Walking in the city

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Dot and Barbara discuss the next Philosophy4Children session

Another longish walk today, as the air gradually gets colder and the weather people warn us of a weekend of snow and ice. Dot really wanted to walk on the beach, but was dissuaded by tales of bitter winds retailed by her aunt Jess who, at North Walsham, is more than halfway there. To the coast, I mean.

So instead we walked into the city, had lunch at the Forget-me-Not Cafe (pâté and toast) and then proceeded to the bank to pay in a cheque, then on to St John Maddermarket, where we happend to meet Kevin Maddams driving a van – a coincidence made sharper by the fact that I had a cheque for him from St Augustine’s (for a Developing Consciousness ad in his magazine, Outline).

After a spot of reminiscing Dot and I proceeded up the hill to Pottergate and on thence by an unusual but interesting route to The Avenues, where I put a cheque for St Luke’s through Nik Vitkovitch’s door. By this time Dot was showing signs of tiredness, so we made for Unthank Road, and a bus home. About four miles’ walking in all.

For those worrying about my eye (see last post) I can reveal that the sore has miraculously vanished, or dropped off, as we light sleepers tend to put it. Meanwhile Dot is in the midst of Philosophy work. Last Sunday she and Barbara drove to Dudley, stayed the night and then put on a session for a local primary school, from which the feedback was uniformly brilliant. They got back to Norwich at around 7pm on Monday, and by tracking them I had managed to cook them a meal which was almost on time.

Barbara stayed the night, and the next day they were off again, this time to Thurton (a bit nearer home) for one of a series of sessions there. Our weekend with the Coomes will extend to Monday because they are meeting in North London to do another session at a school in Leyton. I will probably leave for Norwich earlier in the day and then pick Dot up from Metfield in the evening, snow permitting.

I have been slightly less mobile, managing only a trip to Paston to look at Pater Stibbons’ new (supplementary) Paston website and learn how to work it. Lucy took notes which she was going to send me but hasn’t yet, perhaps mainly because she has been to Papworth today for a technical medical problem. Instead her daughter Naomi has been in touch, asking if we know anyone who could accommodate a friend at UEA. I passed it on to Nicholas to announce at church on Sunday.

At a smaller-than-usual Tuesday Group I assayed toad in the hole, which was very well received. I quite liked it myself. Meanwhile I have written to Maureen Basford, keeper of the Harlestone burial records, giving her more details of the Archer family. She seemed interested. I must get back into looking at my family history and sorting out what I’ve discovered, which I believe is quite a lot more than I remember.

I should also mention that I have now responded to all the Christmas messages I can find, be they small remarks on cards or parts of much longer and more detailed epistles (with pictures, in some cases). I am also participating with Joy McCall in a tanka series, which is not so full of liquid as you might imagine.

Kingsize duvet and epiphanies

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Maryta, Amy and the Henderson dog

Yes, we made it into a new year. Oliver and Amy survived well, right up to midnight, with the help of various games and quizzes. I felt surprisingly coherent the next morning, and we were all up and about when Paul and Maryta Henderson arrived not long after 11am, staying for a light lunch of salmon and new potatoes before heading to darkest Suffolk and leaving Paul’s glasses behind.

David and the children left at about the same time, heading in their case for the M1, where Vicky was meeting them to transfer the children and take  them to Nottingham. We tracked David’s car on a convenient App. The house seemed very quiet when we had cleared up.

During the next two days we were recovering, and in my case working on the church accounts and returning Paul’s glasses to him, which prompted a phone call from him praising our grandchildren, which is only right; eventually the weather changed, becoming dry. I was developing a rather sore growth on my eye – or to be more accurate, the small growth on my eye had become sore, probably because I had damaged it while rubbing my eyes.

On Friday I went to the dentist and got a clean bill of health as far as my teeth were concerned. I then popped in to John Lewis’s, where Dot and Anne were having tea and scones. Dot and I then ordered a kingsize duvet because she hasn’t been sleeping too well and suspects duvet slippage. This of course also involved new pillowslips and duvet cover. These we took away with us, but the duvet cover had to be ordered online and delivered to the shop. We ordered it online at home and picked it up yesterday afternoon before going for a healthy walk around Whitlingham Broad. One way or another, Dot was determined to get a good night’s sleep – and did.

Between the scones and the duvet on Friday Dot and I ran into Rita, of Al and Rita fame, who we hadn’t seen for years. Unsurprisingly, they have just been converting a barn, but it will probably be their last one. She was in fine form.

Today I preached again at church – this time on epiphany and epiphanies – with Liz Day leading. All went well until Judy noticed that the collection box was missing. We could only assume that a man who had been loitering in the doorway had snatched it while we were praying. Nicholas wanted me to tell the police, but instead I put a notice on Streetlife (a local online site) and warned Carrie that there might be a thief about.

Dot and Barbara left for Dudley just before 3.30pm, and as I write are in the Birmingham area. I walked up to the church to make a thorough search, but without success. I then called in to see Phil and Joy and return Joy’s glove, which we found in our car. (We had found the other one a couple of weeks ago, but this one suddenly materialised.) I used Walkmeter to measure my walk, and the other App to track Dot and Barbara. Isn’t technology wonderful? Until someone starts tracking me, of course.

The sore growth on my eye seemed to crack in the night and spill blood. It’s much better now. Don’t read that last bit if you’re squeamish, like Dot.

Key in the safe, and silver missing

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And so we inch up to the end of the year – quite slowly, in fact, as it’s not far off 11am, and I’m the only one downstairs. Of course we all need the rest. We haven’t been venturing out much because of the inhospitable weather, but there has been plenty of action indoors, mainly connected with gadgets of one sort or another, but occasionally new games invented by Amy, plus bursts of Carcassonne, Dixit and Coppit. Very pleased with my iPhone4, and Dot is rapidly becoming part of her iPhone5.

We had a particularly nice evening meal yesterday, which turned into a game of I-Spy and lots of laughter. Earlier we’d been to see Auntie Ethel, who noticed that the children had got much taller. She noticed this many times during our short visit, and tried hard to get us to eat something, but as we’d just had a sizeable lunch, no-one could be tempted. She seemed quite well physically.

On Sunday Amy was much exercised as tho whether she should go to church or not, but in the end decided against. So Dot and I went on our own. I preached a sermon on how we are liberated by being forgiven. Slight consternation when we discovered the key in the safe door and the silver missing, but in the end it turned out that Nicholas had placed the silver elsewhere and forgotten to lock the safe after the Midnight Communion on Saturday. Ho, hum.

On Saturday David and the children had been planning a visit to the Coomes at Bishop’s Stortford, but Jane rang early on with the news that Alistair had been ill or night, so this was abandoned. I spent quite a lot of time writing my sermon, but the others played a lot of games and amused themselves otherwise. Oliver and I also prepared a quiz for tonight. I hope I can remember the answers.

 

Rain all the way

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Oliver, Amy and David at Caddington with a selection of Christmas presents

The journey to Coventry and back on Sunday went very smoothly – not much on the road, and a temporary  let-up from the rain. Arrived back in Norwich shortly before David arrived from Caddington. Christmas Eve saw the traditional visit to Waitrose to pick up the turkey (and a few other things), following which we dropped in on Heather and Simon with their presents. Weather damp and unprepossessing, and it continued that way as Dot and I made our way to church for midnight communion, leaving Andrew asleep and David in bed.

Phil, Dot and I had a brief rehearsal in the hall for our playing of Silent Night, for which we had taken a revolutionary approach and learned to play it without written music. The old church was pretty full for the service (over 100, I’m told), and we also had a small choir, which was excellent. I did one of the readings, as Howard was ill. Afterwards I had to take down and put up notices on the gates, then lock the gates for Boxing Day (legal requirement). It was very wet, and this took some time, with Carrie S waiting to take the keys away so that she could open up on Boxing Day morning.

Christmas Day dawned – well, wet again, and the food was delicious. I was also spoilt by the number and quality of presents, in addition to my new iPhone4, which I had bought off David who, together with my wife, now has iPhone5. All very gadget-orientated, and even more so the following day, when we travelled to Caddington to meet the grandchildren, who were delivered by Vicky and Julia. There the children opened their presents, and we had a late supper, after which I travelled north to deliver Andrew back to The Langleys. Again, the weather wasn’t too bad, but there was a lot of traffic on the M1. Happily, however, no hold-ups, and I was back by 9.45pm.

We all stayed the night in Caddington, and returned to Norwich the next morning, when, amazingly, it was wet. Even wetter, in fact: heavy rain all the way, with very low cloud, only relenting marginally when we reached Norwich. Dot and I were the advance guard, and I was quickly down to Budgens, and then Tescos, to procure various items, including a trifle for Amy or, as it transpired, David. Played a lot of games after lunch, and after tea too.

Today it has been slightly less wet. David went shopping for children’s clothes, and Dot and Amy went to Morrisons and Hobbycraft, whence Oliver and I had to meet them because they had accumulated so much stuff. This afternoon it was Coppit (oh yes it was), and now we are about to tackle what looks like a very appetising toad in the hole. Amy has also put together a new year Victoria sponge, with a little help from Dot.

The end of Battlestar Galactica

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About to leave for Coventry to pick up Andrew, who is joining us for Christmas. After a very wet day yesterday, it’s dry here at the moment, and the forecast for this part of the country is OK (unlike the south-west, where there is flooding). The car should be OK, too as we had a new headlight leveller fitted on Thursday (another very wet day). I waited for the work to be done and managed to write a piece for my website in the garage waiting area, which was useful.

On Friday Julia Higbee popped round in the morning, and I went into the city in the afternoon to finish off my Christmas shopping. Started by dropping off cards to Jude and Maggie Bird, so it was a bit of a circuitous route. But all went well. Yesterday Dot spent most of the day cooking meals for Christmas week and I spent much of it feeling sorry for myself, as I had some problem with my intestines, but I think that’s improving. More uncomfortable than anything. Jonathan called in during the afternoon.

We ended up on the sofa watching the end of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, we finally made it. Not a bad ending, though I have to admit I had got a bit fed up with many of the characters. A bit too much introspection, perhaps. However, it was all very clever and resolved a lot of things which seemed irresolvable. I think it was impossible to resolve everything.

Knee-deep in the season’s activities

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David and Bridget Archer – providers of fish and chips

I think Christmas is here. At least, we seem knee-deep in all the activities associated with the Christmas season, and a few others too. Not much time to stop and think since my last post.

On Friday we had the traditional Archant pensioners’ Christmas lunch in the traditional hotel, with the traditional rain outside. Quite a pleasant meal: sat with Su, Brian and Julie Bedson, and we were joined by new EDP/EN editor Nigel Pickover, who was his usual expansive self. I have to admit that I quite like him. I said this to Su, and she retorted that I liked everyone, which is not true but a nice thing to say (I think). I was served tea by my first cousin once removed – Lewis (Kitsune Le’) Lenton, who is Mark’s son, an artist and a bit out there. Still, he was tuned in enough to introduce himself, which was nice.

In the evening of the same day we went to a drinks and nibbles evening at the vicar’s. I spent much of the time talking to Melissa Snell: we are very much on the same wavelength, except that she is in love with Bolivia. Also spoke to her husband Simon and to Margaret Comerford. Quite an odd evening, because there were many people there who I didn’t speak to at all. Dot struck up a conversation with a teacher who may have persuaded her to join a music group where she will be able to play her violin.

On Saturday Dot and I went to see Norwich beat Wigan 2-1. Go0d match, which we deserved to win. Our recent record is now second only to Barcelona in the top five European leagues, and we’re eighth in the Premiership. Ran into Peter Franzen (former EDP editor) for the second day running, which is a bit excessive. Weather was not too bad, but I wore lots of clothes, just in case.

Sunday saw the usual Christmas event at St Augustine’s, designed and organised by myself. We were pretending in a rather halfhearted way to be a radio programme, and there was some appropriate dialogue as well as carols, readings and poems. Everyone was very appreciative, which is the nice thing about St Augustine’s. It was followed by our Christmas meal: most people contributed, and it was very good.

Sue and Roger Eagle came round for lunch on Monday: they are really good company, and we have much in common. Had far too much to eat and have been feeling overfull ever since. As a result decided not to go to the Christmas chess event; flaked out and watched a bit of Battlestar Galactica instead.

It was all go yesterday, and fortunately the weather was fine. We started by picking up Dot’s glasses from Little Plumstead school (her gloves are at Barnham Broom, or possibly Diocesan House by now) and then drove to North Walsham for tea and sausage rolls with Jessie. We then proceeded to Sainsbury’s and bought flowers for the cemetery, from where we moved on to Sheila’s. She seemed pretty well, though a little vague on some matters. More sausage rolls, and a mince pie too. From there we went to Rosie’s, where we had ginger wine. Rosie is in quite a bit of pain with her back but is as determined as ever to carry on doing what she always has: in this instance making 175 wreaths for customers and friends.

In the evening, and far from traditionally, we had Tuesday Group fish and chips, supplied by the Archers but eaten at ours. The usual suspects tucked in enthusiastically. Added excitement was provided by Ian, who had locked himself out and spent much of the evening trying to contact his sister, who has a key. Eventually the Archers gave him a lift to Cringleford, where said sister lives, and deposited him there. It was unclear whether he was staying or whether his brother-in-law was going to be able to (a) find the key and (b) take him home.

Today has been fairly mild. We had our hair cut, and Dot left for Barbara’s. I then almost forgot to pick up Philip to take him for his benefits assessment, but Joy rang and reminded me. This took two trips, because as usual they kept him waiting a long time. In between I posted  a package and sorted out the church cheques for paying in. After picking Phil and Joy up and taking them home (dropping in at Surrey Chapel to leave some cards) I returned home and left immediately for the city, where I paid in those cheques and took a Christmas parcel to Dipples, receiving one in return! Quite chilly by the time I got home. Dot has just rung to say she is on her way back.

In need of an expensive leveller

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Flashback to autumn: Julia, Dot and Dave at the Gunton Arms after a warming lunch.

For some reason we seem to be ahead of ourselves in the run-up to Christmas. Most of the cards and presents are ready, if not dispatched. And this despite my illness earlier, and Dot’s being indisposed on Tuesday this week, when she had a sore throat and stayed in bed instead of going to Barbara’s. This gave her a chance to become familiar with her new iPhone5, and she started asking Siri (her electronic friend) philosophical questions. Ah, well.

On Sunday I led the service and Liz preached – rather well, it has to be said. She spoke about righteousness meaning primarily right relationships. On Monday I played my first game of serious chess for some time, standing in as a guest on Board 4 for the A team in the Williamson Cup against Norfolk & Norwich A, the strongest team ion the league. Amazingly I won against a player graded 177, and the team won too, 3½-½.

For all you chess fanatics, here is the game:

White, Tim Lenton; Black, Gabriel Barr.

1 g3 f5 2 c4 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 g6 5 Bg2 Bg7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 0-0 Qe8 8 Re1 Na6 9 a3 (probably not necessary) c5 10 d5 h6 11 Qc2 e5 12 dxe Bxe6 13 Nd2 (Bf4 is probably better) Qf7 14 e4 (looking to strongpoint e4) Nc7 15 exf (planning two self-pins on the strongpoint square) Bxf5 16 Nce4 Rae8 (afterwards Gabriel suggested Ng4 for Black here, with an intended sacrifice on f2; White may be able to play Nf3) 17 Nxf6+ Qxf6 18 Ne4 Qd4 19 Bf4 Qxb2 20 Qxb2 Bxb2 21 Rab1 Bxa3 22 Rxb7 Ne6 23 Nxd6 (Bxh6 is also strong) Nxf4 24 Nxe8 Nxg2 25 Ree7 Bb2 26 Rxb2 Bd7 27 Rxd7 Rxe8 28 Kxg2 1-0.

On Tuesday I kept an eye on Dot and then took Ian, Harriet and Judy to Vicky’s for Tuesday Group. Quite a carful, but fortunately the suspension held up. Yesterday Dot was better and resumed her perambulations around Norfolk schools, while I went into the city to pay in some cash, as well as posting some cards. Today, with the weather still crisp and sunny, we travelled to Mundesley, where we had tea and coffee in the Royal Hotel’s new cafe, combined with an open meeting of the Paston Heritage Society. Not as many present as expected, but all went well. Peter Sissons was there, plus Maria Vincent and Patricia, our new trustee. And, of course, Penny, Rob and Lucy.

Afterwards Dot and I called in at the garage and discovered that, as expected, we need a new automatic headlight leveller, which will set us back in the region of £500.  Onwards to pick up pills from the chemist and post parcels at the sorting office. Then some printing of booklets for Sunday’s service while Dot went out to get a couple of small things for Menita’s children, and to buy some petrol. Oh yes, however advanced you are, it’s still all go.

Rare ventures into the wintry world

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At last I’m feeling better: it was the longest-lasting stomach problem I can remember having, but it seems to be past. And to add lustre to this damp, cold and windy morning, my blood test results are normal, whatever that means. Well, it means that my PSA level is still negligible (0.1) and whatever caused my recent ailment wasn’t in my system a couple of days before, or couldn’t be detected by a blood test. Isn’t medicine fascinating?

Meanwhile, Dot seems to have got nearly all the Christmas presents, making a sweep through various outlets. I went into the city a couple of days ago and paid in church money, then bought a couple of presents, and some Christmas cards from the Norwich Christian Resource Centre. On the way up London street I bumped into Stephanie, who I hadn’t seen for a long time. So that was all good.

On another of my rare ventures into the wintry outside world I visited the supermarket with Dot. I want that noted. Inside, I’ve written a new article for my website and ordered a couple of Christmas things, as well as organising what Nicholas calls the Christmas play. It isn’t, of course.

Feeling rotten, lingering on

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I can’t say I’m at my brightest. After my Paston / Dragon Hall meeting with Natasha Harlow on Thursday morning, the slightly queasy feeling I had during the morning accelerated considerably. I had a lie-down in the afternoon, got up for a haircut at around 6.30pm, had a bath and was then violently sick. This happens to me so rarely that I can’t remember the last time. Obviously I felt better immediately and thought that would be about it. But no. The sickness was followed by diarrhoea, and I felt rotten again, retiring to bed.

In the distant past, when I’ve had anything like this, it’s been over within a few hours, or a day at the most, but this has lingered on. I haven’t been sick again, but the other thing has been reluctant to leave me, and only now does it show signs of improving. However, I still feel very rough and at times wouldn’t be surprised if I were sick again. Had to cancel rehearsal yesterday for gig tonight, and have now of course cancelled gig. No church this morning, either.

No idea what the culprit is. Food poisoning? If so, what? Mushrooms and sauce heated up? Lousy milky tea from cafe? Or is it connected with my cleaning of kitchen sink pipes the previous day? Or is it some winter vomiting virus? Or is it, as they say, the symptom of a deeper illness? I should get my blood test results tomorrow, but the blood may have been taken a day or two too soon.

Enthusiastic and full of ideas

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Poor quality picture of top quality girl: Amy in tea cosy and glasses

A couple of visits to the surgery in the last couple of days: the first to see Dr Hampsheir to test my blood pressure, which was up a bit but not too much; the second for an all-purpose blood test. Awaiting results with unbated breath, in a similar way to my awaiting  a dry day – knowing that such things exist but are unlikely to happen any time soon.

Yesterday it teemed down while Rob picked me up and transported me (with Lucy) to the Norfolk Record Office for a meeting with Dr Alban about our planned Paston exhibition there at the end of next year. That went very well, with all parties enthusiastic and full of ideas (no, it doesn’t sound like me, does it?) Tomorrow I am meeting Natasha Harlow to discuss Dragon Hall.

Still raining today (despite misleading patches of blue sky) when I took Dot up to purchase her iPhone 5. This took well over two hours, partly because the guy serving us did not know an awful lot about switching from one phone contract to another, then because we couldn’t open Dot’s old phone to get the old sim card out and find out what the model was, then because Dot couldn’t remember her Apple password …. well, you get the picture. The whole process involved most of the people in the Apple shop at some time or another, but we did eventually emerge into the early evening, where it was – yes, you guessed. It was raining. We picked up a bus outside Debenhams.

This gave Dot a relatively short time before she had to go out again to a governors’ meeting at Little Plumstead. If I were to say she was calm and relaxed, I would be lying. She does seem to have been very busy again this week. But at least she has an iPhone5, and before she went out I managed to switch on her contacts.