We went to visit Fred yesterday.
He's in a nursing home in Ditton Priors in Shropshire.
He's well enough considering the rough time he had at the beginning of the year, but he gets tired quickly and I think he's resigned to the fact that he won't be able to look after himself in his own cottage any more.
The staff at the home are friendly, and if their hospitality to visitors is anything to go by, they will make sure Fred is happy and comfortable.
It's good that they have allowed him to festoon the walls with his collection of horse brasses. He spends many a happy hour with his tin of metal polish making them gleam.
I think "young Fred" is getting more visitors than the rest of the residents put together, but old friends will always be welcome there.