Across the hills

Tuesday
Today, Roger and I went across the hills to visit my brother and sister in law, Peter and Judy, who live in Dore, on the western outskirts of Sheffield. We had hoped to take Bernard with us for an outing - I know he’d have enjoyed the scenery from the latter part of the drive, and we thought it would be nice for him to have some different company. When we had first brought it up a few days ago, he had said a tentative yes, however by yesterday he had changed his mind. He seems to be getting very sensitive in his advanced years (95), to his forgetfulness and physical limitations, with people outside the immediate family, and because he hadn’t seen Peter and Judy for a long while, he felt happier staying at home. The weather brightened as we crossed the hills to Sheffield, and the latter part of the journey in particular was really beautiful, with the rolling hills, dry stone walls, fields of sheep and old barns and farmhouses. We had a coffee when we arrived, and then went out for lunch at a nearby restaurant, and enjoyed a lovely meal. We stayed talking the rest of the afternoon, and left about 5.30. As we drove back, it started to drizzle, which had become a bit more persistent by the time we got back. We went back to Bernard’s to make sure he’d had something to eat, and stayed to keep him company for a few hours. His neighbour from across the road, another Roger (!), and a fellow elderly widower, had popped by for a chat at some point during the day, so he’d had some company. I’d hoped we’d be able to take home out somewhere tomorrow, but the forecast calls for more rain! So we shall have to see. Otherwise perhaps we’ll have to start another puzzle!