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Post date: 08-Jul-2018 18:35:23
As you can imagine, we've all been very worried about Wayne - and Dean. To make things worse, Barbara Major (Wayne's mum) rang us after we were all kin bed last night to tell us that their van has been vandalised. It’s nothing very serious, just some rather unpleasant words scratched into the paintwork, but unsettling nonetheless. She waited until Dean was asleep before ringing us, because she wasn't sure whether he had noticed it and she didn't want to add to his worries. As it turned out, he did know about it. The scratches appeared while the van was parked at the Science Park on Friday. They didn't bother reporting it because they thought it was just par for the course - apparently homophobic graffiti is nothing new to them, which was rather disconcerting for us to hear.
Jonah insisted on going round to inspect the damage and then he ordered Anna to get a forensics team out to check over the van and someone to go to hte Science Park to look at the CCTV footage for Friday. He's convinced (or he's pretending to be convinced in order to justify getting involved!) that this is evidence that the car hitting Wayne was more than just an accident and that it's linked to the other homophobic attacks that he's investigating.
Lots of people at church asked after Wayne. They'd heard about the accident because I'd rung to let them know that Dean wouldn't be able to play for the service this morning. It's a bit awkward, because I rather fancy some of them weren't aware that they're married and thought that they are just business partners and old university buddies. Lucy has been putting some of them right rather forcefully, which may not be the best way of going about things! I did my best to keep he occupied looking at the photos of the Cowley Road Carnival, which were displayed in the entrance foyer. Stella Gilbert looked very smart in her Police Cadet uniform.
Father Damien was also anxious to know how Wayne was doing. Jonah and I missed out on Mass this morning, because of going over to Cowley to see the van, but Peter and Lucy went. They lit candles for Wayne and Dean - goodness knows what Wayne would think of that if he knew! Father Damien had already heard about Wayne's injury through the hospital chaplains' bush telegraph.
This afternoon we went punting - finishing up with a strawberry tea on the banks of the Cherwell. Jonah would have preferred to go into work, but we insisted that there was nothing he could do to help further the investigation. He gave way and made a big show of practising being retired! There are only 3 weeks to go now. I' not at all sure he's going to cope.
The good news is that the doctors have brought Wayne out of his coma and he's conscious again. Barbara tells us that he's still very confused and is finding it difficult to speak. He also seems to be paralysed down the right-hand side. We're all hoping that this is just temporary, but only time will tell.