Yesterday when I awoke the first thing that I did was to look out of the window and even pop my head out of the front door to assess how much snow we have had. The evening before, we had certainly had a fall of snow but it did not look very thick and I suspect that cars would be able to navigate it fairly easily. I was delighted last night to receive a phone call from our University of Birmingham friend who realised that pushing Meg out in her wheelchair in present conditions was not really an option for us and so he said that he would call round to see us at 10.30 in the morning which is of course always more than welcome. Normally the day after the Christmas tree has been cleared away, our hall has a very stark appearance - indeed, it was the absence of light in the corner of the hall that led me a year or so ago to install a very low wattage lamp in the corner to take the place of the lights of the Christmas tree. This is all now reinstalled and I must say I am glad to return the hall to its normal furnishings and a feeling of normality. Last night when I looked around our Music Lounge, I was somewhat overwhelmed by great feelings of sadness when I contemplated that all of the refurnishing that I have put into effect in the last year was all done to benefit Meg in the remaining stages of her illness. But then an inner voice spoke to me and I had a strange conversation with myself along the following lines. My inner voice told me that although I was indeed pushing Meg when I could down the hill for a coffee, this was as much for my own benefit of fresh and exercise as it was for Meg's. And as for the population of the Music Lounge with selected pieces of furnishing starting off with the captain's chairs and finishing off with what I call the 'carers' sofa' was absolutely as much for own benefit as for Meg's. My inner voice told me that whilst Meg had always acquiesced and normally approved of each of our purchases, I was actually indulging myself so I should not delude myself into thinking that it was exclusively done for Meg's benefit rather than my own. I was forced to agree to my inner voice and in a strange way it helped me gain a better sense of perspective of our current situation and the prospects for the weeks and months ahead. The snow fall that had occurred overnight was no real threat to any of us and it was a simple task to brush it off the car's windscreen and to make a paid trip down the hill to pick up our copy of the Sunday newspaper from a nearly deserted store. Meg was very fast asleep (as she is nearly all of the time now) and then after I got back and did a few tidying up jobs, our University of Birmingham friend called round, as he phoned to say that he would. Neither of us wanted to pursue personal troubles in any depth so we spent the time discussing educational issues until the carers arrived some time after midday. We managed to get half a beakerful of tepid tea into a very sleepy Meg until it was time for them to go and I started to prepare lunch of chicken thighs, carrot and swede mash and some green beans. To be honest I am scarcely at all hungry and am going to have to force myself to east something approaching a proper meal. But when the meal was completely prepared, then the chicken thighs in the creamy tomato sauce seemed pretty tasty so I ate my half of the meal with some enjoyment. I had very slowly fed Meg with her portion of the meal and although it took a long time, I was determined to get some good food inside her and I was delighted that she actually managed the portion of food that I put before her. Then we had a small portion of yogurt and finished off with a little warmed fruit juice. One way or another this was the most food+ drink I have managed to get Meg to ingest for a day or so now, so I am hopeful that the combination of the food and the medication will help to haul Meg up the slope of recovery so we can resume a more 'normal' sort of existence.
A remarkable falling out is occurring on the right of the political spectrum. Elon Musk has said Reform UK needs a 'new leader' because Nigel Farage 'does not have what it takes'. The X owner posted the tweet on Sunday following days of headlines over his comments about the historical grooming scandal that took place across UK towns and cities more than a decade ago. Although Mr Musk is in agreement with Mr Farage and the Conservatives that there should be another national inquiry, a dividing line has emerged between the tech billionaire and the Reform leader over the former's support for jailed activist Tommy Robinson. Shortly after Musk's post, Mr Farage said: 'Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.' On the Laura Kuennsberg programme this morning, ex Labour Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, was remarking how anyone could take Elon Musk seriously when he is arguing that Labour Minister Jess Phillips should be in gaol and Tommy Robinson (extremist right wing populist)should be freed. The fact that the world's richest man who is directing the world's largest social media company in a vitriolic campaign against Labour government leaders should be massive concern to all of us. But even Kemi Badenoch's Conservative party rump cannot resist the temptation to come in on the side of Musk who is making as direct an intervention into UK politics as it is possible to make.
© Mike Hart [2024]