I have so many things to say, but I have no time in which to say them.

I’m hoping to have a little time on Wednesday to catch up, if I don’t I may end up waiting until after France, which is just crazy.

Perhaps I just cover last Friday, then I’ll cover the Ice Cream Tour later on. My sister called very upset on Friday morning. I called her back and tried to help as best I could. It left me feeling very odd, I wanted to be able to do more for her. I presume everything calmed down because I haven’t heard from her, but at the same time, I haven’t heard from her. I had to leave after 45 minutes to go to a doctor’s appointment, Weasel stayed on the phone with her for hours after that. The distance is difficult sometimes.

My appointment was the follow-up with the ENT. I knew my hearing wasn’t great beforehand, but I thought it was just waiting to calm down still. Turns out the grommet is blocked now too. Thankfully, my symptoms that prompted the placing of the grommet are still gone*, but I’m about 30% deaf in my right ear. He said we could swap the grommet out or wait to see what happens. I opted to wait since getting the grommet in the first place cost us £719. I have to inhale steam twice a day and I have nose drops again. I have to go back again in September if my ear isn’t clear to the point that I can hear a wrist watch ticking when I hold it to my ear.

* My teeth would ache when I exercised. I could hear my heart beat all the time. 24/7 non-stop thumping. Both are gone with grommet in place.

I went into town after the doctors and bought two new shirts, a few pharmacy things and some things at Lush then went to Borders and wandered around. I spotted Jasper Fford’s new book and gave it a loving stroke then moved up through the store. I went back to it twice before I left. I sooo want it. But I really cannot justify spending anymore money this month. So I shall order it on my return from France.

It doesn’t help that a small part of me wants a Nintendo DS. Weasel bought one last month and her friend very kindly lent her New Super Mario Bros. and I’ve been playing it. Mario 3 was the only video game I was even a little bit good at. This has elements of all three Mario games all mixed together with some excellent new bits and I’m so enjoying it. The part that wants her own DS, is thinking that Horatio and Weasel both have one so we could play games together on it too.

I keep fretting about trip to France as well. I’m never sure what to pack even though I make loads of lists beforehand. Plus I’m going as a guest so I’m not in control of much and it is very frustrating for me. I’m doing my best not to get worked up and if I do get worked up to use that energy to add to my list and plan further. For example, I was worrying about having enough to read. I have the new Harry Potter book saved and ready to go, but I’ll need more for 10 days. Doodle recently lent me a book by Meg Gardiner saying it was the first of a series, so I’ve arranged for Mal to take the books with her to work on Wednesday and I’ll stop by and pick them up on my way home from the gym. I also plan to do two batches of laundry on Wednesday so I can be sure to have all the clothes I want for the trip.

My knee was very angry at me today, which scares me slightly. It is fine for everything except cycling. It was very unhappy about the whole pushing the pedal down and the resistance. I ended up in a ridiculously low gear going much slower than I wanted. I don’t know the exact speed though because my cycle computer isn’t working. I took my bike to the shop last week to be checked over before I took it to France and they must have knocked something because it hasn’t worked since. I can’t see anything wrong with it so I’m buying a new one in France. I digress, my knee had better be happier tomorrow or I shall be very grumpy indeed.

Have important video game [Ico on PS2] to play with my wife now.