Denise produced a vast Xmas Lunch which we ate with Philip & June from next door. Like June’s, effort last year, there was a mixture of ‘proper’ Xmas food & vegan items, for Denise & June to graze on. There were various vegan options among the veg, which were all very tasty. We still have some bottles of Gewurztraminer left, as Avis & I have more or less given up alcohol. These will come in at Xmas 2024, as it is June’s turn to do the Xmas Dinner.

Denise has hardly left Flat One in our St.Peter’s Street house because the poor dear has been suffering from the ‘menopause from hell’ amply documented in the frequent e-mails Ken exchanges with her (but see below). Far from providing us with assistance, Ken runs around, fetching her medication from Prem, our local pharmacist, who is keeping all of us alive. Fotunately, Ken now has ample experience in the care of sick women & it makes him feel useful.

We did a there & back the next day visit to Alyson, making a mistake on the way, which resulted in finding that Belper is a lot bigger & uglier than we realised. Ken had forgotten his canera, a pity as, in the “Globe” Alyson’s friends Anne & Geof were there, together with daughter Lois, who inherited Avis’s Print Shop. Denise was not well enough this year to join any of the trips to see Alyson, much to her regret.

This time, we booked in for two days but this will be the last time at the “Norfolk Arms”, as Avis finds the stairs rather challenging, worse than at home. Alyson’s gang, Anne & Geof were there. See the picture at the bottom. Alyson’s elder daughter Amy has a new boyfriend & it looks as if they are setting up house together with Amy’s two boys. We gathered that Amy’s first Mother-in-Law is very nice & helpful.
The next day, Alyson, who because of her health conditions, is quite a petrolhead, took us for a drive in the Peak District, the weather being kind to us for the whole trip. The road works were not, so bad that we went M42, M40 back. This was out of our way but we knew what the M1 was like.

Ken still gets Avis out to Caffé Nero after home lunches but now, Ken has to drive her in the car, depositing her in the café, then hiding the car in Resident’s Parking. Then, he has to collect the car when we need to come back & pick her up from outside the café, taking about 3 minutes & a Penalty Charge Notice. The first time this happened, he wrote the usual letter explaining Avis’ problems but ignoring the further PCNs which are arriving. This has only been a problem since early October & we have yet to see the outcome. Blue Badges ought to give total immunity from traffic restrictions, as disabled people need to park where they need, when they need & for as long as they need.
At the University of the Third Age, they have recently acquired three wheelchairs, which has made all the difference to Avis’ ability to be moved around. While it is hard for Ken to push her up Haverstock Hill from “Chez Nous”, the Turkish Restaurant, at least it saves time. The U3A has what Ken calls an Alpine Rally, disabled access ramps & Ken causes amusement, as he takes a run at one to be sure of having puff left by time he gets to the top.