Monthly Archives: October 2009

Pumpkin soup

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Dot at Shotesham Mill ford the other day
Dot at Shotesham Mill ford the other day

The idyllic weather didn’t last. Today has seen a return to the dank and dismal, and we have not emerged from the house – though we did have our haircut this morning. On the plus side, Norwich won 3-1 away at Stockport, and Jenson Button is on what I believe is known as P5 for the final F1 grand prix tomorrow at the new £26 billion Abu Dhabi track. Good job the rest of the world is well fed and healthy, or that might have seemed a waste of money.

Yesterday the latest incarnation of the Paston exhibition opened at the tiny Griffon Gallery in North Walsham, and Dot and I made the journey. Not many attending, it has to be said, and we returned after about an hour, because I wasn’t feeling great. Not sure what it is: maybe a bit of a urine infection. Carrying on regardless, though pretty tired. Spent some time this evening recording some of my songs on Garage Band, the idea being to burn them on to a CD so that Matt can do something musical with them, like write proper music. Quite fun. Managed to work out how to double-track. Have also written part of the Christmas thing,  in the form of an Under-Milk-Wood-type monologue, which I hope might be read by Ruth, who is Welsh.

Earlier yesterday had a lunch at Park Farm, then went to the tip (romance is not dead). The city was totally clogged up with traffic on the way back: Dot dropped me off in Theatre Street, and by the time she got to Castle Mall, I had delivered a couple of things to Prospect House and she was able to pick me up! Dot made some pumpkin soup, which was delicious, for the evening. She is feeling better after visiting the doctor (mainly for a minor skin complaint).

Perfect day

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Dot walking across a field at Shotesham.
Dot walking across a field at Shotesham.

I’ve just realised it’s October 29 and not October 30, which means I have an extra day. Don’t know how that happened. Today has been one of those glorious autumn days that you want to last for ever – warm, but not too warm, absolutely still, blue sky, lovely autumn colours in the trees, everyone smiling. Dot had to get up early and go to the doctor’s, so when she returned we decided to go for a morning walk. I decided on Shotesham, because it had been recommended by Joy, a poet who I correspond with. We parked by the ruined church (St Martin’s) and had a quick look, staying safely clear of possible falling masonry (warning signs abound), then walked over to Shotesham St Mary Church and had a look inside. Amazing how all churches smell the same. This church is away from the main village but next to Shotesham Hall, which has a moat but is private. We walked along some footpaths along high ground – for Norfolk– saw a heron in flight and some geese around a pond, then emerged on to the Stoke Road. Walked back by quiet roads – a total of about 2-3 miles. Many pheasants around (we took a detour through part of a wood). After picking up the car we drove down to Shotesham Ford and took a few more pictures. Tried to catch a falling leaf, but failed.

Back at the house I finished a story I’ve been writing for Oliver for Christmas. Now have to get it printed in an acceptable form, though I guess he won’t need so many pictures now that he can read really well. Actually have two stories for him – discovered an earlier one not long ago, called Little and the Piece of Cake. Dot is feeling much better during the day, but coughs a lot at night. Needless to say, the doctor didn’t give her anything for it. She and Barbara are going to London on Monday to present their ideas to what sounds like quite a high-powered educational group. They are being fed, and their expenses are being paid. Only problem is that it’s at the end of a day when Dot and Sue will have been deliveriig Philosophy for Children to a school in south Norfolk. She will be feeling a mite tired at the end of it all, so I hope she recovers quickly from her current ailment.

Weird weather

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I believe it's called an acer. It's in our back garden.
I believe it's called an acer. It's in our back garden.

Odd feeling in the air. Dot is still under the weather with a cold and cough, but not enough to keep her in bed. Yesterday she went to see her aunt in North Walsham and had lunch in a pub at Gunton before going to see Carrie in the evening. Then today Barbara came round, and there was some pretty  intensive work on Philosophy4Children going on. Now she’s tired out again, unsurprisingly. The weather has been weird too. The weather man was rhapsodising about the mild weather, but because it’s been so damp and overcast, it’s seemed chilly, and we’ve had the electric fire on upstairs as well as the central heating. Haven’t been out today at all, but will have to step out of doors in a minute to put the rubbish and assorted recyclable material out. Tonight’s Tuesday Group was cancelled because of Dot’s indisposition. Friend in Henley on Thames was going into raptures about the glorious autumn weather.

Yesterday afternoon I did venture out for a walk and found a road less than a mile away where I had not been before: unmade-up, but not private, cutting down from Cotman Road to Thorpe Road, with good views over towards Whitlingham, which seemed very close. It’s outrageous that there isn’t a way to walk to Whitlingham from Thorpe: it would only need a bridge over the railway and the river, and you’d be in the country in no time. Ho hum. In the evening played chess against Broadland and managed to score the full point after my opponent tried too hard to win a drawn position and put a knight en prise.

Managed to write a few pages of a new Little story for Oliver. At the moment she’s on a sand dune near Blakeney. Or is she? In that case, where did the dolphin come from? I may have written myself into a corner, as Snoopy used to say.

Clocks and water

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Near Cringleford bridge this afternoon
Near Cringleford bridge this afternoon

Strange weekend. Dot was in bed most of yesterday after going to a meeting at Hempnall the day before and feeling rough. It was the sort of day that wouldn’t persuade you to get up, if you were in any doubt: dark and damp again, with only a Norwich win to lighten the gloom. I slipped out to the supermarket, and for the first time in living memory couldn’t find a parking space until I’d cruised round a while. Cooked a chili con carne on my return, which went down quite well.  The clocks went back to confirm that this really was winter approaching, and then as if to dispute it, today was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Went to church, where Phil survived my usual attempts to slaughter the rhythm of a hymn or two, and in the afternoon drove out to A Ethel’s at Hethersett to deliver a letter from my grandson, thanking her for his birthday present. This was much appreciated. On the way home stopped off by the river at Cringleford and took a few nice watery photographs. One of my favourite spots: my mother used to play there when she was a child, which is nearly a century ago. While I was taking pictures a couple of girls were also doing the same – possibly university students. This evening Dot and I watched Deja Vu, and I’m tempted to say we’d seen it before, but we hadn’t. Good film, but required quite a suspension of disbelief. That’s OK. I can do that. Excellent Thought for the Day from Clive James this morning on the merits of scepticism, with special reference to climate change and golf ball crisps.

Philosophical

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Oliver finds a quiet spot at Bewilderwood
Oliver finds a quiet spot at Bewilderwood

Dot has been a bit of a sick bunny over the last couple of nights, coughing and spluttering and generally much less than her normal bouncy self. Yesterday she stayed in bed much of the day, but today she was up and out before 11 and is still not back at 3pm, despite saying she was not feeling at all well as she left. She is at Sue’s, discussing philosophy for children, so she has probably decided to be philosophical about it. Yesterday was dark and dismal, as well as very wet, which made staying in bed much easier. It became a little more dismal when my uncle Paul rang to say my aunt Thelma had died. She was 88 and had been in a bad way with Alzheimer’s for a long time. The funeral is on November 3, despite what the EDP said this morning (23), though there is some doubt at the moment where the service will be held. Very sad how we deteriorate with age, but Paul seems immune: still fit and healthy in his late eighties. I hope it rubs off on his nephew.

Much brighter and more pleasant today. Postal strike, so drove up to Archers’ to deliver a Happy 5th Anniversary card, then to Brian’s to try to catch him in, but no reply again. Collected repeat prescription from chemist’s. Lot of fuss last night about appearance of BNP’s Nick Griffin on Question Time. Not a nice man, but his opponents do him a huge favour by protesting violently and ranting at him instead of calmly taking his arguments apart. How many will vote for him because they don’t like the way he’s treated? Frightening, I call it.

Bit of a star

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Granddaughter Amy gets to grips with Bewilderwood while waiting for the boat
Granddaughter Amy gets to grips with Bewilderwood while waiting for the boat

The concert by Stuart Townend was announced as something different. I was dubious at first, but it turned out to be exactly that, as the first half-hour or so was taken up by jazz from Mark Edwards and band: superb stuff, very high quality. The musicians generally were top-notch, adding another dimension to Stuart Townend’s fairly straightforward Celtic-inspired hymns and songs. Some of these were extremely good (In Christ Alone is still the best); others were merely good. He did a great deal of talking too, and the concert lasted for three hours, including a 20-minute interval. Bridget and David were there, and Harriet, who took Vicky’s place when she realised it would be too much of a rush after spending the day in London. Holy Trinity was packed, of course.

Dot had just finished a tiring afternoon delivering some philosophy for teachers at a school just outside Norwich. We were both feeling a bit shaky, but it was worth making the effort. Today is wet and dismal, and Dot has gone off to Diocesan House for a conference for aspiring heads. She is giving one of the talks. She is actually a bit of a star, but of course I always knew that. I have one or two things lined up: I am writing a story for Oliver for Christmas, a Christmas dramatic poem for church, a course for editors of church magazines on behalf of the parish pump website and some material for the Paston website to bring it up to date.

Climbing and sliding

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Amy, David and Oliver tackle the big slide together
Amy, David and Oliver tackle the big slide together

David and the children should now be back home, and looking forward to a party tea. They had a party breakfast and a party lunch here, and Amy opened her parcels from us for her fifth birthday. She particularly like the tea set on a tray (with birthday cake) that we bought from Tickety-Boo, the excellent traditional toy shop at the top of St Andrew’s Street. All made of wood, but tasty just the same. Yesterday we spent five hours at Bewilderwood, not far from Wroxham, and it was superb. The weather was fine and dry, and although there was a slight autumnal chill in the air, it certainly wasn’t cold. Lots of exciting stuff to do involving high walks, slides, cable rides, assorted clambering and mazes. Oliver was particularly taken by the Muddle Maze, which he got down to a fine art. Both children entered into the spirit of it all wholeheartedly, and we ended up trying to make a den. That is, Dot and David were trying to make a den. Amy found a ready-made den, and Oliver soon followed. I decided someone needed to keep an eye on them, so that was me out of the den-building too. Shame. Had some nice food in the middle of it all. Just the right number of people there: I would imagine it could get pretty crowded in the summer holidays. As we left it started spotting with rain in an unconvincing way, and that soon petered out. In the evening, after the children were in bed, the three of us watched Slumdog Millionaire, which was excellent.

Norwich managed to lose 2-1 to Leeds by fluffing a goal kick in the last minute after playing really well. Dot is now doing some Philosophy for Children at a school in Taverham. If she returns in time, we’ll have a quick bite and then go to a concert by Stuart Townend, a Celtic-inspired hymn-writer, at Holy Trinity.

Amazing drive

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Statue above the door at Bacton Church.
Statue above the door at Bacton Church.

All right, Jenson, all is forgiven. Amazing drive, and a deserved world championship. Not only that, I unexpectedly wrote a poem last night that I was quite pleased with. It was based on our visit to Bacton Church, and the statue in the picture featured in it. Neveretheless, slept badly for some reason and only managed to get to sleep just in time to be woken up by the alarm, two or three times. Dreamed of being on a mountain road with lots of other tourists, and losing Dot. Inadvertently got on a cable car, and my mobile phone was broken. What are the odds against that happening?

Mark T spoke at church this morning about Jesus being outrageous and not at all what you might expect. Fortunately. Afterwards went to Waitrose to stock up on food for visit of grandchildren, then on to A Ethel for lunch (bought at Waitrose). Grandchildren arrived just after 7.30, with father, direct from Philip and Jane’s at Bishop’s Stortford, and immediately started dancing. Very lively, considering journey.

Model church

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Not particularly good picture of the model of Bacton Church donated by Mrs Cousens
Not particularly good picture of the model of Bacton Church donated by Mrs Cousens

Feeling rather lethargic. Did emerge from house earlier in the day (after waking late) and went into city with Dot to buy a present for Amy. Ended up with a pleasant lunch at buzzing Caffe Italia. At a table near us a gentleman of Chinese extraction was trying to tell someone on his phone where he was. His pronunciation of Orford Street wasn’t spot on, but there’s many a Norwich person who doesn’t know where Orford Street is. Several attempts, including one by the waitress, didn’t seem to have the desired result. Suspected “behind the Bell Hotel” or “near Castle Meadow” might have been helpful, but nothing like that was attempted. Didn’t like to interfere. Later watched Formula 1 practice, in which Button did quite well in the rain, only to completely mess up in the qualifying session. British sportsmen certainly know how to frustrate their fans.

Yesterday we both went to see Lucy, who seems much better following her chemotherapy. Discusssed future of Paston Project, which is rather unclear. Bitter wind off the North Sea. Afterwards went to Bacton Church to see a model of the church that Dot donated many years ago (probably about 50 years, in fact) after it was given to her. It was the first I’d heard of it. Spoke to a couple of agreeable local ladies, one of who had lived on Aspland Road, of course. Who hasn’t? Last night Dot and I watched The Sting again. It’s still a great film. Anticipating arrival tomorrow of son and grandchildren. Amy’s birthday on Tuesday!

All nostalgic

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A rather fetching pansy pictured in our front garden this afternoon.
A rather fetching pansy pictured in our front garden this afternoon.

Dot’s been working very hard preparing a presentation to head teachers for next week at the Diocesan Office. She also did an assembly today at Hapton. Retirement? Who needs it? I popped into the city to pay in a couple of cheques and also look for some birthday presents for Amy: got a couple of things, but felt extremely tired for some reason. This has not been a good week: although there hasn’t been a problem with keeping going, I’ve felt quite weak and shivery at times. Bit better this evening, though. Getting some ideas together for a journalism course for Anne to use on her parish-pump website. Looked through some of my old material and came over all nostalgic. Same sort of thing yesterday when I encountered about 20 Archant people at Julia Carter’s funeral at Horsham St Faith’s. Chatted to various weekly subs, Trevor Heaton and Terry, among others. Ivor Harvey gave really first-rate eulogy, and the vicar was on the ball too. On the way there tried again to catch Brian, but no sign of him, or anyone else. House gave every sign of being at least temporarily unoccupied. Several phone calls and visits over the past few weeks have been unsuccessful. Mystery.

In the evening Dot and I went to By Appointment for a Jazz Evening. The jazz was pretty good, and the food was superb – best meal I’ve had in Norwich for some time. Excellent evening, marred only by the discovery this morning that they didn’t deduct the deposit from the bill, so they overcharged us £30. You might think I should have spotted this, but I sort of assumed they would only charge the card if we didn’t turn up. However, the Barclaycard account arrived this morning, coincidentally, and there it was. I have written to the restaurant.

Dot was out most of Tuesday afternoon and evening, so I cooked the meal for the Tuesday Group. No-one died, so that counts as a success in my book.