Getting there

Many years ago when we asked a young friend, then known as Charlie, how he was he always replied “Getting there” and that was absorbed into our family vernacular but we always added “as Charlie would say”.

Now, with regard to our big move, I guess we are “getting there” but the past couple of weeks have dragged and become frustrating.  We are still waiting for the planned erection of a summer house which will enable us to move additional patio furniture, still strewed around our “terrace/patio and a good target for hopping blackbirds to relieve themselves on!  In addition, other furniture and “things” designated for said summer house are still stored in the garage and blocking the last boxes to unpack and investigate in the hope of missing items coming to light.  The delivery date was the 19th and a builder friend, with unavoidable delays caused by his illness, was later than expected to lay the foundation but, having recovered, he and his sons set to and the work was completed by the 18th.  The 19th dawned and we waited with phones nearby all day for the promised half-hour warning it was on its way.  At 5.00.p.m. a phone rang…it was the driver to apologise for the delay - the original driver had been taken ill and “Dennis”, the caller, explained and got the ok from us to a late delivery.  He was in Southend-on-Sea, Essex but said his satnav was saying he would be here by 7.15.p.m. At ten-to-seven, he rang again to say he was just 40 miles from us but his vehicle had broken down and the AA had been summoned.  I asked that he keep us informed.  A couple of hours later I rang him and he said he was now off duty but that his boss would ring.  The hours slipped by and by 10.30. we gave up.   The next morning we received an email from “the boss” to apologise for the situation “due to unforeseen circumstances” - and the delivery date had been re-scheduled  to the 27th!!  So, we are still playing the waiting game.

During the waiting time…
my husband developed a very sore big toe and went to the surgery where, only a few days before, we had luckily registered.  No obvious sign of infection but he is now on anti-biotics (which are working well and quickly) and a blood test showed a problem elsewhere in the body which is now to have attention with another blood test next week and also a scan to be done probably in a couple of weeks’ time…
I have visited a podiatrist (whatever happened to chiropodist! Oh, apparently it changed in 1993 and passed me by) to have my toe-nails cut and also an optician’s to arrange for lighter-framed glasses as the ones I chose in France proved to be too heavy…
A Father's Day BBQ at our son-in-law's with cards and a present from his boys to "Granddad"...
Interest in other things is gradually coming back and, a couple of days ago, I, who had been reading at least one book a week, picked up a book to read for the first time since leaving France..
our energy levels are slowly returning to normal after the big move which we found exhausting and we are no longer falling into bed at 9.00.p.m! We also enjoyed a visit by two dear friends from Essex.

Now, with the next few days forecast to be dry and sunny, this morning we set off to start exploring the local area and enjoyed a magical mystery tour of narrow roads and even-narrower lanes in the pretty Norfolk countryside…but nowhere to stop with a view, so, sorry, this time ‘round no scenic shots, but here is one that may amuse you - it certainly makes us laugh!  If we’re doing that, well, surely, we must be getting there.

Straight off the road and pavement almost opposite our driveway...

...of course it may apply to cyclists but with a main entrance at the other end of the hedge I doubt it and surely nobody driving a car up the steps has attempted it!