The gas man cameth while I was at church last Sunday, and he got our central heating  going again. Apparently a safety switch that I didn’t know existed had popped out. We don’t know why, but since he adjusted everything, our water is boiling hot. I’ve turned it down once and may have to do so again. Still, everything is working.

Later we went to the Hendersons for a light supper, and later still Paul drove us (without Maryta) to the Theatre Royal for a concert by a St Petersburg orchestra; Prokoviev’s 1st, Rachmaninov’s 4th and Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherezade. Or something like that. It was very good: Dot loved the last one – one of her favourites.

On Monday we went for lunch with Angela and Rodney at what used to be the Ugly Bug at Colton, but is now the Norfolk Lurcher. We all had fish and chips, which was very pleasant. Beforehand we viewed the new Ellis kitchen, which was pretty impressive, and afterwards we went back for tea/coffee before hastening home to get our hair cut (Linda had rescheduled from the previous week).

David, Oliver and Amy arrived late on Wednesday, and on Thursday we walked into the city before having to leave them to see a play at the Hostry Festival that we had booked up for months before. Very good it was too: Anglian Mist, performed by the Stuff of Dreams Theatre Company in the round. We were very close to the actors, and it was extremely impressive to watch their concentration and all-round skill.

That was in the afternoon. In the evening we watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I’d forgotten how good a film it is.

Yesterday the weather turned a good deal chillier, but it was still dry. We had an early lunch and drove to Winterton, where we had a traditional and good game of hide-and-seek in the dunes (north side) before wandering on to the beach, where we had a little sun and saw a couple of seals in the water. Then we drove home via Sea Palling and Happisburgh and watched Wonder Woman in the evening. Another good film with some interesting similarities to Crouching Tiger, and some Christian symbolism too. Worked very well.

This morning we had breakfast at Costa on Prince of Wales Road before David, Oliver and Amy left for Bishop’s Stortford, where they had a date with the Coomes family. It was really lovely having them here: we’re lucky they’re such lovely children, and David isn’t bad either… He gave us a bit of an insight into what he’s developing in Canada.

After lunch, Dot went to watch City lose 2-1 to Derby while I went to the Hostry to see a Julian-based  production involving music and dancing which actually wasn’t very good. I met Judy outside, and the vicar arrived independently and quite late. He seemed quite taken with it, though he didn’t appear enthralled while it was taking place. I though the dancing was a bit predictable, the music untuneful and the words (apart from Julian’s own) unimaginative. Lots of people looked at their watches.

After walking with Judy to the bus stop by the station, I walked up the road and into the cemetery to get my mileage up. This has been a pretty good month in terms of consistency. I am also noting my blood pressure over a week for the benefit of my surgery. Big difference between morning and evening. Clocks go back tonight.

Living in a rather strange world at the moment, because our heating and hot water are not working, which throws everything out. Yesterday morning, when we realised it had happened, we decided to go to Diss, which is a pretty radical solution, but there happened to be an exhibition  by Martin Laurance on at DesignerMakers21 that we wanted to see.

We took the back route, which made it quite a pleasant drive, and found the exhibition but unfortunately not Annette and Mike, who work at DM21 but were not in. The exhibition was as always good quality, but we can’t afford his work nowadays. Afterwards we crossed the road to the Corn Hall, which has been beautifully restored, to see Maggi Hambling‘s exhibition, which was even less affordable, the cheapest picture coming in at £2750. If I had £2750 to spare, I would rather buy two or three Laurance pictures than one Hambling, though they are very good.

We had a drink at the cafe and looked round the building, then walked down to the Mere, which I had never seen, despite several visits to Diss. It was really quite striking. Also called in at a lovely delicatessen before heading back to Goodies, a superb farm shop south of Long Stratton, where we stocked up a bit. Then back to a rather chilly house, where we got out the electric fire and started an actual fire, with wood we had bought at Goodies. Rather smokey, but good once it settled down.

The previous day we had also been on the road – down to Caddington for Amy’s birthday. She is 13, and we had bought her a seat from Blakeney that she had picked out when on holiday. Dot drove down and we arrived in good time to walk up to the shop and around the village a bit, getting up our walking mileage. I have now walked over two miles every day for over a week.

We stayed with Amy while Oliver went swimming (transported by David, of course),, and she showed tremendous flair as always in redesigning her room. I found a story I had written her years ago c called Amy and the Runaway Dream, which I read to her while lying on the floor. It brought home two me (a) that it was quite a clever story and (b) that it was very hard to speak while lying on my back because of the catarrh that has plagued me for weeks, if not months.

Dot had made a cake for Amy, and we ate it when the boys returned. We then headed back to Norwich with me driving, and arrived just after 11.30pm. It had been very windy all day, and by late evening it was very cold too, as it still is this morning.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, I went to my second Jurnet’s poetry night and read two old poems, Pick-up-sticks and All this death. Generally speaking the quality of poetry was much higher than last time. Rupert and Hilary were both there.

At the moment we’re waiting for the British Gas engineer – at least Dot is: she is staying home while I go to church, partly because it means she can watch the Ipswich-Norwich match on Sky (her phone). It’s an ill wind…

Turned cooler again today after a couple of warm days – especially yesterday at Blakeney, where Dot and I bought a birthday present for Fluffy. Walked around a bit, trying to get a phone signal to check we had the right design, and had lunch in the Methodist Church cafe, which was very pleasant, especially the chutney, which apparently came from Tesco’s.

It was admittedly a bit breezy – the edge of Hurricane Ophelia, which at the time was battering Wales and Ireland, but the warmth triumphed. Later on, when we had visited Jessie and called in at Sainsbury’s in North Walsham, the sky turned dark grey and yellow. It was decidedly eerie, because the wind had dropped and it felt unearthly. Looked as if we were going to get a downpour, but it remained dry and we got home with no trouble.

Earlier I had visited the surgery for a blood pressure test and actually got a nurse who listened to what I said and booked me in to see a doctor – not till November, though.

Back last Thursday Dot had been to the dental surgeon for the next stage of her implant, and felt so dodgy afterwards that I decided to drive her to Carleton Rode, where she had to attend the feedback from a SIAMS inspection. She got through that OK, while I chatted up a few locals in the church and went for a short walk. In the evening she managed to join us for Cake and Compline at the Archers’.

We took Judy to that, and the next day she parked at ours and we all walked to the Julian Centre, where we had volunteered to help with their Julian & Fursey weekend, led by a Greek Orthodox priest from San Antonio in Texas. He was brilliant, and his wife had a long talk with Dot.

This concluded on Saturday, and Judy and I walked there again while Dot recuperated in bed. She came to the Centre for coffee, the second talk and for lunch, and then went back to prepare for Norwich City v Hull, which ended 1-1 after we scored in 96th minute. At the time I was walking to meet her when I heard a roar and the taxi drivers started hooting. Sadly (or not), hundreds or thousands of spectators had already left the ground.

Judy and I had heard the last talk and made sure everything was tidied up before we left about 4.10pm. I had a quick chat with the priest before we went.  Sunday was quite quiet, though the service was fairly long, Howard leading and not being inclined to hurry. Quite rightly, of course.

Another thing that happened on Saturday was that the EDP finally got round to publishing the news that the Paston Footprints project had been awarded £374,400. They could have made more of it, I think. Still, it’s out there now. No turning back, as they say.

Colin came last Saturday to do some tidying up. He pulled the roses and a few other things off next-door’s roof, removed the clematis and cut the tops off the fir trees at the front – which now look a complete mess. We’ll probably have to cut them down next year. I understand they’re at the end of their life. They certainly look it.

On Sunday I preached at church on Psalm 19 – a good one, if you have a minute or two. The Psalm, not the sermon.

Still no MX5 on Monday – in fact we didn’t get it back till yesterday. I have to admit the wheels look good, and the cost was slightly less than I expected, given that we had to have a new tyre. I don’t know if this was anything to do with their wanting cash for the wheel job…

Yesterday was pretty busy, all round. I started with a visit to the dentist to check on my crown, which has been uncomfortable. It’s still uncomfortable, but I got some free laser treatment, which was supposed to reduce inflammation. I got the impression they didn’t really know what was wrong, and nor do I. My whole jaw aches sometimes.

In the afternoon I went to Blofield to visit Barbara Pilch and talk about the forthcoming History Day, at which I’m supposed to be contributing some information on Paston tombs. Some research looms. I also called in at the church, where Barbara’s husband David was doing some tidying up. We used to be in the same class at school, but he became a GP. He showed me some interesting medieval stones they’d unearthed. Afterwards I went for a short walk. I’m trying to walk two miles a day. Today I failed miserably.

After Blofield yesterday Dot and I went to the cinema to see the latest Kingsman film, which was fun but undemanding. Needed a bit of relaxation.

Today I went to a Footprints meeting at County Hall, where we met Sophie Cabot and talked about the forthcoming Hungate exhibition.  Officially we haven’t started the Footprints project yet. If you went by the EDP you wouldn’t know anything was happening, because I sent them a press release two days ago, and nothing has appeared. You would have thought that the award of £374,400 might have merited some attention.

In fact the whole thing was almost called off because Karen was ill, but someone stepped in to guarantee cover for her if she can’t cope. She was at our meeting today and looked much better. I hope this is a lasting improvement.

David has arrived back in England after his two weeks in Canada, and we spoke to him (and Amy) on FaceTime tonight. Apparently all went well.

Yesterday we went to Houghton Hall. We had been planning a visit for a while, to see the Richard Long exhibition, which is coming to an end in a couple of weeks’ time. We took the Hendersons, and the journey both ways was difficult – stuck behind slow-moving vehicles on the way there and embroiled in rush-hour city traffic on the way back. Made the mistake of following sat-nav instead of checking the route I used to take, which would have been much better.

Still, Houghton Hall is a lovely place – both the house and the grounds – and the exhibition was pretty good too. It was worth it, even taking into consideration the high price of entry.

The day before we’d been to the cinema to see Victoria and Abdul, which was very well done, though I suspect that Abdul benefited from a bit of rose-tinting. Beautifully acted and directed.

On Tuesday I went to the Archant coffee morning, with Maryta absent at something weird, like walking netball, and Dot and Paul at Horstead on a Diocesan DSSO Day, which apparently went very well. Meanwhile Dot’s car has been taken into Kwik-Fit to have its wheels refurbished, after I discovered that the front two tyres had gone completely flat over the holiday period. It was supposed to be back today, but it isn’t.

It’s turned chilly this week. Dot and I went to the supermarket today, and we both got in a walk. She walked to Morrisons and back, and I walked up to the Cathedral, playing my angel role to help a couple from West Norfolk who couldn’t find the room where they were supposed to be attending a meal.

Incidentally, Morrisons is undertaking a complete refit. In Dot’s words, it looks a bit like Waitrose. Not a lot, because it’s only half finished, but I can see what she means.

On Sunday Dot stayed behind after church to play ceilidh music with Anna and Phil, and I walked home. Felt very hot and took a while to recover. Think I was wearing too much. I have booked an appointment with the dentist because my mouth is very uncomfortable following the fixing of a new crown.

Just back from a week in Wales, during which we stayed in a cottage behind the Ty Gwyn 16C coaching inn at Betws-y-Coed. For a full description of its peculiarities, see my website.

We left Norwich on Friday the 22nd – after Dot had gone for a walk with Anne – and after a lengthy diversion from the A14 because of horrendous traffic, stayed the night at the Macdonald Ansty Hall Hotel , which was in a nice position just outside Coventry. Dinner there was good, and breakfast was excellent, but Dot developed a twisted knee, which caused problems later.

The next morning we visited Andrew, who seemed anxious. After taking him for a very short walk, Dot and I went to Boots for knee support and a couple of other things. Drove to Telford Services, where we had coffee, and then to Corwen. Saw Adrian and Clarissa for  a cup of tea before driving to Betws. Access to the cottage was not easy, to put it mildly. Because of Dot’s bad knee, I had to carry everything in up a steep path, including irregular steps. Bit of a challenge, though. Cottage nice in many ways. Not a very good night.

On Sunday we woke late, had breakfast and went back to bed. We then Drove to Ogden Cottage and walked up to the lake. It was damp, and chilly at times, though generally not cold. Annoyingly, I did not take my phone on the walk because it was not charging properly, and so my holiday mileage was affected. (What a disaster, I hear you say.) After a cup of tea in the cafe, we drove across the hills to Llanberis and up to the house we’d stayed in with David and the children. Then on through Llanberis pass behind an  idiot driving at a maximum of 30mph, mainly less. Walkers in very windy road; so couldn’t overtake. Back in Betws bought bread, withdrew money and got petrol. Had supper in hotel. Raining quite hard. Met Blackpool couple while eating.

Much better night. Drove into Betws on the Monday and Dot got new knee support  – better fit, but later on she abandoned it. Took “selfie”pix of river for two couples. Drove through Beddgelert to Criccieth. Had lunch there (mushroom omelette + excellent chips). Ate outside – very warm. Walked to pier with ice cream, then drove to Morfa Nefyn, recommended by Adrian, but cloud came in and Dot’s knee hurt, so instead of walking, we drove to Dinas Dinlle, where we’d taken children some years ago. Walked on the promenade and beach, and I climbed hill. Convoluted but interesting drive to Blaenau Festiniog to find station. Then back to Betws. Not much room to park at hotel. A5 closed. Never found out why.

Tuesday was mild but mainly cloudy. Spent morning looking round Betws y Coed (=sanctuary in the trees) and bought some tops. Went to Tourist Information  and saw good film of Snowdon. Felt a bit ill, but drove to Llanberis via Bethesda and improved. Another mushroom omelette at cafe there, then took last train up Snowdon (4pm). Chilly and cloudy at top but clear most of way. Saw house we stayed in. Cost of ticket £58 for both of us.  Watched some TV: Norwich won 1-0 away against Middlesbrough.

Wednesday was cooler. Rain set in before 3pm. Not a good night again. Drove to Bala. Stopped on way to climb hill / quarry, despite warning notices.   Started raining on and off and quite a cool breeze near the top (1700ft). Near Bala visited Mary Jones World after tea and sandwiches. It told the story of a teenage girl who walked 26 miles to buy a Bible in Welsh, and how that led to setting up of Bible Society.   (We’d received the leaflet by post in Norwich.) Quick visit  to the lake afterwards, but it started raining hard and we drove back to Betws to get changed for our evening meal at Corwen, which turned out really well. Picked up Adrian and Clarissa, met Tish and Glaves at Indian. Very good meal. Saw Nigel at pub afterwards. Drove home. Raining still, but not so hard.

Thursday was dry, a bit cooler but some sun. Drove to Portmeiron and spent day there: £10 each. Guided walk, train, headland walk.  Lunch – average burger, good pizza. Felt ill for while at end – very tired. Drove via Festiniog, stopped for a while. Wasted evening watching bad Musketeers film.

Bright periods and showers on Friday. Walked up path from house until we came to road on Mount Garmion. Walked a bit further then back down road to house. Started to rain as we drove through Betws: stopped in layby far side of Chapel Curig for a while, then drove back to Ugly House (very pretty) and had tea and scones. Back to house, then to Conwy Falls, where we saw salmon jumping. Drove to Llanwrst then to Chapel Garmion. Then got petrol. Ate at hotel. Watched TV and did some packing.

Today started very wet, which meant I got soaked taking everything down to the car. As we drove east the weather improved. Dot drove as far as the Services on the M6 toll, and I drove to Waitrose at Wymondham. Dot drove the rest of way. Very easy journey.

Aylsham volunteers’ meeting

The Hendersons arrived more than half an hour early for supper on Saturday, but Dot took it remarkably well and made a lovely meal too. Maryta was worried about her lone trip to see the gorillas in Uganda, which started on Wednesday, but she has since rung to say things have sorted themselves out, which was a bit surprising.

On Sunday I led the service and Dot led the prayers, following which we decided to go for a walk in the woods – in this case Bacton Woods, which neither of us had been in before. Quite surprising, given their proximity to North Walsham. We had an enjoyable walk, marred only by the number of dogs both visible and audible. Afterwards we dropped in on Jessie.

Monday saw our rearranged visit to the Coomes – quite a good journey both ways, other than the usual but hardly surprising difficulty in reaching the North Circular in rush hour on the way back. Kristine made a lovely dark chocolate cake, and David managed to appear upbeat, given that he is now restricted to a wheelchair if he wants to move around. Kristine has  a Werder Bremen duck in the bathroom; so I took a picture and put it on Twitter to encourage Norwich City’s new star, Tom Trybull, who used to be with the duck people. I don’t know if he saw it, but he had an outstanding game on Tuesday, when NCFC beat Brentford 3-1 away in the EFL Cup.

Meanwhile David’s former wife Anne is in Florida, very worried about the approach of Hurricane Maria.

On Tuesday Dot and I went to Helen’s for the initial meeting of this year’s sugar charity campaign. I seem to have got lumbered with writing a story for the EDP. I just can’t say no to such nice people. Always been my problem.

In the evening I went to Jurnet’s poetry evening, part-run by Hilary Mellon, because Rupert Mallin was in the guest spot. Very good he was too, and I read a couple of poems at the open mic spot, one of which I had only finished that afternoon (From a Distance; also Fences). There was also some folk music, and it was all rather reassuring, because it made me realise that the Seagull was actually pretty good. Meanwhile Dot was attending a church meeting on safeguarding, which she said, surprisingly, was rather good too.

Yesterday was busy. I had a lunch meeting with Joy and Adrian Bell, of Mousehold Press, during which I ate too much and felt quite ill afterwards. Still, we made some decisions about our next tanka book, Norfolk Ways. Afterwards I dashed home in time to drive to Aylsham for the PHS Volunteers’ Meeting, which attracted about ten people. Rob and Peter introduced it, and I wasn’t really needed, but I’m glad I put in an appearance.

It was Paston again this morning: I was at Mundesley by 10.45 for another Footprints meeting. We’ve had the result of our bid for over £300,000, but I can’t reveal what it is for another week or two. The HLF certainly knows how to eke things out. On the way back I got in a queue of cars from North Walsham which was struggling to reach an average of 40mph. I managed to overtake one of them, but the traffic coming out of Norwich was very heavy. I now have a blood pressure machine, but I decided that arriving home was not a good time to use it.

We have booked into at Coventry hotel for tomorrow night – calling in to see Andrew on the way to Wales. Before that I have a lot to do, including the minutes to this morning’s meeting and getting my hair cut by Linda, who forgot to come on Tuesday, probably because she’d just moved house.

Rather damp this week. Take yesterday, for example. Paul and I started early at the Mousehold pitch and putt to avoid forecast rain from noon, and it all worked well, except that I played abominably, apart from one rather good pitch out of a bunker. Felt exhausted at the end, though. It did rain quite a lot in the afternoon, and on the road to Halesworth in the evening there was a lot of water on the road.

There was a smaller attendance than usual at Pinky’s, and I read three poems: Ghosts walking (which I’d written a few hours before), Gardener’s cottage and one that will probably be called Fences, which goes back to when I was 15: clearly this had been inspired by Oliver becoming 15 on Monday. Nina (Roffey) said I sounded melancholy, and I wondered if it was the beta blockers. I also forgot my glasses and had to borrow Kaaren’s.

I was prescribed the beta blockers on Tuesday by Dr Nene, after a brief discussion during which I became less and less coherent – and that was to me. I refused to go back on the Amlodopine, but my blood pressure was something like 160/116, which didn’t help. He wasn’t interested in any of my symptoms. I have now ordered a blood pressure monitor from Amazon, on the advice of my friend Joy, England’s quintessential tanka poet, who also used to be an iconic nurse. She took my blood pressure on Wednesday when I had lunch with her, and she said it was 120/70. Can that be possible?

We had a long talk about life, the universe and anything, and I’m supposed to write to Adrian about our joint book, but my first attempt has failed to deliver, which seems ominous, since I used his company address.

Another failure on Thursday: we were intending to visit Kristine and David and hesitated till the last minute because Dot had not been feeling well and was having stomach issues. In the end we put it off till Monday, and I did my tax return.

I omitted to mention that I went to a Cake and Compline event at Claire’s on Tuesday, giving Judy a lift. Dot went to the Norwich City match against Burton, which resulted in a  0-0 draw. It was windy and wet, but I had some excellent jam tarts at Claire’s. Dot is now preparing a meal for tonight, when the Hendersons are visiting.

Feeling very autumnal today – and yesterday, in fact, when Dot and I decided to take a Heritage Day opportunity to look at the North Walsham and Dilham Canal after church. We started walking along the bank in a rather chilly wind but had to turn back and avail  ourselves of the facilities. Still, we picked up a nice map and booklet and will explore further in future. We took the opportunity to visit the cemetery.

I was a bit nervous about the church bit, because I was preaching again and decided to talk about the problems facing the church, the way it behaved like a business and so on. When I wrote it I overlooked the fact that the vicar would be there, though I was informed of this the day before when I met Chris and Ray Fiske in the old church. What was I doing in the old church? I was greeting visitors for another aspect of the Heritage Weekend. I sat for an hour in the afternoon (while Dot prepared to go to Carrow Road), and by the time I left (at 3pm) there had been just over 60 visitors in total. I had a couple of interesting conversations, though, and managed to direct two people to the Quaker Cemetery down the road, which was in fact locked. I didn’t know that. They didn’t seem to mind.

Anyway, most people seemed to like the sermon, and the vicar didn’t say anything. I idid get a couple of texts and an e-mail from Debbie, though.

Earlier in the week the DCC meeting mentioned last time went reasonably well, and on the Wednesday Dot and I drove to Coventry to see Andrew. We took him into the city and bought some much needed clothes, mainly from Marks and Spencer’s, but some shoes from Clarks and a watch from Hinds, the jeweller’s, not to mention a razor from Boots. We also had something to eat in the M&S cafe. Andrew seemed quite hungry, although he’d had lunch, which we hadn’t. Helen and staff at Minster Lodge were very pleased to see us, or if not, pretended well.

On the way back we were warned by our satnav that we should travel by an alternative route through Papworth because of a traffic jam on the A14. I had already decided to do this anyway, but it showed the satnav was on the ball.

The next day (Thurs) we had a Footprints meeting at Mundesley. This was odd, in that on the way there I was feeling decidedly under the weather, but immediately on arriving I felt bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and contributed to the meeting in a much more positive way than I normally do. Afterwards I called in at Jessie’s, where I had dropped Dot, for lunch.

Another big day on Friday, but not till late, after I’d had a go at the Footprints minutes and the sermon. We drove down to Caddington to meet the school returnees at 4.30pm, having purchased something to eat at the Co-op. We were delivering Oliver’s birthday card, small present and some cash: his main present is a computer game which isn’t released till later this month. He was already immersed in Destiny 2, the computer game of the moment, which his father had bought him.

Anyway, we stayed with Amy while Oliver and his father went swimming (well, only Oliver was swimming, but his father took him), and we played Pictionary, followed by charades. On being told that I couldn’t draw, Amy said I only had to draw quickly and with clarity. So that was all right. We stayed quite late, and on the way home we had to find a way round a piece of the A505 that was being resurfaced. We managed OK, though we put on about six miles in order to travel what would have been less than one.

Today I finished editing the holiday pictures and put some on Flickr and one on Facebook. I have the opportunity to play in a blitz chess tournament tonight, but I don’t think I will.

The Redgraves came to Norwich on Friday last week, and the weather improved. Jane and Archie went shopping, while Dot, John and I took tiny and hyperactive dog Bear for a walk along Riverside. We did not get far until Bear refused to go any further. We turned back and he refused to deviate from our route back, knowing where to cross the road and which road to turn up.  Later he was put in a cage while we had lunch cooked by Dot.

On Saturday Dot had an afternoon of Summer Strings at St Cuthbert’s, which she really enjoyed. On Sunday I preached on “Here I am, send me” and later went to the Seagull, where Dot and I (by popular request – i.e. Kaaren) played three songs: Sunset Woman, Where You Go I Will Follow and Here I Am. I also slipped in a couple of poems: Blakeney Point and The Ghost. I think the former needs a bit of work, but the latter is quite good. Lots of people at the Seagull, and we got home very late, but watched the football highlights.

I had a good sleep that night, unlike last night, after I had played in the Dons Knockout Chess Tournament against Steve Moore. I played quite well at first, but then missed a possibility in complications, which lost immediately. Steve sportingly allowed me to play on to Move 30, though I’m sure he could have disposed of me earlier if he’d put his mind to it. Really nice bloke, and it was good chatting to other club members, who seem to want  me back playing regularly, but the after-effects are no good. I probably need to put it all behind me.

This morning Dot and I went to the Archant coffee morning, the Hendersons being conspicuous by their absence. Later I had my new crown put in by the dentist, which was easier than I thought it would be. Let’s hope that the same can be said for tonight’s DCC meeting.