Saturday was an ‘up’. My young friend and I took a stroll
around Greys Court, near Henley.
Nestled in a tranquil valley this picture-perfect place is full of delightful
surprises. Some days the smell of home baking in fills the air in Lady
Brunner’s kitchen
As it was a lovely day, we wandered around the gardens,
bursting with the delicate blooms of springtime.
And, to one of my favourite places in the garden – the site of this full-size
wooden carving of a faithful retainer.
I painted a picture once of this kindly old man and entitled
it ‘The Good Gardener of Greys Court’. Eventually, after walking round the
grounds, past the Chinese bridge …
… we entered the wide wood. Just like a scene from ‘The Wind
in the Willows’ except that it wasn’t wild on Saturday. It was covered in bluebells.
So that was our Saturday ‘up’.
Currently I’m working flat out on my 24-page catalogue and
brochure for my exhibition. I’ve finished the design. It includes over 50
pictures, and nearly all the text has been written.
Luckily I’m ahead of myself because now I have to talk about
a ‘down’. Last week I saw Mr Ladas, the surgeon, in London. (He’s the man who
performed my lung cancer operation two years ago.) Unfortunately the Pet-scan
showed that the cancer has returned to my lung. It hasn’t spread – which is a
good sign, and all other organs are in good nick. But this time the tumour is
in a difficult place as it has attached itself right on the main blood vessel
to the lung. Half-an-hour ago I was told that I have to go to the Royal
Brompton Hospital in London next Monday evening for a major operation early the
following morning.
So keep your fingers crossed tightly. I’ll probably be in
hospital for a week or so. and I know my young friend will be there for me.
We
have planned to spend the weekend in the West Country, where on Friday I’m
giving a short talk in the evening, after the opening of the Hilliard Miniature Show.
Next day, on to Devon for two days. It’ll be nice to relax
then and hopefully put the imminent operation out of my mind temporarily.
I probably won’t write a blog for a couple of weeks, unless
I dictate a few words to my young friend.