My chair came back yesterday. It was actually quite a scary day, and rather exhilarating at the same time, because I was supposed to be in Chester by half four, and it still hadn’t arrived at lunchtime. I was using a seriously underpowered one lent to me. I also had a meeting t half one concerning my continued support.

So, we had to leave the loaned chair in reception while we went to the meeting, in the hope that my own chair would be delivered in the meantime. Luckily, it was, and after the meeting – about half two – I had to bomb it down into the village centre, picking up my stuff here of course. From there I got the 20 to Crewe, getting into Crewe bus station just in time to see the bus to Chester depart. 4.30 was then unachievable. However, I had a list of contacts on my lap, and I asked a friendly bus driver to phone Charlie to tell her I was going to be late.

Charlie then asked him to phone her when we got to Chester so that she could come meet me at the terminus. About 90 minutes later – between 5.30 and 6, I think – I was in Chester bus station, and quite soon after that I saw C come round the corner. The joneses don’t live far from the city centre, and I was soon once again at the burrow eating beans on toast.

Charlie and her sister poppy then changed – c wore one of the dresses she got in Paris – and we drove to the school where charlotte teaches. It was a very good concert; Charlie is extremely good at getting choirs into shape, of course, but I must admit the highlight was an amazing piano solo by a young person whose name sadly escapes me. The talent this girl had was quite astounding – I have seldom heard a piano being played like that, let alone seen it.

This morning, having told homecare I wasn’t going to be home, I stayed in Chester. Charlie suggested we have lunch together, and after that we walked together back to the bus station. The trip back was uneventful, if slow due to the early rush hour, and I got back here about an hour ago. I still have a lot to organise – getting to Onevoice on Saturday for one thing – but going to see friends, under my own steam,, boosts my confidence. I see such trips as essential: not only does it help me maintain a very dear friendship, but it reminds me how much I can do, and have yet to do but haven’t yet tried.