Well they only went and done and did it!
Drove for 4 hrs in splendid self isolation to see them cycle to the the finish. 1051 miles in 15 days – what an amazing feat!
Then had to sit in the car with them for another 4 hrs whilst they emanated a few days of “honk” from their cycling kit…..
Back home for a celebratory gin and tonic/Prosecco/home made “hairy bikers” chicken, ham and leek pie.

So far have raised £1500 from amazingly generous donations.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sarah-monkman

Thanks, all!

As corona virus mayhem starts to set in and there are reports of panic food buying and stockpiling, I’m beginning to think there may have been some sense in “ ‘im outdoors’ “ obsessive hoarding of unused emergency expedition and deployment ration packs which he has been allocated over the years. Perhaps I have been a little churlish in constantly moaning about them taking up a large proportion of my pantry and regularly threatening to take them to the dump.

 

Just arrived back home from another couple of days in the student house whilst senior daughter went back to RVI to have her cast removed and her leg inspected, stitches removed, wounds prodded, leg manipulated and recast – causing much wincing from both her and myself.

Experienced a fracture clinic which worked like clockwork with everything happening as planned, no waiting and seamless transition from plaster room, Xray, consultant and physio.

The NHS at its best and I will say it again – RVI Newcastle, you rock!

There’s nothing like sharing accommodation with a number of lithe limbed, clear skinned, wrinkle free, bushy tailed, hangover proof, 20 year olds to highlight one’s own advancing years, haggard face, fading features and sagging extremities.
Had a delightful time listening to tales of their exploits, told as only they can – through the prism of having just discovered life, getting drunk, partying, repeatedly losing wallets, ID, phones and a little of their dignity but enjoying every minute and being immensely cool.
Amused them by regaling stories of my own misdemeanours at 17 upwards with the added benefit of no social media to haunt me into the future and earning a little bit of respect for being perhaps quite cool myself once upon a time in the far, far distant past.

Cooked the house a full on Sunday roast – Pork with crackling, gravy, roasted veg and celeriac mash – which was consumed with gusto by all the sylph like creatures and fulfilled my mothering needs.

I’m a happy hen.

Excellent and challenging day on the river Deveron yesterday paddling from Turriff to Banff. Storm Dennis skirted this part of the UK and we had brilliant blue skies with (pretty sporting!) gusts of wind up to 58 knots. Spent part of the time being blown back up river when the wind came towards us and remainder of the time we where whisked along by the bloated and hurrying water with the wind at our backs, giving us an extra oomph. When the gusts caught our paddles they threatened to overturn us and we were constantly fighting with the wind/current to avoid going in circles.
An otter crossed the river right in front of the lead kayak – which unfortunately I didn’t see. We saw a large crowd of whooper swans in a field, and one loner in the river which, as we approached, spread its huge wings and water-pedalled furiously between us as it performed its take off manoeuvre, lifting off just as it passed me. We startled a Highland coo which was lazily paddling, causing it to lumber up the bank, casting doleful glances behind it.
We saw six herons take off simultaneously and attempt to fly upriver over our heads, but which remained stationary above us, flapping stoically and stubbornly but making no headway until they banked and whisked rapidly off to either side.
We picnicked in a cosy fisherman’s hut whilst the river rushed past and the wind buffeted about us, rattling the roof and the door.
A perfect day to unwind from the events of the previous weeks.
Senior daughter, slowly healing, was meanwhile ferried in style, reclining amongst many cushions and blankets, in the back seat of the car, by ‘im outdoors and junior daughter to a lovely coastal pub for a slap up lunch.

Think the pressure of being in the student house is getting to me.
Just had an odd dream about being trapped on Love Island for 24 hours in my scrappy dressing gown, with unwashed hair and no make up, being the token mother figure, doling out sage advice to the beautiful but feckless inhabitants.

Small finds in the student house continue to amuse me.

The sheer density of the crusted on toothpaste in the wash basin.

Paddling in a vast number of empty shampoo bottles which have been discarded in the shower cubicle

Random bits of dirty washing decorating the stairs

And today finding that the washing powder scoop is, obviously, a shot glass

Sitting in senior daughter’s bed on the top floor of her student house whilst she is in hospital.
This morning, whilst feeling at sea before we visited her, I exorcised the fridge, which was starting to evolve new life forms around its contents.
It is now clean, sparkling and quiescent.
Today I couldn’t resist buying a new washing up brush, and have designs on mopping the sticky kitchen floor tomorrow.
Junior daughter and I had a really lovely day by her bedside on the ward.
We have chatted, laughed, eaten soup and sandwiches, grapes and chocolate, drank tea and played scrabble, gin rummy and “shithead” (I think – another card game).
She is feeling better, her pain is under control and the sight of the external fixation pins and bolts together with the bloodstained pillow supporting her pinned heel has become quite normal.
We stayed for 7 hours and the time flew.
Hoping the definitive fixation surgery will happen tomorrow
Junior daughter is at present ensconced downstairs, drinking wine, surrounded by her sister’s housemates and an ever thickening cloud of cigarette smoke, and I have retired to the attic to watch Netflix.
Life is good.
Family is everything.

Would like to give a public THANK YOU to the wonderful A&E staff, Orthopaedic Trauma team on ward 22 and staff of ward 42 at RVI Newcastle who have been looking after senior daughter who is presently an inpatient with a broken leg.
Very grateful and impressed by the care, compassion, communication and expertise.
You are fabulous.

From an extremely grateful Mum