Sunday

Awake

I woke around six, closed my eyes and found two hours had passed. That was a shock. I went for a shower once Loved One had finished her morning routine in the shower. I stepped on the scales, but they said the same as yesterday, which was annoying.

Walk

We took mum and Dad for a stroll around Keston Ponds. The idea came to me last night as it is a place that I have not been to for a very long time. It helped that Mum and Dad passed the entrance on the way to their many and varied hospital appointments and had thought about going in.

Fishing

We walked around the first pond. It was covered in water lilies that were just about to bloom. Swimming between the lilies were moorhens and ducks. We took the path down to the second pond where the fisherman gathered to attempt to pull carp and pike out of the water. Most of them were not having much luck, pulling up trails of waterweed rather than fish.

Pond

We left Dad on a seat by the second pond so that he could advise the fisherman, and carried on to the third pond. This one was a designated conservation area, no fishing was allowed. We could easily spot a large number of big fat carp lolling about in the open water, unafraid of being hooked by the fisherman in the upper pond.

Butterflies

We met a woman who was doing a butterfly survey as we walked slowly back to the car. She was happy to chat about the butterflies that she had seen and noted down. She gave us a coffee shop recommendation.

Coffee

We stopped at a café on the village green. The place was almost full, but they found us a table upstairs in the cool. We drank our teas and coffees in the cool whilst the people outside sweltered in the heat. We debated eating there but decided not to.

Pub

I took the long way home so that we could visit a pub that I had frequented in my youth. I had a vague plan to stop their for a bite to eat. I had checked online the previous evening and it all looked promising. I was dismayed when we rounded the corner after traversing many narrow lanes and negotiated road space with horses and bicycles that the pub was closed and covered in scaffolding. At least the life size sculpture of the white bear was still outside.

Lunch

Mum and Loved One combined force to make a small salad for lunch. It was a good way of using up the cheese that we had brought with us. After lunch Mum and Dad needed a rest. I was happy to sit on the sofa in the lounge and finish a magazine.

Stroll

Loved One wanted to be on the move again so we went for a short stroll along the road at the bottom of the woods behind my parents’ house to see if we could find the building work that was going on. We could not find it nor anything that looked like building work. We assumed that the noises that could be heard from my parents’ house must be coming from further away.

Drink

We stopped at the local bar for a quick drink and a chat with the owner. My childhood next door neighbour was also there. She seemed pleased to see me. We caught up on the news from the intervening years such as her mother dying in Brisbane and the death of another neighbour before we said our goodbyes.

Dinner

Mum made a roast lamb dinner for us all tonight. We sat on the patio with a drink or two while the oven worked its magic.

Television

Once all the clearing up had been done we settled in front of the television to watch a crime drama that my parents enjoy.

Friday

Hot

It was a hot and clammy night. I woke up feeling damp and sticky. I blessed the gods of plumbing whilst I had a shower.

Breakfast

Today was my last day at work for this company. We celebrated with a full fat breakfast in the canteen. It seemed rude not to.

Exit

I had the exit interview just before lunch. It was brief. I didn’t feel the need to plant hatchets as I knew it would do no good. Instead I chatted about a few things that I have found infuriating over the years.

Dinner

I went to a local pub for a meal with a friend. It’s probably the last time I’ll see her, something neither of us wanted to say.

Cake

I finished my time at work by having tea and cake with another friend. It seemed the right way to finish the last hour of the last thirteen years.

Leaving

I handed my laptop and peripherals into HR, wandered down to reception, gave in my passes and keys then walked to the car. That was it. Chances are I’ll never be back.

View

Loved one and her friend had been wandering around town looking at the slights. We all bundled into the car and I took there for a mini tour. The first stop was the top of the downs. The whole of the weald was laid out before us in wonderful clarity.

Pond

Next, we visited a pond. It was a very peculiar colour and very cold. Apparently, it stays at the same temperature all year. An impressive fact but not very picturesque.

Pub

We passed by a few chocolate box villages before deciding to stop for a swift beer. We found a country pub and sat in the sun whilst watching all human life pass by. We had a brief chat about the things I’ll miss. This sort of thing will be one of them.

Stir-fry

We finished the evening at home with a stir fry. We were all too tired to do anything else.