¦ dialling in from Jesus Mound ¦
09:50 GMT, Monday 22nd June 2009. Sitting up on the sofa bed in "dads" room. Laptop on a big Readers Digest world atlas that's resting on my thighs, legs outstretched, one foot crossed over the other, I can just see my big toe poking out above the screen of the laptop. Beyond that, some open space and then the muslin drapes covering the square-latticed French doors that lead out onto the vast decking. The partition with the neighbours has a break in it, creating a continuous boardwalk effect, into their garden behind their house. I'll be walking along there in about 8 minutes, for a game of "Fury Of Dracula" with Pete, after I've thrown on some big Norwegian slippers... currently wearing a white T-Shirt come pyjama top, and a thick white towel wrapped around my waist to conceal those nether bits.
*pauses to sip dregs of cooling mug of tea*
It's been a great weekend and I'm glad I took an extra day off work to stay for today.
I flew up on Thursday night, straight after work, and got here only five minutes after Jo, who drove up. She'd tried to glimpse my plane coming in as she barrelled up the M1 Motorway but never saw me.
Friday was mum's birthday. Quite probably her last but I didn't dwell on that. A big gathering of old friends and a sumptuous feast of food created by my sister for the event: she never fails to blow everyone away with her preparation and presentation. It was like old times. The drinks flowed. The conversations punctuated by laughter. Just a lovely lovely time.
EDIT (12:02 GMT), I'm back from next door. I kicked Pete's ass. His Dracula was trapped in Athens with storms raging the oceans around his position, and my hunters flooding South from Sofia and Bucharest. He was staked through the heart.
Saturday evening was a meal with my sister, her partner, Jo, myself and mum. A swanky restaurant in Jesmond. Very nice.
Sunday morning Jo left early so she could partake in father's day things with her vast family in the South West. Sunday afternoon saw my sister, her partner, myself and mum walk along Jesmond Dene road to the amazing Jesmond House Hotel for a spot of Champagne afternoon tea, at £25 a head... pricey but delightful and indulgent. So much bloody cake and coffee I started getting palpitations from the sugar rush; then walked 7 miles just to try and burn off some of the massive calorie intake.
In between these social moments, I spent all of my time here in the house, writing up Baruch's Burden, or out walking, zigzagging the ancient streets of Jesus Mound, building up a sweat, burning off cals and zoning out into a state where I'm walking whilst lost in thought. Some great ideas percolating around inside this skull of mine. I should finish Baruch's Burden today. I've decided not to make it a freebie, so will make it available through LULU.
Generally mum has maintained the great gusto she got from her radiotherapy and steroids... she's been on a non-stop rollercoaster of entertaining guests and family who are all flocking to see her and spend time with her, now that time may be short. She's got another guest arriving today, for a week, and then in two weeks she and my sister are coming down to Bristol for a week in Cornwall with Jo and I... mum said she's always wanted to see Cornwall.