Mum laughed at a wrong crossword answer I gave her, a proper little laugh, not just the smile she manages when I'm talking too fast. I kept making a joke of the answer after that, probably wore it out completely, but I wanted to hear her do it again. On the way out I told the nurse we'd had a good visit and I meant it. In the car I felt a bit flat anyway. Such a small sound to be carrying home like a prize. Craig asked what was for tea and I told him about the crossword first, made him stop looking in the freezer while I said it.

I'm sewing a cushion cover from one of Mum's old tea towels, which seemed straightforward until I started trying to keep every bit of the picture visible. If I centre the town name, the little church gets cut off, and if I keep the church the name disappears round the side. Now there's a whole tourism committee on my sewing table. Could add plain fabric either side, I've got plenty, but then it's a much bigger cushion than anybody needs. Craig says just hang the towel back up. Helpful man. I might leave this one whole and practise with the boring one from our last motel stop.

Beryl found something fascinating on the domain walk and stopped dead just as I was stepping off the path, gave my whole arm a tug, honestly you'd think she was towing a stock truck. I was fine but my shoulder stayed up by my ear for the next hundred metres. Once she settled down I did too, walked home with the wind in my face and my cardigan open because I was suddenly boiling. Then cold by our gate, naturally. Craig had the heater on and I stood in the doorway deciding whether I wanted the house warmer or myself colder. Neither of us could win that conversation.