Pete's visit to Z & B early January 2015

I've just spent a week with Zander at Lennox Street, and this is my report to update you all

It was a lovely time - just relaxed and easy. I am fortunate that I can do 70% of my weekly work on the move (my writing) so it is not so difficult for me to settle into a place like Lennox St with my laptop. When Z has his afternoon snooze from 2 - 4pm, I get on with my writing.

The daily routine was simple: get up around 9am, slow breakfast till 11.30am,  go to see B from 12 to 1pm (where they always gave us lunch), home for a sleep/write till 4pm, then preparing dinner till 6pm, then an evening spent curling online. Well, variations on that theme, anyway. Z happily buzzes about town in his Toyota Yaris - he has a blue disabled driver badge these days so he can park anywhere he wants :-)

I loved being in Edinburgh - the old Georgian buildings, the clear crispness of January. 

On Sunday, Z led the 945am church service with John Innes. A gathering of 20 or so people, before the main family service at 11am. A social and quietly spiritual time - an important part of Z's week.

I had a school reunion with a few friends - I hadn't seen some of these folk for 35 years.....

Z took part in the East of Scotland Squash Championships, playing games on Saturday and Sunday. Three games in total. He still has that flick of the wrist and clever placement of shots, although he isn't diving into the corners these days, which is fair enough.

We visited B often - she sometimes slept (as on this visit) and other times she was awake and chatty, asking questions and understanding, apparently, what was going on. Very difficult to know what it must be like being inside B's head these days. The new care home is great - they now get B into a chair, and into the living room area most days, which must surely be more interesting and less mind numbing for B than just staying in her room, day in, day out.

Z always feeds B, and the care home always bring him a meal - three course soup, main and dessert - whether at lunch or in the evening. They fed me too!

We did some good socialising - Teresa called round for coffee and chat. She's a loyal B visitor, and her care is much appreciated.

We also had a day trip - down to the Borders. Went to see Iain Gillespie, my old vet boss, in the wilderness between Galashiels and Lauder. His remote farmhouse defied the best ability of the sat nav, and we were driving in circles for a full hour before finding him!

We went to see Gillian and Michael too - lovely to catch up with them. By the way, Z deliberately put on a silly face.... don't worry, he really isn't that strange looking!

I called round to see Astrid one evening - she is in good form, enthusing about her young grandchild.

Z has also restarted his weekly curling competition. We drove up to Kinross on Monday evening, and he put on a good show, as you can see in the photo.

There's much more to say about the week, but I just wanted to put up a few photos and the gist of it as soon as I could.  It's really lovely to have had the opportunity to spend time just living life in Edinburgh together :-)