We calculated our debt this morning, when I say we I mean Jamie who for the past 14 months has been able to finally manage our debt without drowning in interest since we transferred 6 grand of high interest debt to an interest free credit card. Basically putting it to one side while we pay the rest off that accrued little or no interest, it made Monday morning feel a little more bearable knowing that in two pay checks time we will only have 5 grand of interest free debt that has a couple of years grace on it allowing us to either throw everything at that or just put £230 per month towards it for the duration and just allow it to be paid off a month the before the interest kicks in!

We may celebrate if that actually happens?

Finally got a chance to go in me shed this afternoon and have a crack at making a step for Jamie to use to get in and out of her plunge pool. She had not asked for it I just had the idea when I saw Kath put a rickety looking bench out for the scrap man and thought the cast iron legs were perfect they just need the wooden laths replacing and it would be perfect to help Jamie using her pool.

Anyway I spent all week wondering if I was good enough to be able to make something that was not only practical but looked great too. It was my first time using hardwood (I always use pine) and just wanted to make it “perfect” in the end the laths were edges routered, marked and drilled then countersunk to accommodate the bolts. I applied 3 coats of clear varnish & bolted it all together and I think it looks OK?

Talking to me dad tonight unpacked how dependant he had allowed himself to become on Liz and how helpless he is when she is not there. He said how pleased he was with himself changing his own Stoma bag again even though he has been capable of doing it for years! He doesn’t know how to wash clothes because he has never used the washing machine so had to ask for help eventually getting Lizs daughter to do it rather than learn… He is managing to feed himself by eating left overs from the weekend at the rally they were at when she had the first heartattack.

I never want to burden anyone especially if I am fully capable of not burdening anyone!

Got some worrying news late last night that Nannie Liz had been taken to hospital in an ambulance with chest pains, after returning from an engine rally. Obviously our main concern was if she was going to be ok so first thing this morning I called me dad to ask the question, his reply stunned me but not for the reason you would think?

“Hi, Dad how is she?”

“I’ve no idea!”

“What do you mean you’ve no idea?”

“I’m sat here waiting for her to call so I can go and pick her up!”

“What?”

“They said they would call me, and let me know what’s going on, so I’m just waiting”

“Ffs Dad she might never call because she can’t, and they are not going to call you, here’s Leightons number give them a call and find out what’s going!”

Oh my fucking god I looked at Jamie who was open mouthed, as stunned at what she just heard as I was.

I said there would be NO-WAY I would have left your side nothing would have kept me away and he’s sat there waiting for his fucking breakfast?

He called back later and they had told him they were keeping her in until they had done more tests which was good so he knew what was going on and he could go and see her at 3pm

Later he rang and said “Are you sitting down, Liz has had a heart attack!”

I was like No shit sherlock but just said “Oh dear, she in the best place, they’ll look after her , now you need to go and see her to make sure she has everything she needs!”

It was like he was totally incapable of sorting it out himself, he then said I’ve managed to change my Stoma bag myself for the first time ever, Liz has always done it. It made me think she’s been his nurse maid and no wonder she’s had a heart attack what with looking after him on top of mauling the caravan and packing up the engine in 32deg heat. It was the hottest day I have experienced for a long time and found it difficult to motivate meself to do anything and I am not 77 years old, yet.

I have been WhatsApp’ing Liz since as I feel I get more sense out of her and she seems to be on the mend although “I had a couple more episodes over night” does not sound great. Hopefully they will get her on some good meds that manage the situation and she can go home at some point but for now she is where she needs to be. I do feel that me dad will struggle more than he should because he has allowed her to look after him rather than doing stuff himself

I hope they’re both OK and get through this but it’s not going to be easy for either of them?

Having bought the wood yesterday and chopped to length I screwed it all together today in really great weather!

I went to see me Mum first and it was already warm and I just thought it was about time we had some nice weather and this was a Bank Holiday so we could enjoy it. I sat outside in the sun talking to me mum for an hour or so until it was time for me and Bill to make our way back home.

It didn’t take too long to screw all the parts together since they were already cut and Lincoln and I delivered to my cousin Ann’s where we met May her new puppy a Goldador