And a slightly earlier view of the same twins, I believe. Nice solid pram.
Very quiet bank holiday – sunny in the morning but quite cool and windy. Dot did some gardening, and I caught up with a backlog of stuff I needed to read and then file or discard. We’re going our for a meal this evening, because I’m playing chess tomorrow.
The twins – my aunt and uncle, Ken and Dorothy, on a mountain somewhere. Either Zimbabwe or Israel, I should think. Any other offers?
Feeling better now, and we did make the Waterways launch, with some nice Pimms. Another Pim, Keiron, was there with Rowan, as were Rachel Hore, John Drake and the amazing Mr Rupert Mallin, who made a short speech and looked the part. Dragon Hall superb. Dot and I went along with one of the walks, but she wasn’t feeling so good, so we went home after a bit. Her throat still (today) isn’t better, but we did do a bit of Open Studios:
Called in at Espresso opposite St Andrew’s Hall for what Dot called one of the best cappucinos she’s had and a more-than-decent cup of tea for me.
Did my second sermon in a row at church after Nicholas escaped to France – fancies himself as the Scarlet Pimpernel in reverse, I think.
Just watched a totally brilliant Buster Keaton film, The Goat, on TV. Very, very clever and outrageously funny.
Not a very bright week. Bug comes and goes now, but I’ve had to cancel everything. Hope to be able to make the opening of Rupert’s Waterways extravaganza tomorrow evening. I have written my column though, and I made it down to Whitlingham to check up on a few things for the lead piece, which stemmed from a single source. Weather not inspiring, either.
Happily David, Vicky and grandchildren seem well. This is a great photo of Amy in a sea of pink.
My oldest uncle, Leonard, marrying his second wife, Eugenie, in Africa. I never met either of them, though I did correspond with him for a while, and with his son Howard, who is now also dead.
Not a fun day. Have felt lousy with pains in the head and most other places, upset stomach and extreme tiredness. Had to cancel chess game tonight. Matches the weather, which is also grey, damp and tired.
A very grey day with plenty of rain. Seemed lifeless. After church we spent most of the day watching TV, including the last two episodes of Firefly. It seems unbelievable that a series as good as this could have been axed. Everything about it is wonderful.
Yesterday’s party at Aldeburgh was excellent. We called in at Snape on the way, visited galleries and shops and had a cup of tea. Beautiful place despite the grey and windy weather. Ran into Pete and Ed (almost literally) as we drove into Aldeburgh, and after visiting the famous scallop sculpture on the beach and calling in at Thorpe Ness, we returned to Aldeburgh to join the dynamic duo, plus Vicky and Jared, for a drink in a pub. The party house was perfect, with a first-floor lounge looking directly on to the beach, and the sea not 50 yards away.
And the photograph? Oh, that’s on the coast too. Not sure where – maybe Dovercourt. It’s me and my two brothers, Andrew and Philip, plus cousin Adrian, who has since died. Somewhere around 1960, I wouldn’t wonder.
This beach scene was taken at Sheringham, probably in the early 1930s. It features my grandmother and my mother (in the background). No sign of my father. The other two may be Paul and Kathleen or two completely different people.
I thought I’d use a beach picture today, because this afternoon we’re off to Aldeburgh for a party for David Archer, who’s 40. Quite a number of people from the church will be there, with the result that I am leading and preaching at church tomorrow following a late-night drive back. Most of them have booked in for the night. Must keep arrangements quiet or numbers will be hit. Must remember not to put it on the Internet. Whoops – too late.
Windy and wet – not beach weather at the moment.
I’ve been doing some more family tree research today, looking at some stuff from the 1861 census, among other things. My great-grandparents are very elusive. I can only assume they were hiding from the census man. Or I’m not looking in the right place.
I’ve established that my grandparents were in Mansfield at least from 1906 to 1909. Leonard, Reg and Frank were all born there. There was also an intriguing entry for an Eva May Lenton born in 1908 who I suppose might have been a baby who died shortly after birth – or on the other hand someone else entirely.
And I have established that my father was born in 1913 – bizarre, as I’d always thought he’d been born in 1912. But I’ve seen the entry. He was the first Lenton born in Norwich, so they must have moved between 1910 and 1912, I guess. He and my mother married in August 1937.
And the picture – that’s them in the back garden of our house in The Chesils, Coventry, probably 1954 or 1955. It’s still there, and looks pretty much the same. From the front, anyway.
Dot has been out all day training to be an inspector of church schools. Not a pleasant day as far as the weather goes. Extremely windy and often wet, though not cold. This evening we’re off to the Last Wine Bar with Philip and Anne Robinson, to celebrate her birthday.
And here’s the birthday boy at our “Into the 60s” celebration meal at the end of last month. Clearly almost 34, he is seen chatting with other guests – Angela (our bridesmaid in 1968), her husband Rodney, and the justly famous Auntie Ethel.
We’re having a fairly quiet day after speaking to David on webcam. I went to the doctor’s to check I was still alive (I am) and am now thinking about what I am going to say on Sunday.
Well, it was probably summer 1973. My son David with his first girl friend, Caroline, daughter of my cousin Patricia. This picture was taken at Holly Bank, our first house, in Yelverton. The garden is in a pretty basic state, so good for playing in. Tomorrow is his 34th birthday.
Another picture of Reg and Dorothy’s wedding in 1932, this one with my mother and father in the background – a picture I had not seen until recently. This was before they married – they may have been engaged – and they look, I have to say, an attractive young couple. Or am I biased?