What I've been reading

The Power and the Glory
by Graham Greene

narrated by Andrew Sachs

"In a poor, steamy and barren Mexican state, the Red Shirts have gained control, outlawed God, and murdered priests. But one still lives, the whisky priest, who is on the move, trying to escape his executioners."

From all the books by Graham Greene that I've read I think this one is the best so far, perhaps alongside 'Travels with my Aunt' (which I read a very long time ago as one of my first audiobooks and remember thinking that this is a great medium for fiction). First of all, I understood nearly all the plot, also most of the references to Catholicism, and why the priest is under threat and how he responds. In his other books I haven't really got it.

The Other Bennet Sister
by Janice Hadlow

"In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable."

This wasn't bad and I quite enjoyed it, but it was about twice as long as it needed to be, unlike this review.

Death Comes for the Archbishop
by Willa Cather

"In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief."

It took a while to get into the style of the book, which is a series of vignettes about the lives of these two priests in the incredible and wholly unfamiliar setting of 19th century New Mexico. I enjoyed it very much.

A Taste for Death
by P. D. James

narrated by Daniel Weyman

"When the quiet Little Vestry of St. Matthew's Church becomes the blood-soaked scene of a double murder, Scotland Yard Commander Adam Dalgliesh faces an intriguing conundrum: How did an upper-crust Minister come to lie dead next to a neighborhood derelict of the lowest order?"

Many say that P. D. James is fine writer, and it's true that the writing is good, but somehow I don't find her characters plausible. I'm definitely able to distinguish all the players and their places in the scene (helped by the expert narration), but there's something not quite right. She tries to draw the human relationships between the police characters but they don't feel real, and the suspects seem even more like caricatures. But at least I could follow the plot and reach the end and understand who did it and why, even if the finale was unnecessarily melodramatic.

The Martian
by Andy Weir

"Mark Watney is stranded on Mars. If the Oxygenator breaks down, he’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, he’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, he’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, he’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death."

It kept me gripped to the extent that I had to carry on reading past my bedtime, even though I'd seen the film and knew the ending. It would have been a full success except for the amount of technical detail. I suppose it could be described as the author's style, and in a way I'm glad he included all the calculations he made about litres of liquid oxygen required to support life and how much power a solar panel could provide and therefore how many he would need for 3200 km travelling at a rate of 80 km per day powering his oxygenator and water reclaimer and so on. But I admit that while a small part of me would have liked to go over the calculations to understand them, I skipped all of those paragraphs. This isn't often true, but I think in this case the film is better than the book.

The Human Stain
by Philip Roth

narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris

"It is 1998, and in a small New England town an aging Classics professor, Coleman Silk, is forced to retire when his colleagues decree that he is a racist. The charge is a lie, but the real truth about Silk would astonish even his most virulent accuser."

I've tried a few authors now but I don't much enjoy 20th century American writing. I imagine it's because many of the cultural references pass me by - this book is set during the scandal of Bill Clinton's impeachment, which I was certainly aware of at the time but didn't really feel the societal shift that this author refers to. The secret at the heart of the book doesn't touch me as much as I think it would to someone immersed in US politics and living in that society.

From the plague pit

Archie, April 2022

I still have Covid. I don't know how long this will take.

The food delivery was fine although the delivery guy took a big step back when I told him I had Covid. He took my bags, shut the front door and transferred the stuff, then rang the bell again and I just carried it in.

Archie the bundle of Labrador energy arrived on Saturday and departed on Sunday. He is very young and hasn't got very far in his training because his foot injury halted progress - the foot is now better - and he didn't like me being out of sight at any point. He had to respect a closed door, but sat outside it until I emerged. We spent some time playing with a toy until I got tired, and then he just ran around with it on his own. We went for a short walk towards the ice cream shop, but I discovered they have reverted to selling indoors so didn't feel I ought to go in. Archie didn't think I ought to meditate either, in fact I had to give up after the third time he sat on me. Despite the lack of ice cream and meditation, Archie and I had a good time together.

Archie has not been the only visitor to Lola Towers. A friend who likes to go for motorcycle rides when the weather is good chose to come in my direction on the sunniest day of the Easter weekend. As we sat in the garden I told him about the ice cream disappointment, and he offered to do the honours so I got my ice cream after all. Another friend came with the lawnmower part that I requested so I could mow the lawn. I nearly asked for another ice cream, but it was a bit early in the day and seemed presumptuous when he'd already bought me the lawnmower part.

In refugee news, I have put up the smoke alarms (I chose to use sticky pads in the end) and sent pictures of the alarms and also the Gas Safety Certificate to the District Council Housing Officer. The Disclosure and Barring Service have sent me the Enhanced Certificate which I have filed away as I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do with it. And my guest has sent word that her Permission to Travel has been granted, so now it's just a question of getting her here with or without her cat, which may have to go into quarantine.

Dead, Alive, Not Very Well?

The Burial Mound at Adhisthana, April 2022

I have Covid.

I'm certain I caught it from the four Buddhists I took to the station at the end of my weekend retreat on Monday - they were at the same venue on a different retreat. Ah, Buddhism, reaching out into the world to end suffering and spread compassion and disease for the benefit of all beings - oh, wait...

After I got back home from the retreat on Monday I had an evening online meeting which was fine, then woke up on Tuesday feeling exhausted and with no appetite at all. I thought the fatigue may be a result of the retreat, which had been wonderful but very intense and emotionally stirring. I did a Lateral Flow Test, which was negative, took the car to the garage, came home and waited for the gas engineer to do my gas safety check and give me the certificate I need for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, collected the car from the garage, drove to Rugby where they were doing the Disclosure and Barring Service checks of documentation for the Homes for Ukraine hosts, and continued to feel incredibly tired. I decided to skip the local Buddhist meeting in the evening, just in case. It was the lack of appetite which really indicated something was wrong!

By yesterday I was definitely worse, with a pounding headache, temperature of 101.5 degrees F and still no appetite. I cancelled the trip I was due to make to London to meet sisters and stay with parents, and lay about the house in a fog of tiredness. I watched a very easy movie (Disney's 'Soul') but had to pause it in the middle to have a rest, and spent the rest of the day lying on the sofa doing little but listening to music and some light reading. My appetite started to pick up later in the day as I started to sneeze. 

I still managed to attend an online meeting last night, hosted by Warwickshire County Council all about being a local host in the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They have some experience with refugees from Afghanistan and Syria so seem quite organised. I am regularly in touch with my guest via WhatsApp, and her application for a visa seems to be progressing as they now want to see my passport.

So today I did another LFT which is most definitely positive for Covid. Thankfully my appetite is back and the headache and fatigue are gone  (making this blog post possible), but sneezing and congestion have taken their place. I have now had to order my very first online supermarket delivery - I must be the last person in the world to enter the 21st century of food delivery. I like walking around a supermarket.

I've had to cancel a number of Easter weekend visits though - the gas engineer highlighted a small problem at the gas meter so we contacted the infrastructure people to fix it and they were going to come on Friday, and I'd arranged to meet friends on Sunday and Monday. I am also due to look after a dog from Saturday to Sunday, but when I contacted Guide Dogs we decided that as I wouldn't be going inside the kennel building or meeting anyone at all, that could go ahead. The dog has got a problem with his foot so won't need a lot of walking and we can be invalids together.

Meetings

Riverhill Himalayan Garden, June 2021

In order to host my Ukrainian refugee, I have been visited by the District Council housing officer and found deficient to the tune of two smoke alarms and a Gas Safety Certificate. I can't believe how close to death I have been for the last 20 years here without such essentials. Anyway, I ordered smoke alarms via the Warwickshire Fire Service website, and noticed that a local company was offering to provide the gas certification for free for people signed up to the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The alarms have arrived - now I have to decide whether to do the proper thing and screw them to the ceiling, or make it easy on myself and use sticky pads.

Buddhist film night at my house went very well apart from burning the popcorn the first time round when a visitor distracted me by turning up very late indeed. They did bring delicious tortilla, and the second round of popcorn went well so they are forgiven. We watched the film Galaxy Quest, and one of the guests declared that he had come for the company and wasn't expecting to enjoy the film at all, but in fact it was really good and he was going to get his whole family to watch it.

I have been to two local meetings about the Commonwealth Games, which it is now clear will cause significant disruption in Leamington and Warwick and in my road in particular. One meeting was in the Pub Next Door and led by two of the local people who have been liaising with the Games Organising Committee about our three streets. Up to now they have been bound to confidentiality, but details have been worked through and there's now a much clearer idea of what residents will endure. It's likely to be so difficult that one of our two liaisons has decided to move out for the duration of the event.

The other meeting was for all residents of Warwick and Leamington, which was very carefully referred to as Royal Leamington Spa by all the officials throughout (one of them stopping to correct herself after saying just 'Leamington'). As well as the men's, women's and para bowling here in Royal Leamington Spa, the men's and women's cycling road race will encircle Warwick. In attendance were people from the District Council, the County Council, the West Midlands and Warwickshire Police services, the Organising Committee, Transport for West Midlands, and a handful of residents.

The cycling road race will prevent a lot of people in Warwick from getting in or out of their homes by car, but will only last for a single day. The bowling will remove 60 car parking spaces from our three roads for about a month, which is a great deal less time than was at first proposed. We have now seen the plans for where those cars might go, and how we will gain access to our properties, and when we can't - twice a day, lunchtime and evening, when the anticipated 2,400 spectators for each session will be leaving the bowling venue. I'd love to see the ticket sales, because based on my experience last summer I'd be surprised if they sell half that number.

The local group is doing a good job of speaking up for residents, and the Organising Committee is leaving it pretty much up to us to work out how to manage the restrictions. While most of us won't experience more than mild inconvenience, arrangements for people with Blue Badges, with young children or who are visited by carers need to be a bit more thought out, along with some allowance for people doing a weekly shop, deliveries, tradesmen, etc. One resident in the most affected road has added to the disruption by selling their house and potentially needing access by a removal truck during the month in question. For me, having a garage, it shouldn't be too difficult. For my guests, however, I might have to do a bit of homework.

Refuge

Angus, March 2022

As ever, there's been a lot going on. I went to visit a friend yesterday who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has been receiving constant chemotherapy ever since. We sat outdoors to minimise any risk of infection, and it was freezing, and he asked what I've been doing, and it took a very long time to tell him. 

The most interesting bits include: 

• finding a new care provider for dad, and arranging for assessment of needs for both parents
• looking after trainee guide dog Angus again
• spending a day at the international badminton in Birmingham
• welcoming my cousin from Seattle and giving her a tour of Lola Towers and Leamington along with Lola II and Mr M
• a very interesting visit to the periodontist
• lots of Buddhist stuff as usual
• a new project, as if I didn't have enough going on...

The care provider and Assessment of Needs

The old care provider told us that they were stopping at the end of March, and mum asked me to help find a new company. We rejected the most enthusiastic and responsive and helpful company because they were charging twice as much as others (they are still calling me to find out how we're getting on), and another couple of companies that I contacted failed to respond at all. I hope we have ended up with a satisfactory replacement, but time will tell. 

The Occupational Therapist carried out the Assessment of Needs a month ago, wrote a report with the wrong names in it, submitted it to the Borough and was told that two separate reports were needed, one for each person, so she wrote new reports and submitted them a week ago, with the corrected names (we are told).

Angus the trainee guide dog

I have looked after Angus before for a weekend, but this time I had him for nearly a week. For three of those days he was at school being trained, so I dropped him off in the morning and picked him up again in the evening - on these days he was pretty tired in the evening. On three other days I was looking after him all day, and on those days I was pretty tired in the evening. He is really affectionate though, and I was prepared for his mischief so everything that could be picked up was already put out of his reach. I loved having him, but the hair! So much hair!

The periodontist

I have been having teeth and gum problems all my life. As a child transitioning from baby teeth one of the new teeth erupted from the centre of my palate and had to be removed under general anaesthetic. Four teeth were removed in my teens and I wore full metal braces for a couple of years to straighten those that were left. I've been seeing my current dentist ever since moving to Leamington 20 years ago, and we haven't yet found a way to reduce the infection and inflammation affecting my gums, which has led to one molar being lost about three years ago. The current orientation of my teeth mean that the upper and lower jaws meet only on the back molars, and even there the contact is not flat. What this means is that chewing is difficult, I don't have any sort of bite, and I have pretty much constant discomfort when eating anything tougher than soup.

"A dentist treats the teeth, gums, and other areas of the mouth while a periodontist only treats the gums and the bone supporting the teeth. Orthodontics is a specialism within dentistry that focuses on straightening your teeth and making sure your bite is correct."

The periodontist I saw was a very nice man who reassured me that I am by no means the worst case he's seen and is confident that things can be improved. Unfortunately the treatment (that I've now agreed to) involves two lots of surgery under local anaesthetic and will take about six months altogether. This should then lower the risk of my teeth falling out as they are moved about by the orthodontist to improve the bite.

Offering refuge

So what is this new project, as if I didn't have enough going on? Well, Ukraine. It is horrific to see what has been going on there, and along with many others I have donated money and wondered what more I could do - could I accommodate a refugee? Looking at the process laid out by the UK government where you volunteer your services and are somehow matched with a stranger, I was uncertain whether I could trust the scheme. But on a local message board I saw that a Leamington resident who is from Ukraine was offering to put potential hosts in touch with people she knows, so I got in touch, and she sent me details of a friend - a young woman who would also like to bring her cat. So I said yes.

My main concern was that she might be traumatised and not speak English and need more support than I could easily manage. In fact she has been studying for a Masters degree in psychology, works as a software developer and speaks English very well indeed. She and her parents had to move from where they lived in the Crimea in 2014 and ended up in Kyiv, from where they have now fled to Poland. She filled in the online form, and although I expected a long wait I have already been contacted by my local authority to carry out the checks that are required to make sure I'm the right sort of person and have suitable accommodation. So we're moving forward quicker than I expected.

Everything else

What with all of this I've done almost nothing for Mr MXF this month, but I've been in touch to offer some time next week when I haven't got a dog and the care provider should be in place and nobody's visiting - except there's the visit from the council officer and two local meetings about the Commonwealth Games and the usual Buddhist stuff...