We take a gamble...

I had a better night's sleep, but was still achy this morning when I got up at just past 6am. Way too early! I sat and watched a recorded programme of Human, which was very interesting, but I fell asleep again, much to Keith's amusement!

Sophie and I were going to go to Olney today, but we postponed the outing as Mum was still in hospital. I knew that the news I received on Thursday was too good to be true. We mooched about, feeling a bit miserable, but cheered ourselves up by booking our overnight stays in Portsmouth and France for next June.

Even the weather was dreary outside today, and at 1pm we left to pop to Mawsley shop and then the hospital. I bought Mum more drinks, some chocolate, and a box of Celebrations for the daughters of the woman next to Mum, who had been keeping an eye on her, as a gesture of thanks.

We parked easily and had a quick coffee before making our way up to the ward. Today, my Mum looked the worst I have ever seen her, with a vacant expression in her eyes and a rambling way of talking. She wasn't on a drip, but she looked like she'd gone downhill again. She made no sense at all, and Sophie went to find a nurse who said she had a urine infection but could go back to the care home tomorrow, which was good news at least.

Sophie found the whole experience deeply upsetting, so we left and went home. She was upset by how vacant my Mum was, but I said that was down to the infection, and with antibiotics, she should be better. My Mum's problem is her lack of eating and drinking, which has caused problems in the past.

We went home and relaxed in the kitchen with Keith. Sophie made us a delicious banana-flavoured cocktail with Rum and lemonade, and then looked at houses for next April, which will be her 30th birthday. After a lot of consideration and a message to the owner, we booked an Airbnb in Wimereux. Her birthday falls on Easter Sunday next year, so we'll need to get the shuttle booked quickly, as it will be the beginning of the Easter holidays.

We also, amazingly, took a gamble and reserved a room at a hotel in Vienna for May, to see the Eurovision Song Contest. We have no idea whether it will be Vienna that hosts the contest, or even the date, but we've booked anyway and can cancel without penalty. Phew! We should know more details by next weekend!

Dinner tonight was chicken burgers and potato wedges served with salad, and we settled down afterwards to watch a new crime thriller set in the South Tyrol area of Italy, called Pale Mountains, on Channel 4. However, half an hour in, none of us were enjoying it, and so we switched it off. It certainly wasn't in the same league as The Shadow!