All posts by Tim Lenton

15 September 2007 (b)

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Terrible trio at the Braemar Gathering. Front row, of course. Left to right, Dot, Ella and her husband David, complete with kilt.

Holiday was followed of course by a huge rush to sort out post and e-mails and write my page for the EDP (www.back2sq1.co.uk). Also squeezed in visit to dentist before travelling to Caddington late on Friday evening for a family party – Oliver was 5 on the 11th. The other grandparents and uncle, aunt and cousin arrived midway through the following morning, while I was taking Oliver out on his main present from his parents -a rather impressive scooter. He got the hang of it very quickly.

Later in the weekend he watched a mountain bike downhill sports event on TV and got very taken by it. He had to go out and demonstrate technique on his bike: he’s very confident.

His other grandparents bought him a train set, which necessitated a trip to the DIY shop to obtain chipboard to mount it on. I left this to the experts – Dave and David. Lovely party – Oliver and Amy were on good form. We returned late on Sunday, having got diverted on to our old route because of a roundabout being shut on the A505.

On Monday Dot and I went to John Rayner’s memorial service. Lovely man, and a packed Surrey Chapel. He was 74. Stayed afterwards and spoke to his wife and daughter, both of whom I know quite well. In the evening played first game of chess of the new season at a new venue – -the Gas Social Club! Won knockout tournament game against Colin Payne.

On Tuesday Phil and I went to Coventry to take Andrew to look at a possible new home for him – The Langleys in Stoke Green. He reacted very well, and I liked the people in charge. Now it seems he will be moving in on Monday, which is pretty fast-moving after months of doing nothing much. Got back in time for our regular Tuesday meal – six of us.

Dramatic new haircut on Wednesday. Number four razor. Quite amazingly short on top, but I think I like it. Most people have made favourable comments, but they may be afraid I’ll hit them, as I look a bit hard. Also on Wednesday a church meeting at Horsford which went very well – oh, and England beat Russia 3-0.

Went to Bally on Thursday to meet Annette and Rupert to discuss InPrint matters (www.inprintartsandpoetry.co.uk) following the relaunch of the poetry vending machine. It seems that something concrete may be about to happen. In the evening we went to the Archers to give them some information on Normandy, whither they are hasting in a fortnight. In return they gave us a meal, which is more than fair, especially as they had to look at our pictures.

On Friday I wrote some of my sermon for Sunday and generally caught up on my in-tray and other things. Walked into city to pay in a cheque and almost went to the cinema, but instead stayed in and watched England lose 36-0 to South Africa at rugby. Could easily have been 50-0.

And now today, here I am finishing my sermon, catching up on my blogging and scanning in some photographs. I shall shortly install some new software. Meanwhile Dot is visiting her gang down at Metfield and is having such a good time that she is staying longer than she meant to. I am about to check the football results.

15 September 2007 (a)

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Ok, I’m not going to fake it this time. It really is mid-September. It’s over a month since I last posted anything – mainly because I was in Scotland for three weeks and computerless. This picture was taken on the way up there at Aberfoyle, which my parents visited on their honeymoon, and where they bought a painting. I was trying to photograph the bridge from the same viewpoint as the painting, but this proved impossible because of foliage growth in the intervening 70 years! However, the bridge and mountain behind are easily recognisable from the picture by F Livesey. Very nice painting, but can’t trace the artist on the Internet.

How to distil more than a month of life into a single blog entry? Well, let’s start with Scotland. A lovely, relaxing three weeks, and we felt we’d really achieved things despite not climbing a single Munro! I did manage to climb Morven at last – something I’d been meaning to do for about 15 years. I came across a route up which looked much more attractive than the others – starting by the lone tree on the Ballater-Corgarff road and walking via Morven Lodge. A beautiful walk, but quite tiring. In fact I almost ground to a halt on the approach slopes, which shows my age. I lay down and got my breath back, then took it very slowly. Reached the summit cairn at roughly the same time as masses of clouds, followed swiftly by quite heavy rain. Got soaked on the way down: 10 miles in all, but very worthwhile.

Dot was with me on our other big walk – to the end of Glen Ey, a stunning glen and a beautiful day. This turned out to be nearly 12 miles, and we were both just about finished by the time we got back to Inverey. But again, very worthwhile – with lovely scenery leading up to a pretty abandoned hunting lodge in a copse of conifers.

Other than this, a brief diary:

14 Aug 414 miles Norwich-Abington. Weather dull, sometimes wet.
15 Aug 200 miles Abington-Ballater, taking in Aberfoyle, Callendar and the “tourist route” via Dunkeld. Coldish in Ballater, but went for an evening walk.
16 Aug 62 miles (3.8 walking) Quite cold, blustery showers. Went for walk at head of Loch Muick.
17 Aug (4.8 miles walking) Warmer and dry. Walked up Craigendarroch and ate in the Hayloft.
18 Aug 47 miles (about 1) Rain. Drove to Braemar, but this was the only day we couldn’t do any walking because of the weather.
19 Aug (over 8 miles walking) Dry, cool. Mainly cloudy. Church in morning, then did Seven Bridges Walk, plus an extension to Knock Castle, which we’d never found before. Dee very full (apparently 5ft up) after yesterday’s rain.
20 Aug 193 miles (1.7) Drove to Black Isle, which seemd a bit disappointing till we hit Cromarty. Beautiful, bleak, exposed place. Watched the smallest ferry in the UK (2 cars) cross to Nigg and saw obelisk commemorating emigrants.
21 Aug 33.3 miles (about 5) Warmer and dry, but cloudy. Followed a historical walk above Glen Gairn, followed by tea at Log Cabin and evening meal at The Green Inn. Excellent, of course. Duck.
22 Aug 43.4 (over 12) Warm, sunny and dry. Glen Ey.
23 Aug 42.3 (4.13) Sunny and warm. Quiet day after yesterday’s efforts. Walked golf course path while Dot shopped.
24 Aug 54.6 (3.5) Warm and dry but with a cool wind at 3000ft, which is where we found ourselves after a trip on the Cairnwell chairlift. Fife Arms, Hayloft food.
25 Aug 38.8 (1.5) Showery, becoming cooler. Lonach Gathering; party of 30.
26 Aug 34.6 (3) Much cooler and clouody. Church, then Fife Arms for lunch. Short history walk by Dee and saw salmon leaping for the first time!
27 Aug 62.3 (2) Cool and wet, then brighter with showers. Crannach for tea: cafe gradually metamorphosing into bakery (shop in Aberdeen). Drover to Braemar then Linn of Quoich, but amazingly assaulted by midges – first time ever in this area. Retreated, wrote postcards and had excellent lamb shank in Glen Lui hotel.
28 Aug 45.1 (10.93) Morven. Dot did first mile then returned to more sensible pursuits.
29 Aug 163.3 (just over 1) Mild with high cloud to start with, so drove to Pennan, where weather turned for worse and rain started. Unknown to us, Pennan had been hit by mudslides a couple of weeks earlier and many of the people were evacuated. Saw mud being cleared away. Inn closed: landlord had moved to Canada. High tide spraying water on to quay. Left in search of food and eventually ended up at Boyndie, a visitor centre beyond Banff staffed partly by disabled people. Had tea and excellent rock cakes, but it was still raining. Home via Keith and Dufftown and found roadside inn that Dot and I remembered independently from years back. I had thought it was something I’d seen in a dream. Didn’t stop. I don’t know why. Oh yes I do: we were headed for the Green Inn again.
30 Aug 74.6 (5) Mostly dry and fairly mild, but a bit windy. Fife Arms for lunch. Longer walk at head of Loch Muick.
31 Aug 26.9 (about 4) Mainly dry, fairly mild. Another quiet day. Walked round golf course together and had an early evening meal at Victoria Tea Rooms, Dinnet. Quite good.
1 Sep 0.6 (1.89) Warm at first, then showers, then brighter and finally cold. To Braemar Gathering with Ella (group of 8 including us). Complicated arrangements resulted in an initial stop at friends for a snack and a dram, then walking to the arena. Stayed for a while, then had lunch in another friend’s garden: we took wine and cheese, others had enough for small army. Back to arena for heavy events, massed bands and arrival and departure of Queen (she was there about 90 minutes). Most people left after that, but we stayed to watch the heavies (caber-tossing, etc), as it turned colder and colder. Back to the first friends’ to pick up car, then Ella drove us home. A fascinating experience: good fun.
2 Sep 46.9 (4) Windy, coolish but dry. Church, then to Tomintoul road, where I did the 3-mile walk down to Corgarff that I had been promising myself for some years. Lovely walk, with three beautiful old bridges, surpassing expectations. Dot did a little at each end.
3 Sep 42.1 (over 8) Started wet, but eventually windy and mainly dry. Up late – Dot finished Harry Potter book. Lunch at Fife Arms, then walked to Loch Callater. Lovely, but a chill wind. Back home to pack, then a final meal – excellent – at Glen Lui.

Drove home on 4 and 5 September, staying the night at Killington Lake, near Kendal (Premier Inn). Changed room because TV didn’t work and we wanted to watch the second episode of Silent Witness! Receptionist – one of several East European girls we had encountered – was really helpful. Mileage on first day was 258, and on second 311.8, including a brief detour to visit Andrew. He was very down, but quite a bit improved on my last visit. Dot, who hadn’t seen him for months, thought he was pretty bad. Arrived home about tea time: our sitter had already left.

11 August 2007

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Yes, it’s France again. This is the branch line from Cabourg to Deauville, taking to the road at Dives.

Meanwhile another busy week. On Monday, Andrew’s birthday, I went to visit him and possibly take him out, but he was the worst I’ve ever seen him. Very sad. I had a long talk with him, but nothing seemed to make any impression. He was tired and frightened.

I drove on towards Hull, stopping at Corley services for a bite to eat and then at Nottingham to see if I could catch the Evetts in. But no, so I carried on to a Travelodge on the M18 (Doncaster North), where I had booked a room. Quite nice, but the kettle didn’t work. Went for a walk in the evening and then had fish and chips, which was adequate: tasty but chunky. Spent the rest of the evening catching up on reading – I had taken the precaution of loading the car up with newspapers and magazines I hadn’t had time to tackle.

After breakfast the next day I drove into Hull, arriving 40 minutes early for my 11am meeting. Had to wait in Reception, but eventually met with three trainees and did the induction. Went quite well. Left about 1.30pm: the journey home was tedious in the extreme – road works and dithering drivers all the way. Took four hours.

On Wednesday we had the carpet cleaned – had to get up early and move the furniture out because Dot had injured her back. This now seems to have cleared up. In the evening attended an Ambient Wonder review which I can’t say I enjoyed, possibly because I was very tired. Good pizza, though.

On Thursday, after lunch at Park Farm, I drove to Yarmouth to watch the penultimate day of the British chess championship. Was there for about four hours, most of which I spent watching the four top boards, which were on demonstration. But also spoke to a few friends and watched some other games. Repeated this yesterday for the last day but left before the end. Watched a nice game by Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, a Georgian “Scot”, in which she demolished Simon Fowler to take the ladies’ title. A Danish “Scot”, Jacob Aagard, took the British title on 8.5 out of 11, after he beat Glenn Flear, who left his king too exposed. The only person who could have matched him, Stephen Gordon, was held to a draw by Tony Kosten. Fascinating to see so many peple whose names are so familiar and whose games I have played through in the past. Good also to see so many young girls doing well. The website is at http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/british/2007/

Today – the spell of good weather continuing – Dot and I went to Reepham to get our hair cut and then on to North Walsham. Left flowers at the cemetery and then visited Jessie and Frank.

4 August 2007

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Yes, it really is 4 August, and this is a gratuitous picture of Honfleur. Note the absence of licorice ice cream.

Following our return from Ditchingham we had a day at home before travelling down to Caddington to look after the grandchildren for three days: the journey down on Monday evening was a record – about 1 hr 50 min, largely because of the absence of any problems, unlike the journey back.

David was away working up north, and Vicky was leaving home at 6am and returning at 5pm; so we had charge of Oliver and Amy from when they woke (earliest 7.15am, latest 8.30am) until Vicky’s return. The first two days were warm and dry. The children didn’t really want to leave the house until the afternoon in each case. The first day we went to Stockwood Park; the second Ashridge Forest, where Oliver did some mature riding on his bike up a road used by cars all the time, and we all went further into the forest than we meant to, so that O and A got a little muddy. Visitor’s centre there was surprisingly good, but the toilets were surprisingly bad – pretty disgusting, in fact. Still, fun was to be had with ponds and logs. On the Thursday it rained, and the fair didn’t open till 6pm (!), so we paid a late visit to Woodside Farm. Because of the small number of people there, the children were able to take advantage, and Oliver spent some time in the bouncy castle on his own. So much fun that we were home a good half-hour later than Mummy, who was cooking us our third lovely meal in a row. Children were lovely, and made it easy for us.

We left for home about 9.15, anticipating an easy ride, but the Newmarket bypass was closed, and we got in a long queue of traffic diverted through the town (Dot driving). As the Highways Agency couldn’t organise their way out of a paper bag, there was no provision made to allow all the extra traffic to drive throught the town easily, but we eventually crawled through and made it back home by about 11.45pm.

Yesterday Dot and I both had a blood test and caught up on paperwork. Very warm, as it is today. Decided to have a meal at Cafe Rouge, which was superb as always. Discovered that Andrew was ill, possibly the result of anxiety at being under the impression he was about to be moved. Spoke to Julia, his social worker, a couple of times. First she hoped to get him into a place in Coventry, but this turned out to be not possible. Then there’s one at Leamington, and she wanted me to take Andrew to see it. However I rang the hospital, who said Andrew was too ill to come home this weekend as planned. I rang again today to check, but he’s still bad. I hope to go on Monday – his birthday – and maybe take him out for a meal. Dot is at present in town having a meal with the gang of four from Alburgh.

as at 29 July 2007

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Following a visit to Dr Thompson late Friday afternoon to renew my prescriptions (and ask about my gastric upset), we went to Ditchingham for the parish weekend away. Weather throughout was good, and the children had a great time, as can be seen from the picture taken at the open air swimming pool. Interesting shade of green, but the water quality was assessed as safe by our resident expert from Naiad Aquatics.

Pretty tired for most of the weekend and didn’t enjoy the “formal” aspects of it very much, especially as they were conducted in a chaotic way which was supposed to be democratic but in fact could be described as the dictatorship of the pushy. Felt very out of it by the end. The informal aspects – meals and general chat – were good as always.

as at 26 July 2007

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We have just completed a week in Normandy, and this might be considered to be the high point: Dot and Dave on one of the Etretat pinnacles reached by a narrow path from the main cliff. Julia and I declined the challenge as we both have a desire to jump off high things. The exposure was if anything worse than it looks here.

Etretat is a stunning little town north of Le Havre, reached across the Pont de Normandie. Its main features of course are the cliff formations – pinnacles and arches. We climbed the cliffs on both sides after having a coffee (tea), followed by lunch in a rather lovely restaurant, Des Deux Augustins, in the main street. I took the opportunity to have moules et frites. Actually, Dot declined the second climb because she was feeling a bit under the weather. Weather was excellent – warm but not hot enough to make the climb uncomfortable.

That was on Tuesday. We had arrived on Friday, after a long journey that featured a visit to hospital (my six-monthly check: blood test not improved) and a nightmare drive down the M11 through rain that was sheeting down. It was the same rain that caused huge floods in the west, especially Gloucesterhire, and I was quite surprised we kept going. In Kent things were much improved: warmer and dry. We stopped at services on the M20 near Maidstone before arriving early at the Tunnel. Caught a train about an hour before scheduled, and the journey through France was quite relaxing. Stopped at the Aire de la Baie de Somme for a while and reached Villers sur mer at around 8.45pm. Dave and Julia were staying in the top apartment, and we were on the ground floor, which had a garden. Very comfortable. Dave delivered croissants (sometimes a demi-baguette) every morning between 8.30 and 9.

On the Saturday we walked into town and bought provisions plus three bottles of cider, and then returned for lunch at our table on the lawn. After lunch went to Beuvron en Auge (l’un des plus belles villes de France) and did a walk of about 3.5 miles up a hill to a church and back. In town had crepes flambes and cider as rain begam to pour down. Dave and I went to look at model trains while the women shopped: Dot bought €45 necklace – anniversary present. Julia cooked evening meal.

Sunday was dry and pretty warm. In the morning we drove into Pont l’Eveque for a traditional market. Also a flea market (Les Puces), where Dot bought a watch for €6. Followed this with coffee (tea) at a pavement cafe and lunch at home on the lawn. In the afternoon we drove to Dives sur mer, where we parked and walked into Cabourg, along the river and then the prom. Took in the Grand Hotel, where there was an excellent exhibition, and Dupont’s cafe, where I had a truly mouth-watering cake which included elements of dark chocolate and cherries. Walked up and down main street, and Julia bought a white anorak. In the evening we walked into town and had a lovely meal at Le Mermoz. Waiter, duck and sunset all outstanding.

On Monday it rained all day, and our intended visit to Etretat was abandoned. Instead we walked into town to buy lunch between drops of rain and in the afternoon Dot and I drove on our own to Caen to see the Memorial (Peace Museum). Not an easy journey, especially along the Peripherique. Bad at first – packed with cars and people; we had to park in a field, and Dot was not feeling well. Still, we persevered – at least, Dot did – and we eventually got tickets for the tour and a couple of films, both of which were quite good, though the one called “Hope” was anything but. Lots there – maybe too much – but to our generation nothing really came as a surprise. I was struck by a big picture of two resistance workers hanging: their faces looked almost angelic, whereas pictures of collaborators had something empty about them. Maybe we were projecting our feelings… Julia cooked in the evening.

Tuesday we did manage Etretat, and on Wednesday it was Honfleur.We took the green bus from just up the road, which went along the coast, then dipped inland. My stomach was feeling gassy, but shortly after arrival we had mint tea at a pavement cafe which seemed to settle it completely: the tea had actual mint in it and was delicious. Walked around the town a bit and then had lunch – a €23 four-courser. Mine was delicious – foie gras, steak, cheese, sorbet – but unfortunately Julia’s was very disappointing, and everyone who had fish (ie everyone but me) agreed that the sauce was excessive. Visited one or two exhibitions afterwards and walked up into the old town (actually it’s all old) away from the harbour,calling at a few exhibitions and shops. Lovely place. Julia on unsuccessful quest for licorice ice cream, which was supposed to be sold by the harbour. Eventually got the bus back at about 6 and changed at Deauville.

Today (Thursday) we left about 10 for an easy journey back up to Calais, stopping again at the Somme. Got train at Calais an hour early ands because the M25 was heavily roadworked, took the Blackwall Tunnel, which worked out well. However, on the M11 heavy rain returned to welcome us back. Stopped at services, then took a roundabout route via Saffron Walden. Traffic very heavy towards Elvedon, so detoured again via Brandon. Extremely tired at home. Wrote column, then had diarrhoea and shaking. Hot bath helped a bit: went to bed very early.

as at 19 July 2007

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Two-day break at home. On the 18th I called in on my cousin Barbara and her husband Roy after I’d had my hair cut at Reepham. Wonderful garden. Nice to see them after so long.

Today we marked the end of an era by going to Sue E’s farewell party at Tuckswood School. Tuckswood seems to keep drawing me back. It was the first school I went to when I was about 4 and it was a newly opened nursery school on a spanking new postwar council estate. Then we moved to Coventry. Eventually we came back after my father died, but I was then high school age and I went to the City of Norwich School – about a half-mile from Tuckswood.

But when I was going out with Dot and she left college, the first school she taught at was … Tuckswood. Later on, when we were married, she taught there again under different heads and eventually became deputy to Sue E. They got on exceptionally well and Sue encouraged her to become head at Alburgh, but of course there still links through Sue and the Norfolk Association of First and Primary Heads, which usually had meetings there. Now Sue has finally retired. The school hasn’t changed much since I first went there: interesting building. It was quite an emotional afternoon.

The picture of course is of Sue and Dot, who gave a really good speech.

17 July 2007

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OK, it’s still 30 July, but we’re going to carry on pretending. Here we are in Legoland, Windsor, where we went on 16 and 17 July with the grandchildren and their parents. Oliver and his father are featured on the Safari ride, with Amy almost visible in the car behind. This was Vicky’s birthday present!

I was impressed with Legoland, which I would have thought was not really my sort of thing at all. There were a few queues, but all the rides were free – and short – which meant the queues moved quickly. We went on too many to list, but we really enjoyed the Fairytale Brook, where you went round in a boat and saw models of bits from fairy tales, mainly Little Red Riding Hood. The Lego models are all brilliant, even the ones you just stand and look at. Nearly all of them do things. Oliver and Amy had a great time: Oliver showed what a natural driver he is when he outmanoevred all the other children on the cars.

The food was quite reasonable too, though that wasn’t free. We were lucky to catch a big goody v baddy drama by the pool, and took in a big wheel, helicopters, etc. Some Dot and I went on, and some we watched. On the first day Oliver and Amy went in the water feature and got pleasantly wet, after the usual nervous start.

On the way to the hotel at Reading (which was part of the deal) Dot and I lost David and drove round for a while before re-establishing contact. Both our phones were out of order (details in Square One article): an amazing series of coincidences. But eventually we got back together at the Holiday Inn, which was excellent, although the bar prices were extraordinarily high.

14 July 2007

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I am not really writing this on 14 July. It’s 30 July, but if I tried to get everything that’s happened since the 9th on one entry, it would be a huge mass of text. As it is, I’m going to have to cut it down drastically, because I just haven’t got time to write it all. Future historians (ha!) will find more information but less coherence in my notebooks.

The picture is of me at Bantry, shortly after receiving my 1000-euro cheque from Fish Publishing and reading my poem, The Island Grows On Me, to the assembled throng. Quite a large number of them and in a very swish setting: the new and very upmarket Maritime Hotel, Bantry. Dot was so impressed by it that she took a picture of the ladies’ loos (not included here).

Also in the picture are Debra Shulkes, runner-up in the poetry (with her back to the camera), Jo Cannon (short-story runner-up) and (off to the side) Jo Campbell, runnner-up, short histories. Got to know these three quite well, as well as a guy from America.

We’d flown to Cork from Stansted on July 11, after Dot had visited two schools in the West of Norfolk: Necton and Ten Mile Bank. We’d strolled round Swaffham, finding the house featured in Kingdom – Stephen Fry’s TV series – and had eaten lunch at The Bridge, where we’d eaten earlier iin the year when Dot visited Oakington. Nice meal, lovely setting on the Cam.

Flying was the usual nightmare, even though it all went smoothly. Dot’s handcream alarmed the machine, so she had to go and obtain a plastic bag for it, which of course immediately rendered it harmless. I was searched randomly. At least, they said it was random, but it seemed systematic to me. Car hire at Cork no problem, but we had a little trouble finding the hotel. Once we did, we enjoyed it: very luxurious. If I could remember what it was, I’d tell you.

On the 12th – my 62nd birthday – we drove to Bantry. Before too long we stopped at a little-known place called Inchigeelagh, where there was a tasteful modern cafe and a ruined church, which I wondered round, almost falling into a couple of semi-open graves (holes below the stones). Quite eerie. Headed onwards to the Gouganne Barra – a magical spot in a glacial valley where St Finbarr established an oratory on a little lake island accessed by a causeway. This area also featured the toilets of the year 2002, which were quite something. I know you think I’m kidding, but I’m not.

Later we took a single-track road into the hills north of Bantry – a place called the Priest’s Leap. Happily there was absolutely no other traffic, because there was hardly anywhere to pass, let alone turn round. Amazing view of Bantry Bay from near the top. Quite idyllic. Walked a little then managed to turn and drove down into Bantry, where we found the hotel – nowhere near as good as the Cork one, but good enough. Had a home-cooked-style evening meal and went for a walk: found the Pillar Stone of Kilnaurane on a hill, surrounded by rather cheap wire and ramshackle posts. This is a ninth-century artefact which may carry a carved picture of St Brendan. In England it would have a visitor centre and a large car park. In Ireland it has an easily-missed signpost and is approached over a field from a back road. The view from the hill is superb.

The next day we drove down to Mizen Head, the most southerly point of Ireland, where there actually is a visitor centre – quite good, too, though we had to ask someone how to reach the path to the headland. The Irish are not great on signposts. In cloud when we arrived, and the man who took the tickets said we had no chance of seeing Fastnet today. Less than an hour later the cloud had lifted quite well enough to see Fastnet clearly, which just goes to show that local weather forecasters are not all they’re cracked up to be. Cliffs here are spectacular. Made our way back to Bantry for the evening ceremony, taking in a nearby beach and the southern coast, including Goleen, with its tiny harbour and inviting but shut Heron restaurant, and the much busier Schull, where we saw the ferry from Clear Island arrive. Lovely coastline.

After a bar meal we drove into Bantry for the ceremony. Saw the first part of the Slam (open mic) afterwards, but then returned to the hotel for sleep.

“Today” we drove back to Cork. Weather has been mostly good, with the occasional shower, most of which we missed. Drove to Glengariff and then over Healey’s Pass, a beautiful winding road which took us into County Kerry. Got slightly lost around Kenmare and found ourselves on tiny back roads: at one point a tractor had to back up for us. Eventually emerged roughly where we had anticipated and worked our way by back roads to Inchigeelagh again, where we had lunch to the accompaniment outside of what must have been a major wedding in the area. Stopped at a a haunting wetland area, then decided we just had time to see Blarney Castle – and ended up climbing to the very top to see the Blarney Stone. We decided not to kiss it as this required contortions: there were also hygiene issues. Lovely castle, though.

The drive back to the airport took longer than we thought, but we had plenty of time in the end. Met a couple from the ceremony – Jo Campbell and her husband – and the flight home was pretty uneventful. Stansted to Norwich took well over two hours, largely (or entirely) because Dot left her glasses at a service station on the Newmarket bypass, and retrieving it took a 25-mile round trip because of the lack of dual-carriageway exits. So home about 12.30am – and it was really July 15. Ah, well.

9 July 2007

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This is a rather lovely work of art composed of hazel branches and on show at the Welborne Festival. Provides a nice frame for a shot of the mid-Norfolk countryside.

Happily, I’ve now completed my tax return. Less happily, Dot hasn’t. That’s a pleasure to come. Always nice to do mine, though: never as complicated as anticipated.

We’ve also been out to Poringland to see the Walpoles, over from Canada. Had a Chinese, and discussed education, among other things. They seem in good form – are thinking of moving further south, because their forest home is getting to be too much work.

Meanwhile our hedge has been cut, and everything is much brighter. Acres of foliage have gone, as have several bags of leaves, which I suddenly thought Colin could take away with him. Bit like having a haircut: quite satisfying. Almost as satisfying as watching Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic win the Wimbledon mixed doubles. which was a really exciting experience and much more interesting than Federer winning the men’s singles for the fifth time, though I have to say his match against Nadal was an epic encounter. And the Tour de France has started too – really annoying that I’m going to miss so much of it, but I am recording the various stages to look back on.

Dot’s ear operation was this afternoon – new holes!

Weather’s been a bit better, but showers still every day.