Another busy week with mixed weather, quite chilly and a lot of moisture in the air. I am writing this while Dot attends a diocesan gathering at Mattishall, which meant we had to get up early.

Last Wednesday we drove to Sheringham in our new car for lunch at the Dales Country House Hotel with Fred and Sue Riches (celebrating their 75th and 70th birthdays). Needless to say we were late, but at least they hadn’t started. Also present: Liz and David Cannon; Janet and Graham Smith; Pat and Marjorie. Very nice meal and a lovely setting. We gave F&S a really nice walks book with artistic illustrations.

After lunch we drove back to Norwich to meet the Evetts, who had arrived early and gone for a walk.

The next day we went to a special event at Dipples (by invitation), and Dot bought a ring and some earrings (birthday and Christmas presents). She also had some new boots, a pie dish and a couple of other things. The event was packed. Afterward Dot and Julia went shopping, and Dave and I went for a walk – out to the architectural winner on Goldsmith Street and then back along the riverside path. Probably a bit too far. We had a fish pie by Dot in the evening and then went to see Le Mans 66 at the cinema – a brilliant film which, since it was true, couldn’t have the perfect ending. Christian Bale and Matt Damon were superb.

Friday was Dot’s birthday, and one of the busiest days I can remember for me personally. We started by going to St Benet’s Abbey after breakfast and inevitably ran into Paul and Maryta. I think we got away with it. After lunch we hurtled up to the Maids Head for a John Fenn talk by Rob Knee, for which again we arrived a little late, though fortunately not after the talk started. Needless to say, he was very good. I had a chat with Paul Dickson afterwards and then realised I had time (just) to walk up to the Castle Mall to get my phone fixed. while the others had tea and a tour of the hotel.

After leaving the phone I got a bus home and finished the washing up from lunch, then got a bus back to pick the phone up and buy a cover, which I was very pleased with. The only problem with the phone now is that it occasionally drops the phone signal and 4G, but I believe this is because of its recent upgrade. Easily put it right, as long as I notice it! I then walked home again, and not much later we were walking to Carrow Road for the birthday lunch at Delia’s.

This proved a huge success, largely because of Jordan, who greeted Dot warmly, having spoken to her several times on the phone and not only got us a free bottle of Prosecco but gave us a tour behind the scenes afterward, which left Dot all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. The food was good too. Anne was there but missed the tour because she wanted to get back to get Philip to bed: he is in a bit of a bad way after dislocating his hip for the third time.

On Saturday we had a reasonably early breakfast, and the Evetts left for three days at Blakeney after Dave helped me to load David’s table into the car. We then drove to Aylesbury via Hemel Hempstead, having intended to go via Cambridge until we saw the A14 was shut. This turned out well, though, and we went directly to David’s apartment, which is really nice and spacious with great views. Amy has a really beautiful room, and she later decorated the apartment for Christmas – though of course no-one will be there. Oliver was initially out having a driving lesson.

Amy accompanied us to the Premier Inn so that we could book in. By now it was dark, and it wasn’t easy driving through Aylesbury, which has loads of mini-roundabouts and bus lanes which were barely visible. Premier Inn room was fine. On the way back we picked up Oliver and David, who had been to Nando’s to pick up supper. Earlier we had watched the second half of Everton v Norwich on David’s private channel. City played really well and won 2-0, mainly because Zimmermann was back from injury.

We left for home yesterday after a breakfast of waffles that was delicious, and took on board quite lot of stuff that David wanted to get rid of, including a rather nice projector. The journey was good, taking in a bit of the M25, and we stopped at the new Costa’s at Royston for a sandwich. Very nice. I drove the first bit, and Dot the second. We arrived home just after 5pm after filling up with petrol at Morrisons.

The only problem with the car is that it continually shows a tyre warning. I checked all of them on Saturday morning, and they seemed OK, though all were rather lower than I thought they should have been. No problem on the journey, but I’ll check them again when I get time. Or I may drive up to the garage and point out the problem. On the whole, the car is very nice to drive, and the heads-up display is very handy.

I am writing this while Dot is being massaged by Verena. I’ve just been “done” – my arm, neck and back are now much looser. Verena is good for morale. Earlier today we picked up our new car and said goodbye to the Mazda MX5. Very pleased with our Mazda 3 Sport, though we haven’t worked out the navigation console yet. Very cold day, incidentally, but at least it’s not raining.

Busy weekend, centring on Blofield. Dot has had either a bad cold or an allergic reaction to the painting of our kitchen cupboards and drawers, and so I drove to Blofield on my own to see Hexachordia demonstrate their range of medieval musical instruments in entertaining fashion and to demonstrate my Paston alliegiance. Rob, Peter and Matt were all there, but weren’t going to be there for the concert the following day; so Rob asked me to introduce it. However it turned out that David Pilch was preparing to do it; so that was OK.

In fact Dot was better yesterday; so she came to the concert. We arrived early enough to put out the banners, but someone had already done it. When Barbara and I tried to hoist the other banner, it broke. Ironically, if we had waited for Dot she would have been able to do it, as it was similar to her P4C one. The concert was pretty good: I took some pictures for the group (three of them, and all multi-talented). Afterwards we had medieval pudding and pies, which were all right.

Before Blofield on Saturday I went on a Shardlake group walk with Paul Dickson, starting at the Maids Head. Again the weather was fine, and not so cold. This was intended as a birthday present for Dot, but she wasn’t well enough to go. I enjoyed it, though it was quite tiring. Paul was excellent, and I chatted with a crazy woman from Kenninghall on a mobile scooter. Crazy in the nicest way.

Dot probably made a mistake (health-wise) by attending a DCC meeting at Elwira’s on Friday night. She had been busy all day and it was probably too much. The meeting was OK – interestingly the attendance at the DCC was exactly the same as at Morning Worship on Sunday. Not the same people, of course. Maximum and minimum.

Barry was his usual self all week, doing an excellent job on the kitchen cupboards and providing music too. But it was hard avoiding all the sticky paint. Bit tense. Linda cut our hair on Friday and did it in Amy’s room, doing the washing in the kitchen while Barry’s back was turned.

On Thursday evening I was introducing our Paston session at Gresham village hall – after spending a disproportionate time finding it. Very dark, North Norfolk. I eventually asked a man with a dog, which shows you how desperate I was. Even then I drove past the village hall, thinking it was a house, and never saw the church. However, I got there in time.

The introduction went quite well, and the response was good. Peter’s wife Brenda was there, and if he didn’t have a contact with almost everyone, she did.

Last Wednesday – the only other dry day in the week – was Paul’s funeral. Phil came round here, and we drove upon his car together, arriving so early that they wouldn’t let us in. This proved just as well, because it was colder inside the Rosary chapel than out. About 25 people there, of whom I knew a fair number. Dot was not well enough to come. We walked up to the grave and got there well before the hearse. Afterwards we drove in Phil’s car to the wake at The Cottage on Thunder Lane, which was very pleasant. Spoke to Pat, Stephen and Mark and their spouses, plus a woman who used to clean for us but didn’t know I was related to Paul; the man who led the service, Richard Sadler, and his wife; Elizabeth Wurr; and Ada Wurr – widow of David.

One other thing – on Thursday Phil Gazley came round and we talked some more about his Community Support Teams project.

We are on the way to buying a new car. Test-drove a Mazda 3 Sport on Saturday – cherry red, nearly six years old – and agreed on a trade-in of £1000 for the MX5. So we will soon be officially a one-car family, though of course we have been one in effect since our crash on August 22. Just waiting for them to service the new car and give it an MOT.

Needless to say it’s raining. It’s also very cold. Dot has had a bad cough but seems better today, though she is not helping herself by going to the shops this morning and Saxlingham School at lunchtime. Also Eleanor’s for tea before Cake and Compline. Ho hum. Meanwhile Barry is painting the kitchen cupboards, for some reason, and we are listening to Slow Train Coming, by Bob Dylan.

Yesterday I had a massage from Verena, which felt very good. It was raining then too, and the roads round Little Plumstead were flooded, which didn’t too much for the look of the MX5. Still, it’s already been valued.

Going back a few days, I went with Dot to orchestra again last Wednesday, spending about 90 minutes in the Farmhouse with Neville, who is much better. We caught the last quarter of an hour of the rehearsal,which was pretty impressive.

The next day I drove to Bacton in the evening for a meeting introducing Footprints to the locals. Nothing there I didn’t know, really, but saw re-enactors Anne and Diana as well as Rob and Peter. Rob did the introduction: I may have to do the same thing at Gresham on Thursday, as Rob can’t make it.

On Friday, while Dot was visiting a couple of schools, I went to The Messiah in St Peter Mancroft by the Oriole Singers – not bad, without being exceptional. Had a chat with Carrie’s husband Al, then went over to Apple to ask about my phone, which has camera damage. They said they could replace it for £389, and I laughed loud and long (inwardly). Will take it to a repairer when the weather improves.

Had to wait ages for a bus on the way home, then found an art portfolio on the seat beside me when I sat down. It had a girl’s name and phone number inside; so I took it home and rang her. I have rarely heard anyone sound more relieved. She picked it up yesterday lunchtime with a friend. Nice girl, same age as Oliver. Lives in Lowestoft.

In the evening Dot went to watch NCFC play Watford and lose 2-0 after performing pretty badly. I had an offer of a ticket, but watched in on TV after I worked out how to access it (something had gone wrong with Apple TV). Weather yet again was bad, and Dot was not thrilled.

The next evening was Sillars’ autumn concert, which was a bit of a nightmare, as I had to “look after” too many people in a rather packed auditorium. Sat next to Anne, Angela and Rodney, with Caren and Phil in the row behind. Also present, who I might have sat with: Graham, Neville, Michael from down the road, Bernadette and Peter, Adrian and his wife, Maryta and Debbie (in a caring capacity). M stayed until half time, which was pretty good, and only shouted at two people (not during the performance). Also present and on the door were Joyce and Ivan: had a talk with them afterwards. Apparently the venue (St Catherine’s, Mile Cross) is their church.

The concert itself was excellent, and for once I had a good view of Dot.

The next day we had a moving Remembrance Holy Communion. I read Anna’s prayers, as she has been ill for about ten days (sinusitis plus). In the evening Phil and Caren came for a meal which we spent most of the afternoon preparing. Very nice evening. Were meant to go for a meal to the Greens’ last night, but Anna was still feeling rough.

Not raining, for a change. Dot has just been into the city, and I have posted a cheque to the Mint at last: it has been hanging around for an opportune moment to go to the post office. Only £2.50 for postage and packing, but still… I got a gentle e-mail reminder this morning. Our Naked Wines box has arrived with one wrong bottle – most unusual. I was very pleased that the delivery man remembered I had broken my arm and didn’t try to hand the box to me. You get a good class of delivery man round here.

David, Oliver and Amy went back home on Sunday before we left for church. Oliver was driving. He seems confident. We had a good talk on Saturday when we walked back from the city together, leaving the others in Jarrolds. Earlier we had all walked up to Goldsmith Street (near Old Palace Road) to see the architecturally prize-winning houses. The weather (rain, of course) didn’t do them any favours, but I still liked the look of them. Unfortunately they’re surrounded by really average flats. In the evening we played board games with Amy and Oliver, and there was quite a lot of table tennis, though not including me.

I cooked some salmon in the evening, with a little help from Amy on her special method (fried, with honey). Most of us had emerged from our beds at 9am to watch the Rugby World Cup Final, in which England lost to South Africa by not playing very well. Poor comparison with the semi-final, which was one of the best games I’ve seen. I know the result was very good for South Africa, and I wouldn’t want to take that away, but it was also a victory for very boring rugby. In a survey of commentators in my newspaper, none of the best matches included South Africa and nearly all the worst ones did. Good defence may be pleasing to the managers, but it’s not interesting. Brute Force 1 – Skilful running and passing 0. A couple of rule changes might solve it. Make the rolling maul illegal, for instance: it’s simply a form of legalised obstruction that you can’t prevent without giving away a penalty. Ridiculous.

Preached on Zacchaeus on Sunday – you’d never have found him in a rolling maul, although he did climb trees. Got some nice comments afterwards.

Yesterday we went to Archant Pensioners, when I found myself ensconced with David Wakefield and Bill Woodcock, which turned out to be convivial. Bill had done a dissertation at Harling on coypu, and Keith Skipper is trying to publish it. I suggested this could work with pictures and inserted jokes, because coypu are inherently funny, as is Keith. Bill wasn’t so sure.

Afterwards we drove to Swaffham for a very pleasant lunch with the HIgbees (Dot had parked in John Lewis). Used Apple Maps to find their house, and it worked well. Afterwards I drove home – not a great experience, as it was getting dark, pouring with rain, and there was heavy traffic on the southern bypass, occasionally at a standstill. (It was rush hour.) I turned off on the A140 and drove through the city via Hall Road. Not exactly lightning fast, but I think it was probably the best choice. My arm ached a bit afterwards, but no real problems.

Ignoring Hallowe’en in time-honoured fashion. David and grandchildren here for a few days, and this afternoon we walked up to Kett’s Heights, which is quite a climb for Norfolk. Felt pretty tired, but was happy to complete the course.

Yesterday I was signed off by the doctor at the hospital after a very swift journey through x-ray and everything else. My bone still looked pretty crooked to me, but he seemed satisfied, as did the registrar, a strikingly attractive Muslim woman. And the arm is certainly a little better every day in terms of use. However, I have arthritis in my thumb (apparently a side-effect of plaster casts), and certain movements are still quite painful. Still, could be worse.

We also spent spent quite a time yesterday getting ready for our family’s visit, part of which was shopping, and got fairly tired; so when Dot decided she would go to orchestra, I decided to stay at home.

The previous day Dot and I decided to go and see the latest Shaun the Sheep movie, Farmageddon, which was brilliant. Typically the cinema thought this was a children’s movie and so gave us a string of boring children’s ads, plus (for some reason) a very loud soundtrack. Are our children all deaf as well as obese?

Before this we played host briefly to Maryta and Holly, one of whom was very interesting and brought biscuits. Lovely to see my god–daughter.

On Sunday after church I was offered a ticket to see Norwich City play Manchester Utd; so I went with Dot. Jonathan and Naomi were there but left before Norwich scored in the 86th minute through Hernandez. By that time we were 3-0 down, having given away two penalties to VAR (one of them quite wrong, and probably both). To be fair, both were saved by Krul. We played quite poorly in terms of organisation.

The day before we had spoken at length to David on FaceTime after watching England beat New Zealand in a brilliant rugby match. Later Jo brought Maryta round. It was nice to see him. We were able to tell him we understood his job now that we had seen Official Secrets. He took this in the spirit it was intended.

Anne has just arrived for coffee: she and Dot will go into the city in due course. (They did.) For a change it’s not raining at the moment, but more is forecast before we get some settled, dry weather next week. I hope.

Yesterday it rained a lot, but we made it to the cinema to see Official Secrets, about a GCHQ employee who revealed the secret pressure exerted by the US to force a war with Iraq, and the lies told by Bush, Blair and others. Very well done. The GCHQ woman was charged, but I can’t tell you what happened because it would be a spoiler, despite the fact that it’s a true story and everyone should remember. Oddly, no-one does.

The previous day I went to Sillars orchestra practice again and spent an hour and a half in the Farmhouse pub with Neville, who is making very good progress. Turns out he was a pretty big wheel at Aviva, travelling the world, but he is very straightforward about it – plays it down if anything.

On Tuesday we had the first Cake and Compline for some time. The Archers gave us a lift to Judy’s, and we had the usual pleasant evening. Vicky and Carrie both made it, which is unusual. It’s been quite a quiet week for me – I did go into the city on Wednesday to buy some acidophilus; it was a sunny for a while, and I walked round the Cloisters on the way back, but was pretty tired afterwards.

Dot had a massage from Verena on Monday. My arm has been gradually improving. There is still some swelling around the wrist, but nearly everything is functioning properly.

Paston has been quiet. They had the Yarmouth symposium last Saturday, but I didn’t go and heard nothing about it. Sunday, of course was Amy’s 15th birthday, and we had a chat with her on Facetime after church, but she wasn’t feeling very well.

In the afternoon we went to Blofield Church for a concert by St Gregory’s Orchestra, conducted by Martin Wyatt and including Vicky Ellis on flute. Angela, Rodney, Andy and Donna were there and saved Dot and me a seat on the front row! I enjoyed a close-up of the violins, though the feeling may not have been reciprocated. Excellent concert, including much Tchaikovsky. Chatted to Martin about A, who had been disruptive again at church, and to David and Barbara Pilch about Paston events at Blofield, and exactly what was wrong with my arm (David is a GP). All good.

Had a message this morning to say that my uncle Paul had died in the early hours. He was 96 and the last surviving Lenton of his generation. For the last few years he had been living in a care home at Horsford and had a kind of dementia. I visited him last Christmas, and we talked a bit about when we used to play football together.

Mark (his youngest son) sent the message, and I spread the word by sending a text to my cousin Jonathan and an e-mail to Ann in Liverpool. I then rang Barbara but found that she and Roy had been living separately for the last three months; so I spoke to Roy, then rang Barbara In Cromer.

On Monday we went to a science/faith lecture by Prof Mike Hulme at the Cathedral on the subject of climate change. Mildly interesting, but precautions were taken to prevent any meaningful discussion; so I guess his “deny-them-oxygen” attitude hasn’t changed. Interesting phrase (he did use it, but only in the questions section).

It’s been pretty wet all week. On Tuesday we called in to see Maryta on her birthday and to eat a bit of cake. We arrived shortly before them (they’d been out to lunch) and when they did arrive Maryta wanted to leave immediately for St Benet’s Abbey. We declined this option, but the offer was repeated after the tea and cake. We declined again.

The next day I went with Dot to orchestra so that I could spend time with Neville Thrower in the nearby pub. He had been having problems following his therapy for prostate cancer and had seemed to contract a kind of epilepsy, which meant he couldn’t be left alone (his wife Mary was playing clarinet with the orchestra). However, he had recovered well following an adjustment of his medication, and he seemed fine. We had a good talk, and I managed to carry two glasses of drink from the counter across to our table, only realising halfway that I was using my left hand. I didn’t spill much.

The next day it rained again, but I took advantage of a dry period to walk to the Norfolk Record Office for a volunteers’ session on data manipulation on the Paston website. There were only two volunteers there –Sue from Mundesley and Nick from Norwich – but Peter and Gary Tuson were there with data genius David Viner. I actually understood quite a bit of it. Dot picked me up at 6.30, and we had a quick beans on toast before proceeding to St Luke’s for the book club with Carrie, which was not quite as good as last week, but OK.

Yesterday we had our hair cut and then went to Morrison’s. I put the shopping away while Dot went to pay a cheque in in the city (plus one or two other things). On her way back she got drenched in a thunderstorm downpour between the bus stop on Thorpe Road and our front door.

Still raining. Pretty miserable month weatherwise so far. Couldn’t sleep last night; so I’m feeling a bit under the weather today. On the plus side, spoke to both David and Amy on FaceTime yesterday, and got an e-mail from Oliver to say he’d been driving between Aylesbury and Caddington; so he’s getting some good practice in. David’s apartment is beginning to look good.

In the past week Dot has been to the dentist to get some chips on her teeth dealt with at some exorbitant price (about £250). However we’ve paid for her new computer without breaking into her ISA; so that’s good. I think I could probably drive now, but we’re managing Ok with just the MX5 at the moment; so I’m in no great hurry to buy a new car. Checked with Swinton’s to see if I had to declare my three points, but apparently I don’t until I renew. So that’s good too.

On Wednesday last week we went up to Jarrolds for the launch of Keith Skipper’s new book and new publishing company – The Norfolk Almanac and Harnser Press. Two very funny speeches – one by Keith and the other by Richard Batson. Sat with Robin and Shelagh and said hello to Adrian Bell of Mousehold Press and to Terry Reeve, the sage of Bungay. Apparently Angela Kennedy was there, but I didn’t see her. Don’t know how I managed that, because I know her very well. Dot skipped off after Keith’e speech to go to orchestra (we had parked in Colegate).

The next day the weather wasn’t too bad; so we drove to North Walsham to put flowers in the cemetery – hadn’t been for some time. Afterwards decided to call in on the Knees. Just Penny at first, but Rob turned up later – he’d been to Norwich! Again, hadn’t seen them for some time; so it was nice to have a chat and catch up with the latest on the Footprints project. (Matt has resigned but doesn’t go till the end of the year.) Picked up my regular pills on the way home. Still taking the occasional paracetamol for my arm, but codeine only very rarely.

Paul came round on Friday afternoon for tea and cake. Nice to see him on his own and with no shouting. On Saturday Dot and I walked to the shops. Loads of traffic around. Yesterday drove to church for Holy Communion. Really good sermon from Sarah, but she seemed a bit down.

Bit drier today after a very, very wet Sunday, with continuous rain nearly all day and lots of flooding in and around Norwich. We got to church all right, though – which is just as well, as I was leading the service. Quite a small congregation, boosted by a couple of visitors, who apparently were impressed by the way we handled a pretty disruptive A, who arrived late and tried to make himself the centre of attention even more than usual. Not sure what was wrong with him.

Dot and I declined an invitation from Debbie to go with her to North Norfolk in the afternoon to hear some talks on Israel – partly because of the weather and partly because we were tired after a busy day on Saturday. I had walked with Dot to Carrow Road – where I had a brief encounter with former colleague Trevor Burton – then later up to St Andrew’s Hall, where we heard the Mozart Orchestra play some very good Smetana, some rather ordinary Ravel and some scintillating Rimsky-Korsakov (Scheherazade). Brilliant violin from Fiona Hutchins.

Ran into a number of friends at the concert – most interestingly former colleague Annie Ogden, who had broken her wrist in August while on holiday in the Orkneys!! Amazing coincidence, especially as she did it in Pierowall on Westray, which was one of our favourite places. What is it about the Orkneys and broken bones?

While on the subject of broken bones, I should mention that my plaster came off on Wednesday, which was a tremendous relief. However, having a former plaster is no fun either. Though my arm is getting more mobile, it is still swollen and very sore (especially around the wrist), and the skin continues to be itchy. Still, at least I can get at it. The doctor seemed very smug that his no-operation policy had (apparently) been successful.

While I was having my plaster off Dot was spending 25 minutes parking the car, which meant she lost track of me, but I found her when I emerged from x-ray – where there had been long queues – to see her sitting in the main orthopaedics area with Mary and Neville Thrower. Neville has been in a bad way recently with prostate cancer and complications which mean he can’t be left on his own.

In the evening Dot dropped me at the Adam and Eve, where Peter Sargent was having a reading of his new book with Paul Dickson. Not many people there, but it was great to see Rita, the licensee, who used to run the ECN social club. She seemed very pleased to see me. Not sure why. Also had a good chat with Milton Lindsay, a former weeklies sub-editor, and with Pete himself.

On Thursday evening Dot and I decided to stir ourselves and went to the book club session being started by Carrie at St Luke’s. I had no high hopes, but it turned out to be very good. Also present: Sarah, Harriet, Judy, Nicky… The book was by Brian McLaren.

Had to get up early this morning because we had the stair carpet cleaned at 9am. Haven’t been upstairs since.

And so we edge hesitantly into October. It’s still reasonably warm, but we’ve had large amounts of rain in the last few days, some of it very heavy. This morning I just got back from the Archant coffee morning as it started again. Dot stayed in the city to lunch with Sue and Helen, and needed her umbrella on the way home.

Robin and Shelagh are in the Brecon Beacons, but we got over that. My plaster cast is still a conversation piece. I hate it. I would burn it if I were not in it. Too heavy, too itchy.

We got a “get well” card today from Amy and Oliver, depicting a snail, which is roughly how I feel. Very nice of them, though. Dot actually went to Lionwood surgery this afternoon and got a clean bill of health on her ribs/lungs. She may have a fungus under her toenail, but apparently it’s not serious and nothing to do with diabetes, which is what she was worried about.

I’ve finished Dark Fire, which is an excellent, compelling book. We’ve started watching Unbelievable on Netflix, which is also very high quality.

Dot went to orchestra last Wednesday and got on pretty well, though she had to take a break in the middle. The next day Phil and Caren Gazley brought us a meal, which they cooked here and ate with us. They also left one for the following day. Very kind people, and nice food too.

I saw Phil again the next day (after we’d had our hair cut), when he explained his vision about training teams of volunteers in the community. He wants me to edit the training manual. I have curiously mixed feelings about it: basically it’s a really good idea, but the mechanics are a bit off-putting, though that may be just me. It could certainly be useful these days, when professional social workers are so thin on the ground. It probably needs an app.

Continuing our Gazley connection, we met the in the city on Saturday to go to a couple of art shows – one in the undercroft and one in the Theatre Royal. The latter (photography) was particularly good. We tried to get in the Assembly House for lunch, but it was full; so we ate at M&S. Afterwards we got rid of our non-legal-tender £10 note and paid in a cheque (road tax refund) at the bank, then picked up my bent glasses from Boots, who had miraculously straightened them. I had laid on them on the bed while trying to put my trousers on.

Sunday was the big day, though it rained again. We had a joint service at St Luke’s, at which I was commissioned as an authorised worship assistant, which is only 39 steps below Bishop. This legitimised what i had been doing for about a quarter of a century; so that’s all right. Ten others were similarly commissioned by the Dean, who did a great job. All being well, we shall be going to Israel with her. It was a really nice occasion.