Maureen continues to make good progress. She arrived home two weeks ago walking on two sticks but is now getting around the house unaided. The bruises on her body - which made me wonder if they used her for all-in wrestling practice at some stage in her treatment in Aberdeen - are now disappearing rapidly. Maureen's "warfarin" dosage is still being adjusted necessitating weekly trips to the surgery for blood tests; one handy side effect of this is that Maureen's needle phobia is almost cured. And one friendly crofter has assured me that if we should run out of tablets then he has some "really good stuff" that he uses in his outbuildings. Maureen's physiotherapy regime includes enforced hourly rests during which "she must have her feet elevated four inches above her heart for ten minutes" - it is just as well that Maureen was a PTI in her younger days! Linda Smith and Margareth Richards, the two island nurses visit once or twice a week and George McKay, our GP, calls in from time to time as he travels to or from the surgery. George and Linda are both avid "cat" people and I think they really call in to see Surrey on the pretext of checking on Maureen's health. We've been asked if we require the assistance of a "home help" but so far we have not needed this service; I now know the location of the on/off switch on both washer and drier and Maureen is gradually resuming her "household duties".

Last week we visited Malcolm & Sue Addison (Matilda's owners) at their croft on Rothiesholm. They have six cats, three dogs, one nine-week old Welsh ram (called Max) plus various ewes, cockerels, hens, geese and call ducks (half-size ducks). Max the ram and Matilda the hen were brought into the kitchen so we could be 'formally introduced'. One of the dogs is due to have puppies next month and we have been promised one of the litter; I'm not sure what Surrey will make of this new addition to the Fletcher household but I am sure that Surrey will be the 'senior pet' who takes charge.

Today (21 May) is bright and sunny. We were entertained by the spectacle of two one-year old sheep (a "doctored" ram and a ewe) being walked across the road from David & Barbara Brightwell's place to that of our next-door neighbour, Bob Taitson, a teacher at Stronsay school. The sheep are now happily 'mowing' Bob's large lawn which had become a bit overgrown since Rocky's departure.

Last updated 21 May 2005