Essington Evening

We had a lazy morning, before heading into Birmingham for a consultation on Mrs C's neck after last year's car accident.  It was fascinating to return to a location I had not visited for almost 40 years when, working as a student for Birmingham Council, I'd seen vast areas of Small Heath and Bordesley Green's housing stock improved in wide ranging schemes.  It was a great time working in local government, where money was available to improve properties on a street by street basis.  The so-called 'envelope' schemes were designed to add 30 years to the life of properties, by replacing roofs wholesale and bringing the properties up to a good living standard.  It took up almost all of our environmental health officers time, overseeing and monitoring the work.

Then it was a quick rush back to the local crematorium for a funeral.  A lovely lady who had lived next door to my wife's grandparents and aunt.  She and her family were very kind to her relations, helping to make sure they could continue to live in the home, acting as quasi-carers in their later years.

After all of the sitting around, I went out for a walk in the evening, which thankfully was the best part of the day.