blighty

Most of the end of last week passed in a blur as I was focussed mainly on my trip back here, to Morden, South West London, England. My home town, where I was brought up and lived from age four to about age twenty five, the family home that Darren and I left when we got our own places, that mum left when cancer got the better of her, and where Dad now lives as a different flavour of cancer does it's best to evict him.

What little there is to report from last week is that I did no running, having somehow managed to give myslf a permanent cramp-like-ache in my right big toe. | suspect this was a by-product of defensive walking, walking I had done in me new sandals to protect my blistered little toes from more rubbed agony. Whatever it was, my big toe hurt like hell so I cycled to and from work. On the home front Sal organised the revolving door policy of dog minders, neighbours and friends who would be keeping an eye on the boys and trying to make sure they do not go too feral when our backs are turned. Strict instructions were left that they should be allowed to get away with no more than they do when we are there. Lord alone knows what we'll get back to.

The last time I flew to London from Sydney my left ankle became swollen and so it was again this time. I have, once more, a cankle. The last time I went on to run a marathon, and this morning I ran for a bit over an hour, so I suspect no nastiness, just a general bodily pissed-offness. C'est la vie. I have no idea how to reconcile my dual needs of walking around the aircraft cabin and getting as much sleep as possible. Anyway, feet up, literally, when I sleep tends to sort things out.

Darren and Ruth met me and Sal at the airport, which was very nice of them, especially as we got in at a little after six on Saturday morning. From there we caught the bus to Ruth's place where we would be based for our time in Blighty, her place being a few stops on the bus from Dad's, where we headed after the obligatory cuppa and introduction to the landlasy, her two dogs and Ruth's two cats.