Sunday 20th December
Daddy Bear doesn’t know. All he knows is he hasn’t been sleeping in his own bed. Or rather not in the same bed for a while. Last Tuesday week (seems a lifetime ago) I was still in the house in France. Or let us be a bit more explicit, the old house (though we only bought it three and a half years ago) in France. Then the day after, the Wednesday, we signed for the new house and like excited children and even though it was late at night we slept in the new house, with new sheets and duvets on the old beds. And mine was a bit lumpy, so I will need an under duvet or a new mattress. It was Market Day on the Thursday so up at six; opening the Café by seven and serving a few regular market traders. I flew back to England that day and train to Liverpool Street, and eventually to Walton late on Thursday night. I was there for two nights and came back to London on Saturday evening.
Slept in the London house for four nights, went to the Restaurant for a half day’s work and visited my two daughters (delivering Christmas presents) and saw 4 of the Grandchildren. On Wednesday my wife drove us to Walton (makes a change from distraction) and we had one night there. Funny how easily we seem to have slipped back into our old regime even if it is nearly a year since we did this. Back to London on Thursday but then to Alfreton on Friday, delivering more Christmas presents and a chance to spend time with my son and granddaughter number five. One night in Alfreton and then an early train to Sheffield to see my three eldest grandchildren, and another train back to London on Saturday.
But it doesn’t stop there – to Wales on Saturday evening (my wife has an old family house there) and we are planning to sleep there for two nights before returning to London. And on Sunday we will be back in France. Whose bed I will sleep in is anyone’s guess….