I called on Gill’s mum this afternoon. Andy is feeling rather better, and looking forward to coming to our local cottage hospital as soon as there is a bed for him. He has been home for the day several times, which has really cheered him and Gill. I’m going to visit him tomorrow. Gill’s mum is delightful. She loves to chat and there is never a silent moment. She is happy for it to be a conversation rather than a monologue and she’s always interesting, but there is certainly never an awkward pause.
Dilly went for a scan today, which has established that all is well with the baby. She and Al were surprised at the equipment, which is more impressive even than it was five years ago. Well, than three years ago, when Weeza was expecting Zerlina. Al said that the detail was amazing, the doctor could zoom in on every heart valve, everything.
Tonight, I was looking for something to do with leftover chicken. I ended up with a spaghetti, chicken and spinach number. Nigel Slater said it was plenty for four, so I halved the recipe … and ended up with enough for four. It’s apparent what we’ll be having for lunch tomorrow. It’s pretty well the Turkey Tetrazzini that, if you’re my age, you might remember from the 60s, but with a few alterations. The spinach, for a start.
You were so sweet about the little hen, though I’m sure some of you also thought – ‘but it’s only a chicken and these people aren’t even vegetarians’ – and indeed, as I said, we ate chicken tonight. But it’s different with a pet. Anyway, the Sage brought her home and has buried her. We really are going to have to get a cockerel this year I think, she was one of the youngest, the cock having been killed by a dog two and a half years ago. It’ll put the cock pheasant’s beak out of joint, but we can’t help that. We’ve had these chickens over twenty years and we don’t want them gradually dying of old age with no young ones to replace them.
None of these are twenty years old, obviously. I mean, we first got our little flock that long ago. Did I tell the story, I wonder? I’d better look back. Because if not, I’ve got a whole day with no need to think of a theme.
*checks* Oh. I did. Here you go. It’s a long time ago, I could probably have got away with writing it all again. April 2006