Sunday 8 December

Slept with my leg on a pillow all night. Quite stiff and painful in the morning. Decided not to go to church but to get up slowly and have a shower and then remove dressing and see how it is. Mike didn't go to church either but he did go off to Barnes at 9. Leg looked a lot better and although hole still quite deep I decided to leave it open to the air as it was drying up nicely. Took suki for a walk then set too getting lunch ready and setting table. Lorraine helped all day. She made pumpkin soup and mulled wine both of which went down very well. I put suki on a lead round me when first people arrived and she turned positively angelic - hardly barking at all when the others arrived and then just lying sweetly in the dining room while they practiced handbells. The lunch itself went very well - roast lamb followed by chocolate cheesecake and mini mince pies from Abel and Cole and fresh strawberries with cream. Lorraine did all the washing up. Took suki out when they had gone and then the chiswick handbell ringers came round. Alley turned up again so I rang accidentals. He is still struggling but mike seems determined that he should ring 9-10. Alley and Monica stayed on for a drink and I got to bed about 10.45.

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