Friday 21st July 2017

One of Mum's very bad days for pain, particularly on her right side today. She did well to get out twice - once for coffee and cake at the local garden centre while the cleaners were here, and then for a cod and chips lunch at Sainsbury's in Stanway. I still can't see any pattern to it, so it's hard to answer Mum's questions about what's causing such pain. I feel so useless being unable to help.

I've been chopping back some ivy on the corner of the house this evening, once again getting bitten by something that likes the taste of my blood and to which I seem to be allergic. I swell up quite a bit wherever the bites are - it even managed to bite me on the bum through my jeans!

I haven't enhanced the colour of these poppies - they really were that vibrant. Hard to get a decently crisp image, as it was so windy today.