.

Time to check how the cleaners had done in the house without us being around. A few odd things, bins left on cupboards and toilets and lots of cushions left as if the karate kid had visited! But the house was spotless and only one towel missing. Oh, I did have to hunt round for the chopping boards and trays, they’d been tucked away in a cupboard.

Just before 6 we set off to meet up with Ruth, had a cuppa whilst we checked through some paperwork before heading back to see Frank again, we needed his signature on a few things. Then it was time to say goodbye, leaving him in the company of his friend.

It was now 8pm. Earlier in the day we’d decided to head back to Birmingham. The three hour journey lay ahead, we’d not eaten, so we’d not get back until midnight. We’d booked the car for Friday as well so we didn’t have to leave. Instead we opted for a microwave curry back at the house and to sleep in the back bedroom, leaving the two bigger rooms all ready and made up for lodgers. It had already been a long day, so a sit on the sofa in front of Traitors with a glass of wine was needed.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car, 3:15 drive, 1 snoozing Frank, 2 discharge chats, 0 discharge, 1 load of towels, 1 load of bedding, 1 form, 8 interesting things, 0 casserole, 1 friend, 1 chicken tikka masala, 1 sag aloo, 1 rice, 2 bottles wine, 2 boaters back in the back bedroom, 1 cat at home on the boat alone.