The walk started off well - the ground was reasonably good going, no mud or stoney ground. However it became apparent that all was not well. There was a lot going on for Colin (or rather for his brain to cope with) - concentrating on walking amongst grass/crops, people to talk to, managing walking poles and what to do with ones arms, and it was getting very warm. Colin's walking speed continued to diminish and he could see the rest of the group getting further and further ahead. We (including one of the walk leaders) caught up with them at one of the gates because they were good enough to wait but by then Jane could see the signs of the 'jelly legs' starting - Colin becoming increasingly unsteady on his feet and starting to list, ending up trying to walk with the stance of the leaning tower of Pisa!
By this point, we were some fields away from a road and it was difficult to support Colin walking - thank goodness that one of the walk leaders had held back to help, although it was probably quite concerning to her Jane nevertheless takes her hat off to her for coping so well! After getting Colin, successfully, over a stile and a little more walking we reached a track and the leader was able to contact a friend to get a car to fetch us all. Thank goodness for that! We joined the walking group at the planned stop for a cuppa - which was very welcome - and were driven back to our car instead of having to continue the walk. So....this is another illustration of why Jane is reluctant to undertake such walks with Colin on our own any more and why our usual sort of holidays have come to an end. Colin's main hobbies of walking and cycling are over - and very frustrating it is too!
Last Sunday whilst Jane's mother was still here, we visited Barnards Green House on one of the NGS open days and as the teas were for the Friends of the Hospital was a double reason to go (we'd missed the Friends Strawberry tea on the Friday evening). It was a lovely afternoon - summer weather and wonderful floral displays.
On Wednesday of this week, we joined some friends in a visit to NT Hidcote Manor Gardens. This proved to be another hot summer's day with wonderful gardens too. And it was really good to catch up with our friends who now live in north Gloucestershire. We had a lovely time - and hope they did too!
You're probably wondering about the relevance of the birds.....well, Colin had his hearing aid fitted yesterday morning and what a revelation! Notwithstanding the usual difficulties of first wearing such a device, he announced at lunchtime that he could hear birds in his right ear (the really bad ear) and wondered what the aid was doing! Until Jane pointed out that these birds were actually in the garden and he was hearing them for the first time in ages! He also couldn't get over how 'noisy' peeling his apple was - Jane had to point out that this is what she has to listen to every lunchtime! Today has been more difficult - the visit to the supermarket and the noisy high street has just about done Colin in! We'll wait and see how well the brain deals with the new levels of hearing.
That's all for now folks.....and remember the days are getting shorter and the nights draw in!
Colin and Jane.