Monthly Archives: November 2007

28 November 2007

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My lovely grand-daughter Amy is pictured on the trampoline I tripped over a few weeks ago, injuring my ribs. All OK now, and my trips to the chiropractor (actually provoked by something else entirely) are now down to one a fortnight. Cunningly I have managed to switch chiropractors – not because the one treating me was no good (he did the job well and is quite pleasant) – but because I prefer the other one’s less vigorous technique. Also he’s Canadian.

A very busy few days since my last post. As it turned out we didn’t do a poetry reading at the Open Studios event, but it all went very well indeed, despite the very cold weather – inside the factory as well as outside. Several friends came, and Dot and I bought a few cards and a couple of blocks. Coincidentally, when David visited on the Sunday he picked out the same blocks, not knowing we had bought them.

The family were up for the weekend to celebrate Dot’s birthday. We took a bus into town on the Saturday, and Dot and I walked around the close-to-icy streets with Oliver and Amy while David and Vicky did some shopping. We popped into Langleys, the toy shop in the Arcade, and Oliver decided he would like just about everything for Christmas. After lengthy deliberation he got a coach to be going on with, and Amy got two or three smaller things. We stopped for a drink and then got the bus back. Norwich City had won a football match for the first time for months – 2-0 against Coventry.

On the Sunday I was preaching and playing guitar at church, though not simultaneously. We followed this with an excellent lunch at Prezzo’s, and then David and I went to see how the Open Studios were going. In the evening I went to the Ambient Wonder music event at St Augustine’s and wished I’d made the extra effort to perform, because they had all the right equipment. It would have been difficult though, because there would have been no opportunity to rehearse or tune up. As it was I introduced Jackson Browne’s Fountain of Sorrow as one of my favourite songs.

On Monday I avoided losing at chess by the expedient of not playing. My stomach was a bit upset, or I might have gone up for a casual game, but instead I stayed at home while Dot went to a YFC meeting. I finished my short story entry for the Fish competition and sent it off. It was a bit rushed, but not bad. I don’t think it will win anything. Yesterday I completed the St Augustine’s Christmas drama, including choice of carols and readings. I went to the Tuesday meal at the Archers’ (shepherdess pie) and allocated the key roles to David and Bridget. No messing. Dot was at a head teachers’ meeting at Trowse. Wrote a carol.

I also had my blood tested. Results will go to the hospital, and I’m hoping that the PSA level will be down. Norwich won again last night – 3-1 away at Blackpool. Strange times.

22 November 2007

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Dot’s birthday. I can’t reveal which one, obviously. The picture shows her lovely as ever. We are going out for a meal tonight with friends, which will be a bit tricky, as I am on a weight-losing regime. I’ve lost almost half a stone in a couple of weeks, which is quite pleasing. My stomach was getting much too prominent. Hope I can keep it up (the weight loss, not the stomach). I don’t really know what got me started; I must have caught sight of myself or something.

I went to see the nurse on Tuesday – not because I needed resuscitation after losing yet another chess game on Monday (I’m actually playing quite well, but cracking up at the death) – but because I had to renew one of my pieces of medication and they wouldn’t do it without my seeing a nurse. She was commendably thorough, making sure I wasn’t addicted to steroids and testing my blood pressure, which at 146/94 is apparently on the upper limit of OK. I shall resist any attempt to put me on blood pressure pills, because you can never come off them.

Dot left on Tuesday to do a school inspection in south Suffolk. She had considerable difficulty in finding her hotel in Sudbury, but was eventually led there by a man in a white van. I knew they must be useful for something. Appparently a very nice hotel, but she had to leave too early the next day to take advantage of it.

On the way home yesterday she got lost, somehow managing to get on to the A143 going south in the direction of Haverhill, which is pretty much the opposite of what she wanted to do. She rang me up and after we’d established where she was (not easy, because I assumed she was north of Bury) I managed to get her back in the right direction. Meanwhile the police were parked in our drive most of the day while investigating stuff nearby, which meant that when P & J dropped off Dot’s present, they couldn’t stop. The road was full of cars, probably because it was raining. It’s been pretty wet recently.

Incidentally, the forecast storms are still possible, though happily rather later than suggested. A look at the Atlantic charts reveals a couple of ominous, tight lows hovering in the vicinity of Iceland and Greenland.

On Tuesday I did a meal for four others without the aid of Dot, and it went quite well. Nothing tricky, of course. Just quiches, potatoes and salad, with a few extras. Good discussion etc.

Today I’ve been to Bally to help Joan hang some of her work with my poems. I like her work very much, and I’m quite pleased with the poems too. Rupert, Annette and Mike were also there, and Mike took some pictures of my feet to use as part of his illustrations to my prize-winning poem, The Island Grows on Me. He’s already tackled my head and chest, with alarming results. Can’t wait to see the finished work. Rupert is frantically trying to prepare for his exhibition of his parents’ work at the beginning of December. The Open Studios private view, for which we were preparing, is tomorrow evening. There may be a poetry reading. Who knows? Certainly not us.

19 November 2007

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A considerably cropped version of trees taken from our car window by Oliver (still 5). Rather artistic, I think.

Yesterday we had a band rehearsal session after Communion: two guitars, two violins and an occasional piano. Went rather well – very enjoyable. Today Dot visited the vicar as she is top woman as far as organising the Richard Rohr sessions in January is concerned. I have already earmarked the easiest jobs for myself, which do not include car parking marshal. Hey, it may be snowing.

Speaking of snow, storms are forecast for the weekend by offbeat forecaster Weather Action, which has a good record of forecasting based on Earth/Sun interactions. Half of me wants it to be right, and the other half doesn’t, because our family are coming to see us and need safe passage. I am watching the Atlantic Charts with interest. At the moment the BBC’s five-day forecast shows no sign of it, which means it’s a near-certainty. I don’t think the BBC’s five-day forecast has ever been right. I pointed this out to them once, and they said they corrected it as it got nearer – not seeming to understand that this didn’t make the five-day forecast any better.

Went with Dot to the funeral in Alburgh of Kit Flatt, one of her governors when she was head there, and a lovely person. The church was totally packed with people I’d never seen before and one or two I had. Weather slightly warmer, but still chilly.

17 November 2007

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This is a not very high quality picture of grandparents and grandson taken not long ago with the Mac Photobooth facility.

The visit to Baldock went very well: beautiful sunny day, though cold, and we enjoyed catching up with Joan, who we hadn’t seen since 2005. Hurtled back to get to the DCC/LMT meeting at 7.30, only to find (after several phone calls) that we had to cancel it because so many people were not going. The following morning I sent out an e-mail to all members suggesting broadly that better organisation would be a good idea. Actually, this was quite restrained. As well as our coming home early, VM was intending to go despite all her problems with her Dad being seriously ill, and PK had made special arrangements because of a family commitment.

Yesterday I paid another visit to the chiropractor, but my back is very much better. Walked into the city and bought one or two things, then caught a bus home, because I could. For free. I’m hoping I will use the bus pass to increase my walking, not replace it, but sometimes it’s handy.

In the evening a very pleasant surprise: I had booked us into Under Milk Wood at Bergh Apton Village Hall, and the performance by the Oxfordshire Touring Company was absolutely superb, in the round and with really imaginative direction, including a blind actor and a deaf one. Stunning stuff. Tea and cake for £1 each in the interval, and I had a chat with KW, who used to live two doors away from us in Yelverton. Indeed, he still lives there. He was an overseer in the Eastern Daily Press composing room, and he mentioned various others who had since died: very sad. He and his wife are still going strong, presumably in their 80s.

Today Heather and Sam came round for lunch, and we had a really good time. Dot cooked a roast that was superb. Weather is still very, very cold.

14 November 2007

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Is it a bird? Well, not exactly.

Had a lot of computer trouble over the last two days – Broadband dropping out or being very, very slow. After several attempts at various things, I plugged hub and computer into different sockets, and now it seems to be fine. It’s strange what a nice feeling you get when it all works well, and how depressing it is when it goes wrong. After all, it’s only a machine. But such a nice one.

In the intervals I’ve been writing a drama for Christmas, including a song, and my page for next week, all of which is now more or less finished. Today I went and saw the dental technician – an interview that lasted a maximum of two minutes – and he attempted to get the right shade for my forthcoming crown. Walked back into the city from his place (other end of Unthank Road) and then got a bus back to pick up the car. Both of which were much easier than driving home, because I made the mistake of going by the ring road, forgetting that it’s Christmas shopping time, which means Riverside is crammed constantly. Had to divert via the city centre.

Came back from the dead on Monday night when I was close to resignation in my chess game against a guy I know from Diss. Played what was the only move then, after he missed the best move, was able to sacrifice a knight for some play, which turned out to be good enough to draw. Quite pleased with the last few moves. I was actually a pawn up in the end, but with opposite-colour bishops.

Our Tuesday night meal / meeting went really well. Talked about prayer, then did it. Really nice feeling to the group.

Tomorrow we drive to Baldock to see Joan, then back for a PCC meeting in the evening. Weather has improved: mainly sunny and not quite so cold.

12 November 2007

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Lovely autumn colours captured by Oliver (5) from our car window as we brought him to Norwich at the beginning of the month. Now it has turned very cold and windy; high water still in the rivers; but bright skies on the whole.

Dot was brought home on Saturday night – much later than anticipated. So as well as writing a piece for my next page I also got a good start on the Christmas drama, which has a health and safety theme. Don’t ask.

Yesterday was busy: after the Remembrance Day service – beautifully done by Paul and Mark H – we grabbed a sandwich and took Annette and Lisa to North Norfolk, where InPrint is going to be involved in a big project next year. Details of it can’t be released until November 19, so I’d better not say what it is, just in case readership of this blog soars into single figures. Watch this space!

Back to Norwich too late to go to Ambient Wonder preparation. Today I’ve already been to the chiropractor: my back is much improved, but I have to see him again on Friday. This afternoon I shall be enduring a 90-minute dental appointment.

Had more trouble with Broadband this morning. Dot hasn’t been able to connect, and my connection was extremely slow for a long time. Seems to be OK now, but its erratic behaviour is worrying.

LATER
OK – I survived the dental appointment – the injection, the drilling, the filing, the tooth impressions, the screw, the building up and the x-ray. None of it was actually painful in the agonising sense, but it was all uncomfortable and non-relaxing. If I lose at chess again tonight, I’ll have an excuse, especially as my chiropractor says I shouldn’t sit down for more than 20 minutes at a time. I didn’t think that applied to lying down at the dentist’s, but getting up again was unexpectedly sore. Still, I walked there and back – and earlier walked home from the chiropractor’s , which must be about 4 miles altogether. I worked out (while walking) that I do about 2000 steps to a mile, so maybe I don’t need a pedometer. If only I could count and walk at the same time.

10 November 2007

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I was looking through my mother’s pictures when I came on this one of my Aunt Vi, taken when she was 12. She’s now in her 90s and living in Cape Town.

Yesterday was bright but very cold – bitter wind. We defied it to get our photos taken in the station and then walk up into the city to get our bus passes. We then got a bus home. How exciting is that?

In the afternoon we went to Reepham to get our hair cut. In other directions there were many closed roads and cancelled trains because of overnight flooding following a 1953-style storm surge, with very high tide and high winds. Nowhere near as bad as predicted, but still Walcott was hit badly, and there was extensive flooding along the rivers at places like Brundall. Pull’s Ferry was flooded, with a lone bench sitting in the middle of flood water. Banks overtopped elsewhere. Apparently the tide was eight inches lower than predicted and the surge didn’t quite coincide.

Today was very wet and unpleasant – so grey that it was hardly day at all. Dot went to the supermarket while I reduced the size of my in-tray and wrote a bit about Hingham, based on a phone call I got from a resident. Then I took Dot to a YFC meeting in the city, and am now awaiting a call to pick her up.

8 November 2007

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Dramatic action picture of Oliver being chased by a dinosaur. You can see the terror in his face.

Meanwhile, I have just returned from the chiropractor, who told me my back would probably be a bit sore tomorrow but should improve over the weekend. As it was extremely painful before I went, this wasn’t as bad news as it might have seemed. It does seem to have eased a bit at the moment. I see him again on Monday, shortly before a 90-minute stint with the dentist. O happy day!

The back probably got worse because I drove to Mansfield on Tuesday, then on to Hull and back home on Wednesday. Why Mansfield? you may ask. Was it because my grandparents used to live there? No, it was because the Premier Inn at Mansfield had a room spare at a fairly convenient spot between Coventry and Hull. Quite comfortable, too.

I’d called at Coventry to take some property from Gareth’s house to Andrew’s new home – mainly clothes and photographs. Andrew seemed very well. I also retrieved a letter to him that explained he’d left some stuff in the hospital safe, which may explain where his building society book is.

After assessing the reporters at Hull I spent a bit of time down on Hessle foreshore, on the banks of the Humber under the bridge – a spot I’d previously visited when I took David to have a look at Hull University, probably 17 years ago. Very beautiful sunset to accompany my cheese and onion sandwich.

Drove home by the shortest route over the bridge and via Lincoln and Sleaford, which was pretty dire as far as queues and slowness were concerned – not to mention the thousands of speed cameras in Lincoln – but it still got me home quicker. Stopped thirty miles short of Lynn for a Little Chef mushroom omelette and chips.

Today Dot has been at a head teachers’ conference at Mangreen, just outside Norwich. Weather is very unpleasant: quite bit of heavy rain and unrelentingly dull and wintry. My computer was offline for most of the day, but I managed to persuade it to come back eventually.

Almost forgot to mention the most significant event of the last couple of days: the Ballater cottage is being sold after 17 years of its being a home away from home for us. I think we’ve stayed in it almost every years since 1990 or 1991. David and Vicky stayed there with us; so have Anne and Philip and Roger and Barbara. What will life be like without it? Certainly a major change.

5 November 2007

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Partly – though perhaps not entirely – because I’ve been feeling lousy, I have not made any progress with novel-writing five days into novel-writing month, and will probably abandon the attempt, concentrating instead on writing a short story for the Fish competition, getting a collection of poems together to submit to a publisher and writing a Christmas drama. So if I’m galvanised into something, it will have been worthwhile, and if David finishes his novel and makes a million I shall bask in reflected glory. I can do basking.

I’ve been feeling vaguely sub-fluish, with a floaty head (no picture, unfortunately), occasional nausea, pains in odd places and particularly severe pains in my lower back. Dot thinks this is to do with my weight, but I am not fooled. Anyway, I am feeling a bit better this evening (she prayed for me before going to Weightwatchers) and will shortly be off to play a tournament chess match, if I can avoid the fireworks.

Yesterday I managed Communion and the church lunch. Read one of my poems in the service – immediately following Rufus Wainwright’s version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah, which is not where you want to be – and all went well. Didn’t do much for the rest of the day, other than catching up on recorded TV programmes. No, I didn’t feel like writing. Norwich CIty came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Ipswich, so Glenn Roeder, our new manager, is clearly the Messiah.

Today we went to Park Farm, then to visit Dot’s cousin R. On emerging form his house we found it had started raining. Chilly too.

Oh, yes – the picture. Another one of our refurbished garage to demonstrate that I do sometimes play cars (and trains) with Oliver, whatever he says. It’s hard on the knees, though.

3 November 2007

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Caught almost in mid-air, grandson Oliver walks along the back of a dinosaur – no, wait, it’s a row of tyres. But it’s at the Dinosaur Park, which is where we spent most of Tuesday. Lovely sunny day with a bit of a nip in the air, and I was impressed with what the park had to offer, even thought it was out of season and a few things were unavailable. The Dinosaur Trail was very well put together with some nice touches – like reporting to rangers on three missing tyrannosaurus rex. Oliver wasn’t too impressed with the sound effects, but he’s quite a sensitive little soul.

Also had some fun on some mechanically propelled go-karts, and Oliver showed some class on the crazy golf. Some good dinosaur-themed play areas too.

The previ0us day, when we had brought him back from Caddington, we also called in to see Aunt E, who gave him a car which responded to voice commands – at least, it was supposed to, but we had a great deal of trouble getting it to work, much to her disappointment. She unearthed a substitute present, but by the end of Oliver’s stay with us we had got the car to work after a fashion – so we had to return to her on the way back to Caddington on Thursday to show her! Oliver is very anxious that people should be pleased and happy – which is a lovely trait, though it worries him when they aren’t.

On the Wednesday we went to Yarmouth to visit the Sea Life Centre. One reason for this was so that Oliver could go on the train, and from the station we got a taxi, as the buses were so rare (we never actually saw one during our visit). The SLC was interesting but extremely pricey despite being out of season, with minimum staff just about managing to cover all bases. There was a nice touch pool, where O could stroke a hermit crab shell, among other things. He was particularly interested in the sharks, which came a very close second to the shop. The shark exhibit is quite impressive, as are the sea horses.

Another taxi back to the station – this time a much friendlier driver, who not only refused my tip but gave Oliver £1! He was rather scathing about the lack of forethought going into the new harbour plans – or more particularly the inability of the roads to cope.

On the Thursday morning we took a bus into the city (and back). Oliver sat upstairs at the front and enjoyed the view. We also got a couple of boxes out of the Poetry Vending Machine in Borders. The one intended for Amy wasn’t really suitable, so I had to substitute both poem and warning on the box. There was a danger Amy might not know what pregnancy was, or why poetry might lead to it. Had a drink in the Forum and sent Daddy some pictures to prove it.

Got Oliver home successfully, but by Friday both Dot and I were feeling rather ill. I had to write my column, but neither of us did very much. Today Dot has been feeling quite bit better, apart from an occasional coughing fit, and went into the city. I found myself at my old school taking part in a rapid chess tournament, despite feeling very strange – slight temperature and a gradually developing pain at the base of my back. Thought I was getting a cold yesterday, but this happened instead. Ah well, despite it I actually won some prize money for the first time for years, scoring 3/5 in the all-play-all open-challengers section and finishing =3rd. Not as impressive as it sounds (if it sounds impressive), because there were only six in the section, and four of us won something. I drew with the two who finished 1st and 2nd and lost to the guy who finished equal with me. Beat the others – and in a final-round friendly beat the guy who had beaten me.

I have to admire Stephen Orton for organising it – a few of the kids were very difficult to handle and three of them got stuck in the disabled lift. Tempting as it was to leave them there, a caretaker was summoned to extract them. Most were fine, though.