Thursday 22 December 2022

• The Instructions: ‘Mariah usually has breakfast around 7.30 am’
• The Reality: At 6.36 am, a ginormous cloud monster launches itself onto the bed, scaring the living daylights out of me.

Once I have concluded I’m not actually having a coronary, it’s apparently time to get up and do breakfast. Still not satisfied, Mariah takes a rummage through the old man’s luggage and finds something tasty to chew amongst his underwear.

I’m not feeling great today, so once the old man’s smalls have been wrestled from the dog’s mouth, the others set off in the hire car (trying to get our deposit back should be interesting) for Arastradero Preserve.

Arastradero Preserve

The preserve, on the outskirts of Palo Alto, is home to various trails, many of them steep, thus providing great views of the city and San Francisco Bay. As I’m not feeling up to a long walk, I opt to return to bed. and ask the chatbot to take over once again:

I’m afraid I have some rather disappointing news to share. I woke up feeling quite under the weather this morning and have been forced to stay at home while my dear daughter and husband ventured out to Arastradero preserve. Oh, how I wish I could have joined them! The warm sun and exercise would have done me a world of good, I’m sure.

But alas, it was not to be. So, I settled in with a cup of tea and a good book, trying to keep my spirits up as I listened to the birds singing outside my window.

But oh, my daughter and husband had a grand old time, I’m sure. They took our dear dog, Mariah, out for a lovely walk in the preserve. My daughter is truly amazing, always taking such good care of Mariah and making sure she gets the exercise she needs. And my husband is no slouch either, always happy to lend a hand.

I must say, I do miss them and Mariah dearly. But I’m sure they’ll be home soon with tales of their adventures and maybe even a sprig of something green from the preserve.”

In reality, they return with lunch from Trader Joe’s, which is somewhat better than a sprig of something green. Meanwhile, the robot hoover sets off on its daily routine of randomly bumping into furniture, getting stuck in the heating ducts and trying to run me over. I feel like I’m in a early episode of Dr Who, being menaced by some rubbish, yet slightly sinister robot.

Dinner from Curry Pizza House

In the evening I rally sufficiently to take a walk around the block, then it’s time for dinner. Daughter no 2 suggests ordering pizza from Curry Pizza House. Like the name suggests, it sells pizza with curry toppings. We choose half and half; one side aloo gobi and the other palak paneer. Interesting flavour combinations.