The EGR valve was replaced |
We have been home since 1st June and looking back
at the calendar there were only six days in June that were free of medical appointments,
health walks, summer fairs, babysitting and line dancing.
Then Jeremy replaced the front discs and brake pads |
The first thing to sort out was our 11 year old Ford Focus,
which still had an engine management light glowing on the dashboard. A
diagnosis at a Ford garage revealed a blocked EGR (exhaust gas recirculation)
valve. Jeremy saved us several hundred pounds by buying the part on ebay and
fitting it himself.
Ben and Sophie on Searose |
Ellie and Emily on Searose |
I began doing exercises on my knees, which are stronger now
and much improved, although setbacks occur from time to time.
Sara, Abigail, Isaac, Pat and Mum at Silverdale, Isle of Man |
We started to collect our granddaughter, Ellie, from school
once a week and take her to our house for tea. We also collect our other
granddaughter, Sophie, from Nursery and return both children to their parents
once they have finished work.
Mum on Port Erin railway station, Isle of Man |
July was equally busy. I went to the Isle of Man for a week
to visit my Mum (now 93 years old) and my sisters and the rest of my family.
Painted and edged. Fully restored shed in Tobermory, Mull |
Jeremy went to the Isle of Mull in Scotland to paint the
roof of the shed we restored last October. On the way there he spent two nights
with his brother, Gavin, and his wife, Eileen. They watched the start of the
Tall Ships Rally as they left the River Wear at Sunderland and made their way
to the North Sea.
Knitted yachts at Sunderland |
On our way back from the Isles of Man and Mull, we stayed
for two nights with my college friend, Stella and her husband, Geoff. It was
lovely to catch up on three years of news and see a bit of Leicestershire. They
took us to Foxton Locks on the nearby canal.
Stella, Geoff and Kathy |
We learned more about Searose, a 34ft Southerly yacht with a
lifting keel, recently bought by our daughter, Emily, and son-in-law, Ben. We
were able to take her out a couple of times on the River Deben and make use of
our old Avon dinghy and Mercury outboard.
Languard Fort, Felixstow |
Towards the end of July we took part in a Westerly Owners
Association Suffolk Rivers Rally. As our Westerly, Sal Darago, is in Mexico, we
were boatless, but still enjoyed all the social events, which usually took
place in pubs, and a visit to the stunning Languard Fort at Felixstowe.
Kathy, Sam, Michelle, Sylvie and Patrick after the BBQ |
During August, we had a day visit to see our nephew, Patrick
and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Sam and Sylvie. The weather, which
had been tropical since mid-June, continued warm and dry for a delicious BBQ in
their garden.
Oyster BBQ at our bridge in Mull |
Our family holiday in Mull had been planned for several
weeks and the ferries had been booked, when Jeremy had a second event with his
bowel, which led our GP to refer him for an appointment at Ipswich Hospital
within two weeks. He had a sigmoidoscopy, which revealed a medium sized polyp
and he was referred for a colonoscopy. After a few unsettled days, Jeremy
learned that his appointment would not take place for at least two weeks, so we
were able to go on holiday. We spent a lovely evening and comfortable night in Durham, on our way to Mull, with long time friends, Andy and Moira.
Kathy, Sophie, Emily, Ellie, Ben and Tess near Croggan, Mull |
The first week was spent with Emily, Ben, Ellie, Sophie and
Tess the dog. We went out every day come rain or shine, which we had in equal
measures.
Jeremy, Pat and Graham at Calgary, Mull |
My sister, Pat joined us for 10 days at the start of our
second week and Graham, a sailing friend of ours, spent three days with us.
Novel use of an expired liferaft |
Thanks to Emily checking our mail and from phone calls,
Jeremy learned that his appointment would be on 21st September. We
could enjoy the last four days of our holiday with just the two of us.
Another house job - professionally rebuilt chimney |
Unfortunately, we both went down with colds and spent the
last week coughing and sneezing!
We are home once again. Autumn is on the doorstep and
already two named equinoctial storms have battered much of the UK. Suffolk has
escaped the worst but it’s certainly not a good time to go sailing.
Today, Jeremy had his colonoscopy and the polyp was removed
successfully. He is a little uncomfortable and has to remain on a fluid only
diet for another 48 hours. The polyp will be tested and I’ll let you know the
result in our next blog, which I hope to post before Christmas.