Last Sunny day of Summer? My Bug and a Criminology drama.

Hello.

Today hs been a sort of lazy, loose-end day. I was going to spend it with J. again, as part of a holiday "pledge" to spend some time doing things together - but she was not well (was disturbed at night by noisy neighbour) so she cried off. I also woke up feeling grotty, so I returned to the doctor's to try to get further medication for my continued sinus infection. The Doc. said I had had enough antibiotic, but she recommended I use steam inhalation - an old remedy (it brings relief). So I did this in the early afternoon. This bug has been a "so and so" - it came on just after my son started having his recent drinking and mental problems, so I think it was largely psychosomatic. (Stress often makes me physically ill.) There were other people with germs in my vicinity - Tom had a cough; others at our church had chesty coughs. So I caught it from one of them, but it only developed because I was under much abnormal stress. I also consulted the Doc about my strained right upper foot, a problem on and off in the last 2 months: she put me down for physiotherapy in the far distant future, and said rest it meanwhile. (I did today, but that will be it.)

After visiting the doctor's I did a bit of shopping, then cycled home and tidied up a bit. I put some washing in the machine, a few dirty clothes that Tom had brought back from hospital. It was a lovely day for putting washing out to dry - sun, and a bit of a breeze. I always like to see the washed clothes hanging on the line, flapping about in the wind, getting the fresh air and sun. I listened to a Radio 4 afternoon drama about the 19th century Scotsman, Daniel McNaughton, whose trial for homicide introduced the English and Welsh legal Defence of Insanity (so he escaped the death penalty). He was born illegitimate; he evidently had a persecution mania and was paranoid. It was interesting to me, as I have to cover that a little in my criminology teaching on "Mental Disorder and Crime". While listening, I did the steam inhalation for about 15 minutes. It did loosen up some of my catarrh.

I sat in the garden for a while, reading up on introductory ideas and classical or early theories in criminology, as I recommence my teaching on Monday. But the house phone was busy - first Tom rang - he was out all day doing some art and relaxation therapy classes at the hospital where he had been an in-patient. Someone else rang with a message for Tom. Then J. rang about our next day out tomorrow, also asking me to help her with a problem. Then Tom came home, and we all needed a cup of tea. Then there was a programme about wild animals, lions, rhinos etc. (in a UK stately home park) on the TV - I will always make time for our furry friends! So I only got a short time out there my myself. Later, we all sat there drinking tea, with "Whitton" (or "Tigey"!) our cat, who lies out there a lot in the warm weather - it was very pleasant and relaxing. The sun had bythen largely moved off the garden, but it still felt warm. Our garden is not tidy - the grass needs cutting and there are piles of cut down wood about, but it is private and green - a sheltered lace. There are lots of garden birds (blue-tits and great-tits, blackbirds, robins, magpies and pigeons - but rarely now a sparrow), and a young fox has made its nest behind a large growth of ivy and a woodpile beside our garage. Ours is very much a wildlife garden - we have lots of insects, and sometimes toads too.

As it has been unexpectedly quiet today, there is less for me to say. However, I can claim with some authority that this is the last of the really fine weather we have just been enjoying as an "Indian summer". The forecasters say it will break down tomorrow, and the weekend will be horrible - stormy, wet and much cooler. On Saturday our church is having its regular annual evangelism day in London, followed by a meeting in the evening. Tom and I will only go to the worship session in the evening. Last year I helped with the London evangelism campaign, but this year I am not well enough; we have both been through a difficult time. You have to feel stronger to be able to do it. Our keener church evangelists have also been active today, so they had good weather for it: I hope and pray that the outreach team met many good new contacts. I am looking forward to Saturday's London Meeting.

Well, after a rather inconsequential entry, it is time to sign off, Tomorrow J. and I will probably be going over to Wimbledon (London SW19) to take a tram to Croydon (Surrey). There is a special tram service between those two towns, on which I have never been (my husband Dave has, to visit his step-father Eric who lives near Croydon). I have only been on trams while abroad, in recent years: we had them in London before the 1950s when I was very young, and I just about remember going on them - it was much fun. J. and I will go to the IKEA furniture shop in Croydon, where she wants to buy something. I may look at duvet covers, as mine are wearing out. I will enjoy browsing around, but will not carry back anything heavy. J. has also asked me to help her compose an official letter of complaint about her noisy neighbour, as I am "good with words" or so she says! I know I can write a good letter - and after all, I am a teacher. Recently I wrote to our MP about Tom, and it has had some results - he is looking into Tom's case.

That's really it now - goodbye for now, and farewell to the sunny weather, and a not very good British summer.

Love , blessings and good wishes to all -
Tigey.