Fairfield Connecticut and Stratford, Connecticut Preparing for a Colonoscopy; Shopping; Meeting a Friend for Tea in Stratford

Sunday, October 4, 2026:

Fairfield Connecticut and Stratford, Connecticut

Preparing for a Colonoscopy; Shopping; Meeting a Friend for Tea in Stratford

We awoke today on Long Island in the home of our friends, Doreen and John, in Syosset as we had spent the night with them after our bountiful diner at their place last night. And because we lazed and had a lie-in, an equally bountiful breakfast was awaiting us when we went down to the kitchen table. Doreen, John and Llew were chatting away by the time I joined them.

Breakfast with the Bellomos:

Breakfast was a vast buffet all laid out and kept ready for us. Homemade warm muffins just out of the oven; granola, sausages, cheese, preserves, coffee. It was a breakfast fit for a king and we ate well. But not wanting to linger too long as it was D-Day for Llew (the prep day before his colonoscopy tomorrow), he was keen for us to get going as we had medications to purchase from the CVS Pharmacy in Westport where his doctor had called the prescription in.

Off to Southport, Connecticut, with One Stop in Greenwich:

Again, with me behind the wheel and absolutely enjoying the sensation of driving on the Long Island highways, we made our way home. We made one swift stop in Greenwich, Connecticut, to pick up something I had left behind at our friend Swapna’s house yesterday after breakfast with her. Well, we did not stay long—a visit on horseback and off we went again.

En route, we stopped at the CVS in Westport from where Llew picked up the medications he needed as well as a large carton of apple juice (from Stop and Shop) as he would be on a strict clear liquid diet for the next 24 hours. As anyone who has had a colonoscopy knows, the medication involves very strong laxatives and so he needed to stay put at home for the rest of the day. I did not feel the need for lunch as my breakfast had been so substantial and Llew could not eat anything anyway. And so, I left him at home and went out to do some more shopping at TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshall where I love browsing for items that serendipity might throw up. I did pick up two red crystal glasses and was very pleased with them. They will look stunning during Christmas.

Tea with a Former Colleague from Fairfield University:

I had enough time then to drive u to Stratford to the home of my friend, Elizabeth Petrino who used to be my colleague at Fairfield University and became a close friend as the years went by. She had hoped to be able to meet us for dinner but when I explained how tight our schedule was, she settled for tea at her place with just me as Llew was out of commission for the day.

It was a lovely reunion as I had a chance to meet her, her husband Tom and hers son David, an engineering student at Fairfield University. Of course, when Liz and I meet, we simply chat our heads off as she is always so full of the exciting academic and research projects in which she is involved. David and Tom joined us at the dining table that was groaning with a variety of items that made a meal in itself: there was a magnificent raspberry strudel from a local farm stand, plus focaccia bread and cheese and cookies and pickles (that she was so keen I taste as they were also from the farm stand). Well, of course, everything was delectable and I could not resist eating all that was put before me.

But then, it was time to say goodbye (hopefully, until next year), to wish them all well and to promise to stay in touch via phone calls. So off I went in my car and in about twenty minutes, I was back home again. Llew had fared quite well in my absence as he continued to take his medication and drink his apple juice. I did not need to eat any dinner as I had eaten quite enough food all day, thank you!

We’d have an early-morning start with Llew’s colonoscopy scheduled for 8 am tomorrow—and so we made an early night of it as we ended another fruitful day.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…