A bit of a dementia crisis this week. I forgot our wedding anniversary on the 8th. I do have a whiteboard for reminders, but I can’t remember where I put it…
I was forgiven, and Moonpig came to the rescue with a big card showing us cutting the cake, using my late father’s RAF dress sword. Such a good service.
We had a great day, as Alex didn’t forget. He came over with his wife Anna and their son, our beloved third grandson, Harry. He had chosen a donkey card for us, and Anna brought a lovely potted plant. Harry then met some real donkeys, which was a triumph.
Clem did a FaceTime from Saudi Arabia. That was lovely. She and Brian are fine, despite the war. She has been very impressed with the Saudi air defences, just as well, as within hours of the now rather precarious ceasefire, they heard reports that missiles could soon be flying overhead.
Our heating oil supplier phoned to confirm a delivery time and quoted the latest price, it has nearly doubled. I hope Rachel Reeves knows that…
I woke to John Healey saying that three Russian submarines had carried out a “covert” operation above cables and pipelines in the Atlantic, north of the UK, lasting longer than a month.
That reminded me of my RAF childhood and visiting my father’s great friend Noel Archer when he was at RAF Kinloss. At the time, it was home to Coastal Command Shackleton aircraft, a beautiful machine, like a cross between a Lancaster and a Halifax.
They patrolled the North Sea, watching Soviet activity. They were eventually replaced by Nimrods, based on the Comet, not quite such a triumph.
Our old TVS/ITV boss, Clive Jones, drove down from London to take us out to lunch, which was wonderful. Even better, he brought his son Harry, my godson. He is a Buddhist and, until recently, lived in a monastery in South Wales.
He now lives in Stoke Newington and works as a teaching assistant in SEND, Clem’s area of expertise, so I have put them in touch.
Alastair Stewart: These were my first signs of dementia
| GB NEWSI asked if he had found a Buddhist temple. He said no, but he has been going to Quaker meetings, which give him joy. Anna’s parents are Quakers too, so that was doubly nice to hear.
We have always talked openly about faith. Clive said we were lucky to have lived through and been part of the good times. He also thought the American owners of Sky might try to buy ITV, which could be difficult for ITV News.
We also talked about Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson. We all agreed that “Mandy” looked to be in serious difficulties, but Andrew would probably escape.
I do enjoy listening to people who care deeply about their faith, whatever it may be.
One of Sal’s best friends is an Orthodox Jewish woman, and on a charity trip to Chad, our guide was a brilliant young Muslim. I still remember our conversations very clearly.
In my own case, learning about the Reformation in a Catholic monastic school may have been a slight drawback.