The stunning bridesmaids mentioned in my previous entry.

Bit of a gap there, but we’ve been so busy careering here and there with the Murrays that there’s been no time to stop and write it up. They left on the 9 o’clock train today and should be boarding the plane about now (3pm). The picture is of them and Dot emerging from an hour or so on the beach at Holkham on Saturday, during which we saw the tide coming in and several groups having to wade across the stream to safety. Quite exciting – but not very, very exciting. We had been hoping for a group of dwarves to attempt it. Earlier that day we had visited Wells (including the wonderful Big Blue Sky), had traditional fish and chips on the quay and moved on to a tea shop at Holkham, plus the very tempting Adnams kitchen and wine shop, to which we succumbed. After the beach we drove back home through the Holkham estate.

I see I have slipped out of sequence. Let us return to last Monday (the 18th), where we spent David’s birthday with him and the grandchildren. First we all took David to Loch Fyne restaurant in St Albans, which was superb – both food and setting. Then we were joined by the children at Winchfield and had a hectic remainder of the afternoon, with Oliver showing his skill at football, which is considerable, and Amy organising an outstanding game of hide-and-seek. It was a really nice day altogether. We left just after six and had an easy drive home.

The following day we went to London on the train and took the tube to Westminster Bridge, which we crossed, paying tribute to Wordsworth as we did so. I feel I may have underestimated Wordsworth. Then an awful hot dog in a cafe (me only; the others had something more palatable) before we proceeded to the Eye, which was brilliant. No long queue, and we were in our pod way before our due time. The weather was good (showery, but dry at this point) and clear, and it was well worth the money and effort. We then walked up to Tate Modern, taking in a gallery on the way, and popped briefly inside before crossing the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s, where we took the underground to Oxford Circus. After a brief trot in the wrong direction, we then walked down Regent Street, taking in a few shops (Burberry’s loo is excellent, and Hamley’s toy attack too overwhelming). Found another gallery – Haunch of Venison – but weren’t impressed by what was on show, though the building itself was superb. Down Burlington Arcade and a brief foray into Fortnum and Mason’s before arriving for tea at the Ritz. Superb. Tube from Green Park back to Liverpool Street and so to bed. Well, after we got home, that is. Another great day.

The next day we went for something a little more leisurely, hiring a Broads day boat from Stalham (Moonfleet Marine) for five hours and taking in Barton Broad, How Hill and Wayford Bridge. Very pleasant weather, if not quite hot enough for Barbara. We rounded off the day with dinner at Morston Hall, which I have to say was very good indeed. On the Thursday Dot was working, so I took the Murrays to the Castle Museum (via the Cathedral). Roger did his best to knock himself out on the Castle wall, but just failed, though he was stunned for a while. We proceeded to the Caffe Italia, where we had a light lunch. Dot had been intending to join us there, but was late back, so we walked to the Art Shop in St Benedict’s, where Roger had been hoping to buy some revolutionary new acrylic paint. But no luck, and it started raining heavily, so I phoned Dot, who by this time was at home, and she came and picked us up. Barbara and Dot went shopping in the afternoon, and in the evening we all went to the Maddermarket to see Terence Rattigan’s Separate Tables, which was very well done. Met several ex-EDP folk – Frank Gordon, Trevor Burton and (after about 20 years) Jack and Sylvia Gordon. Sandra was also there, painting the scenery. Actually, I think she had finished painting it.

Next morning (Friday – try to keep up) I took Roger and Barbara on a seven-mile walk at Caistor. Dot was at a SIAS training day at Brome. Very pleasant walking weather – not too hot – and it went very well, though I was pretty desperate for the loo at the end. Having problems in that area at the moment. Restricted flow. Roger located the mystery acrylic at Jarrolds in the afternoon, and in the evening Dot took the Murrays to the Last Wine Bar while I went to the final night party for Voicing Visions. Knew almost no-one there except Ruthli and her husband, who invited me to tea on their lawn at my convenience, which was nice. Fortified by some very acceptable white wine, I talked to some very nice people, including Alison, who works at Waterstone’s, and Philippa, who is a stone carver and works for David Holgate. She introduced my to Joyce Dunbar, also a poet but primarily quite a well-known writer of children’s books. Left after an hour and a half and met the others as they were finishing their meal.

Saturday we have covered, and on Sunday the Murrays went to Suffolk for a family meal while after church I went to Paston to stand in for Lisa at the Art Alive project following her poetry walk. We returned there the following day with the Murrays to look at the book and the church. Brigitte was there again in medieval costume – never seen her in anything else. Perhaps she is medieval. Jo Berry showed me how to make paper. Called in at Knapton and Edingthorpe churches before proceeding to Elderton Lodge for another pleasant meal. Then on to Rosie’s for tea and buns and a walk round the garden.

Completed the Norfolk rose round the following day, which started out very wet but dried out, by having tea with Peter and Jean at the Beales Sweet Briar Bistro and then looking round their gardens and shop. After that went for lunch at Dunston Hall after calling at a farm shop in Mulbarton. Ended the day with fillet steak and chips at home. During their visit Roger and Barbara saw all 13 episodes of the first season of Battlestar Galactica. Apparently there are four seasons and 73 episodes altogether. Ended up feeling more sympathy for the Cylons than the humans, which can’t be right, can it? Perhaps I’m not human. I probably wouldn’t know.

Yes, it’s Dot – caught at a high point in her house-cleaning operation. At this juncture she slightly over-reached herself, and I had to help her down. Well, I’m sure she could have made it, but there’s no sense in taking risks, is there? There was an avalanche warning out.

She took a break from it all yesterday, when we both travelled down to Caddington after church to spend the afternoon and evening with David and the children. Easy drive, and we arrived not long after 2.15pm. After lunch we played quite bit of football in the garden, with Oliver showing some impressive touches, and Dot helped Amy plant some seeds. We arrived back just before midnight, and both slept till late. While I was in the bath Mairead called to ask Dot to sign some passport forms, which meant she had to emerge sheepishly from the bedroom…

The weather at Caddington was quite pleasant, but today it’s turned very chilly, and I can’t seem to get warm. Hope it’s just the weather… Dot has been out for lunch with Carrie at Notcutt’s, and I’m hoping to play chess this evening. Tomorrow we head for Scarborough by train to overnight with the Evetts.

This is a bridge over the River Tiffey at Wymondham, just down the road from the Abbey. Dot and I dropped by when looking at the possibility of taking the Murrays to Wymondham Station for a meal and going for a walk afterwards. Quite pleasant, but not totally convinced about either.

While on the subject of walking in the country, I took poet Lisa and her daughter Blossom out to North-East Norfolk on Wednesday to show her one of the Paston Walks. She will probably be doing a poetry walk at the upcoming Art Alive! weekend if she can find the time. I have declined on the grounds that the Murrays will be here that weekend. We started at the cliff beyond the uninspiring Mundesley Holiday Village and walked across the fields to Paston Church, then back by a slightly different route. Blossom (still not 3) did very well, but wanted the pushchair some of the time – which was quite a demanding push for Lisa over the field paths. Afterwards we had chips at Bacton. Now it seems that Lucy wants the walk to start at the church, on the grounds that there might be a ton of takers on the day. Not sure Lisa wants a ton of takers, especially last-minute ones.

Been to a couple of annual meetings: on Tuesday night it was a meal at St Luke’s, which was very tasty, followed by the usual rather bland discussion and the PCC agm – which passed swiftly and uncontentiously as usual. Yesterday it was the Archant agm at the Assembly House: lovely setting, exceptional buffet, though Hugh Gayler complained of the lack of cheese straws “like his mother used to make”. Surprisingly, no former EDP subs present, which rather detracted from the excitement. Still, found plenty of people to talk to, including Doug Bird, Keith Morris and Mike Almond (formerly of Royston), as well as Hugh and Peter Bright (both former EN subs). The forthcoming job cuts were barely mentioned. No questions, no pickets. Possibly because negotiations have reached a personal level, and no-one wants to rock his or her own boat, which would be understandable. Ivor Harvey sought guidance as to what happened at an agm: apparently it was the first one he’d been to.

The weather has been frighteningly good: Dot is afraid it’s peaking before the Murrays get here, and there is a risk that it will turn grey and rainy when they arrive. Strange. She is usually such an optimist. Anyway, she is continuing her clean house campaign, which includes painting anything that doesn’t move, so I only just escaped. At the moment she is rearranging the kitchen and washing everything on the dresser as we wait for Lucy, who is supposed to be picking up the Paston maps (or copies of them), which I seem to have. The visit of the piano tuner this week was clearly well timed, as an in-tune piano will be vital. It’s also clean, of course.