14 March 2010

It's hard to believe it's been over two months since my last posting, but a lot of things certainly have happened.

The best news is that when I saw my lung oncologist Dr Podd on 26 February, an x-ray, a physical exam and recent blood tests showed no advance in either the lung or breast cancer. Dr Podd is determined that I have a sunny holiday somewhere abroad, but we'll have to see about that, as I still have enormous quanitites of paperwork to deal with.

The other good news is that Willa arrived here on 5 February for a five and half week visit, and I can't say how wonderful it's been having her here and doing a bit of visiting around the countryside with her.

The house is still on the market and I have received an acceptable offer, but it depends on the sale of two properties that have to be sold together, and who knows how long that will take. A couple of people looking for an investment opportunity are visiting again next week.

I have decided that it is sensible for me to buy an apartment in sheltered accommodation (red pulls in every room in case of emergency) as soon as I can arrange it. There are two for sale in Needham Market that the whole family have seen and okayed. I will be reduced to two bedrooms, plus living room and kitchen, but I have had enough of responsibility for a large house and garden. Needless to say, there's a lot of stuff to get rid of, but I'm working away at it. Come soon if you want to visit 77 High Street again!

I continue to struggle with a number of details to do with Roy's business, but Mike Hancock of Classic Hand Tools, a friend/businessman who let the shop for a couple of years, has now taken over Roy's stock of new books and plans to market them as Roy Arnold Books. And Dominic Winter, an important book auctioneer in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has agreed to have a dedicated sale of Roy's seemingly innumerable second-hand books and catalogues later this year.

Willa and I recently had a great weekend in London with friends and the whole family were here over the half-term week in February. We also had a long weekend in Manchester (Willa shared the driving with me). Kate and Chris came up this weekend to help me with a small gathering of Needham people for dinner last evening. They did all the cooking, and Roy would have approved of the quality and quantity. For dessert we had the last of the frozen Morello cherries that Roy had stoned, served with Kate's meringues. They are taking Willa back with them this afternoon to Woking and will deposit her at Gatwick very early tomorrow morning.

Emails, obituaries and notes about Roy keep arriving from all over the place and all periods of our lives and are greatly appreciated. Hope to hear from some of you again soon.