Monthly Archives: March 2011

Wet inside as well as out

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Not tremendously high-quality iPhone picture of Sam Savigny at Ali Tandoori on Sunday, with his free birthday candle stuck into something or other

Exceedingly tiring day yesterday. Drove to Coventry to see a council financial person about A’s arrangements, now that his money has drained away to the statutory level. She said quite a lot before I understood anything, and I understood then only because I asked for an interpretation. No, it wasn’t the accent: just a complete lack of familiarity on my part with the financial terms she was using. Anyway, I think I eventually understood what will be happening – and unsurprisingly, it’s no easier for me. More juggling of money in prospect. I can hardly wait.

A seemed pretty well physically, but his poor memory does seem a little worse. On the plus side, he has not destroyed the TV, which seems to be working well. The same could not be said of the CD player, but as it has a high dirt content, this is not totally surprising.

The journey there was pleasant and quick, but I made the mistake of taking it easy on the way back. What this always amounts to is taking longer and getting tireder. I had a stroll round Monks Kirby, which was enjoyable enough, but later decided to go across the Fens, where the traffic has got much worse in recent years. Encountered a shower of rain – precursor of a change in weather that is continuing today. Quite cold again and windy, and it’s starting to rain quite steadily.

Just got up to the city and back before it got going, paying in church and personal cheques and purchasing a Senior Railcard which I hope will prompt me to use the train more. The last one ran out in June last year, which must mean I haven’t travelled by rail since then. I suppose. The carpet-cleaning man came earlier, so it’s wet inside as well as out.

Last night we had a smaller Tuesday Group than usual, which I struggled through without falling asleep, as far as I can remember. Tonight the much more exciting parochial church council. Yes, that was a joke.

Fish, chips and curry

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Walking meditation

Just back from a brief visit to the chess club. I had been due to play a Bulgarian (Yosif) in the club tournament, but he rang to say he couldn’t make it. However, I was second reserve in our cup team, so I thought I’d better put in an appearance. Had a quick offhand game, then CP put in an appearance and said he was “fighting off flu”, which I guess is OK if you’re particularly self-centred. I turned down an offer to play him and his flu army, and returned home.

Quite relieved at not having to play, actually, as I’ve had a busy day catching up and preparing stuff to take to Coventry tomorrow for an interview with a woman from the council finance department. Andrew has just reached the stage where his money has reduced to such an extent that the council will have to pay his residential fees, and this has to be discussed. I also had to summarise some Board minutes for HG as well as fill in a Gift Aid form for church. And so on.

The catching up arose because Dot and I spent a couple of days assisting at a speaker event. The visitor this time was Fr Robert Kennedy from New York, who has some interesting ideas on zen and Christianity. Some of these ideas prompted me to write some poems, which got read out on the second day, but generally he was a little too radical for me, seeming unwilling to commit himself to anything, which I suppose is very zen. It clearly worked for him (and for some others) but not for me, despite the poetry. The poetry worked OK. The first-day weather was beautiful, which was fortunate because part of his “thing” was walking meditation, in which the entire audience (about 100) processed around the car park in Japanese style. On the second day it rained, and the walking meditation ended up indoors, which was a bit crowded. To be honest it all looked a bit silly, but I guess that’s a failure of imagination on my part.

The weather had also turned colder again, and it was still cold on Sunday – but dry, which was fortunate as we had to walk up to Magdalen Street to meet Heather, Sam and Simon with their friends Luke and Jenny. After a beer in the King’s Head we proceeded to the Ali Tandoori as usual for a curry. I was a bit nervous about this, as some unexpected fish and chips the previous night (first for ages) had given me a very bad night with acid reflux. But the curry worked out all right, perhaps because I took an extra pill. Or maybe I didn’t take the first pill. Who knows?

Had a very jolly time at Ali’s, ending with a sambuca. Luke and Jenny are moving to Loughborough, so it may be the last time we see them. However, I am now following Jenny on Twitter. The curry was in celebration of Sam’s 17th birthday and is becoming traditional. Hope his grandfather, with whom I went to university and played golf on Wimbledon Common, would approve.

Getting back to last Thursday, my dental appointment for crown preparation went surprisingly well. No pain, just rather lengthy discomfort – especially when taking the impression. No problems since with the temporary crown, despite my partaking enthusiastically of the sandwiches the same evening at the Ship Inn, Mundesley, venue for the Paston Heritage Society’s agm. Quite a pleasant evening. Chatted with Rob and Penny Knee for a while, and with others for a bit less of a while. We are getting to be almost regulars at the Ship Inn.

Breathtaking walk along the river

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Ducking the issue: looking for a handout at Thurne Staithe

It seems spring is really here – for a while, at least. Yesterday I even found myself reading outdoors, on a warm, sunny seat by the University Broad. I was on my way back from the hospital, where I had been told that I didn’t need what my GP had described as a “telescope up the bum”, because my mild abdominal discomfort was a result of scar tissue from the operation, which is what I thought. Relief, mainly.

The walk back through the university grounds and along the river to Cringleford was beautiful. I paused to watch a ladies’ soccer match early on, but it wasn’t really very good. The students had overflowed out of the university and were enjoying the sun, so I assume there were no lectures going on. The river was dead calm and the whole scene approaching Cringleford was pretty breathtaking.

In the evening we went to see a staging of Under Milk Wood by Crude Apache at Dragon Hall. Lovely setting in the medieval merchant house upstairs hall, with spectators sitting within inches of the actors! Really good performance.

Earlier in the week my Twitter contact Ryan came and did some aerial magic for us so that we can get digital in both bedrooms (if we get digital TVs, that is). Could be useful. The digital switchover for our area is this November.

On Monday I spent much of the afternoon at Blofield Church with Lucy, Jo and a couple of local enthusiasts, planning a Heritage Day featuring the Paston connection. Two later Paston tombs in the church, one of which (Margaret, late 17C) has a poem by Dryden on it. All sounded very promising, not least because they are very well organised as far as publicity goes. Meanwhile we are taking steps to move the Paston website somewhere nearer Paston where (more importantly) the content can be easily updated.

Idyllic time on the beach

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Dot retreating from the rocks at Sea Palling as the tide comes in

Spring broke through at the weekend, and on Sea Palling beach on Saturday afternoon it was not only sunny but warm. We had driven there via the delightful Thurne staithe (a spur-of-the-moment decision) and then Hempstead, past the house where Dot’s mum was born. A narrow road snaked down under the dunes towards Sea Palling: we stopped at the side of the road and took the narrow track over the dunes (taking note of numerous warnings). At the top we were greeted by a truly idyllic scene. The tide was far out, and the coast-protection rocks provided a lovely backdrop to the huge flat beach, populated by only a few walkers. The sky was totally blue.

We walked out to one of the islands of rocks, and Dot climbed up while I kept an eye on the tide, which was on the turn. In the few brief minutes while she climbed to the top it had almost surrounded the rocks, and she had to tread a precarious path to dry sand. We then walked round to one of the other islands and stood watching the speed of the advancing tide. I took a series of pictures over only about five minutes, during which a large patch of sand became an island and then quickly vanished.

Afterwards we returned to Thurne as the sun was getting low in the sky and walked out again from the staithe to the restored windmill, which was casting its huge shadow on to the meadow.

Yesterday was not so delightful, but while Dot visited Ethel I walked over three miles from Hethersett across some fields to Great Melton church, and back by the road. The field section was particularly pleasant, as it was dry underfoot and easy walking.

The previous week was not so strenuous, and not such fine weather. When I walked up to the dentist on Thursday there was a lot of dampness in the air, and it was pretty cold too. Given that I was also told I needed a crown (projected cost over £1000), I was not a particularly happy  bunny. Dot was on a NafPHT day out at Mildenhall, for which I had had to rise early and deposit her at Thickthorn to get the last seat on the minibus. I managed to reorganise my Paston stuff, and in the evening we had a DCC meeting for which Howard provided Guinness, as it was St Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, I don’t like Guinness. The DCC meeting wasn’t too bad.

Earlier in the week we had the bookcase men round to recut the shelves on one side, because they protruded a fraction. Took them quite a long time, but they did a good job. The previous day (I record this for the sake of completion) I played a dull chess game and drew.

Friday was almost entirely taken up by the visit of Joy and Phil, who came round for  coffee at 11 and ended up staying for lunch and afternoon tea. Much discussion about their situation: Joy very upbeat.

Surprising decision to spring-clean study

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Oliver tries to hide behind some flowers painted on the back door at Caddington

A blue, sunny day, but a very chilly wind. I am ready for some real spring weather now. Dot is already on her second trip out, this time to the chiropractor, and I am sitting in a much tidier study than usual, having decided spontaneously yesterday to sort it out – with Dot’s enthusiastic support. The amazing thing was that it was my idea: I am normally reluctant to start big projects. If it were not so, I would have written several novels by now.

We spent the previous day at Caddington, arriving almost simultaneously at noon with David and the children, who had been to the opticians, discovering that Oliver has 20-20 vision. We had intended to join them at the Harvester, but Oliver had been a bit below par. However he brightened up during the day, and we had a couple of games of football in the garden. Amy was in good form too, as was David. Dot cooked roast chicken for supper – with all the trimmings, of course. We left late, but Dot drove fast, and we got home just before midnight.

Amy in cheerleader role, with sacrificial bear

Other events this past seven days:

Monday 7th: won a hard game of chess against Lowestoft. I was winning out of the opening, then almost lost, then winning again. I scraped home with minutes to spare.

Tuesday 8th: Spent about 90 minutes with Lucy at Dragon Hall with its enthusiastic events organiser, Sarah Power. Arranged to put on a week of Paston-related stuff in November, including a Paston walk or two led by me and an art and poetry workshop (Annette and me). Need to learn a lot more about the Pastons before I do the walk. Also took Annette’s laptop into Byte for repair (picked up Friday, cost £360).

Wednesday 9th: Haircut in afternoon, followed by an evening meal at Bishop’s with the Higbees. Excellent food, with price to match. Still, if we’d got an electrician to put lights in our loft, it would have cost a lot more, and we wouldn’t have got the meal, or the pleasure of the Higbees’ company.

Friday 10th: Stunning day for Phyllis Todd’s phuneral at St Augustine’s. Church pretty much full, and lots of the congregation turned up with food and drink for the wake afterwards. I had to give a brief talk on what Phyllis meant to the church. Sad but also pleasant occasion, which Phyllis’s daughter Janet much appreciated. (By contrast, tiny congregation on Sunday to hear Mark Heybourne: single figures, if you don’t count the music group and the service leader.)

Later we picked up Jessie from hospital, where she had been having eye tests (she may have had a minor stroke). Brought her home for tea and then drove to North Walsham. Left Dot with her while I went to a Paston Heritage Society Trustees’ meeting at Dayspring. Found the meeting quite frustrating. We need to sort out membership and avoid getting lumbered with a church that will fall down if we don’t raise huge amounts of money.

Have been watching horrific pictures of Japanese tsunami, which has devastated huge areas and must have killed many thousands. If you’re in its path, there’s no way of avoiding it. The ultimate feeling of helplessness.

• Since writing the first two paragraphs above, have been out for a short walk and to book us in for a performance of Under Milk Wood at Dragon Hall next Wednesday. Went with Dot as far as the wonderful Hobbycraft, where she bought some boxes to aid her in sorting some old pictures uncovered in my room.

Varying in tone and volume

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An iPhone picture taken near Beccles Quay

Frustrating day: bright blue sky outside, but I spent most of it trying to make sense of the church accounts. I’m sure they’ll be straightforward in future, but it’s quite difficult knowing exactly where to take over, and why some of the January figures appear in last year’s accounts. There was also the matter of a receipt for something that doesn’t appear to have been paid… Ah well.

It didn’t help when the power went off momentarily in the middle of it all, and the man putting the bookcase in said it was nothing to do with him. Which it probably wasn’t, in fact, as he was outside at the time. He was with us most of the day too, partly because the section on which the bookcase stands had been underestimated and had to be recut and shipped out to us. Amazingly, this happened the same day, and it is now finished. Looks impressive. I think.

Although it was bright today, it remains very cold. Yesterday I went for a three-mile walk in Beccles while Dot visited June, and the chill on my cheeks was quite noticeable. Good walk, though, over Beccles Fen. Cheered me up: I had been feeling down earlier.

On Saturday Dot and I went up to the Museum in what Chuck Berry would call drizzling showers and got a one-to-two talk on the origin of Norwich street names by a guy from Suffolk. Not sure why this wasn’t a full-scale talk, but afterwards we did go to a full-scale talk on monks and nuns in the city, which contained some fascinating information that I will no doubt soon forget. The man giving the talk was not a natural public speaker: his tone and volume both varied, and it demanded fierce attention to get the nub of his gist.

We also went into the current art exhibition, which focused on 1914-46 and contained what I thought was some pretty average art. Some good stuff as well, of course. While Dot was in the film installation I bumped into poet Hillary Mellon, who was uncharacteristically subdued.

Vicky had come round to lunch on Friday to initiate me into the accounts, but I’m not sure I remember much of it. George was making quite a lot of himself. There was something about Gift Aid which I really ought to remember, but don’t.

Revived by a burial ground

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Notice at Colney Wood
A notice near an exhibition of children's work at Colney Wood. Perhaps it's just me, but it seems to have an element of 1984 about it. Is it possible to be enthusiastic and not be happy?

Very cold recently, though thankfully dry. Opened the month with a Tuesday Group at which I felt strangely lethargic, though I had been feeling quite inspired earlier. Was revived the following day when I took a walk in a burial ground. Dot dropped me off at the junction of the Watton road and the southern bypass, and I walked over to Colney Wood, which is used for burials rather in the manner of the Rosary, but in a more random way and without headstones. I suppose it’s taking the Rosary idea a stage further, and it works really well. Beautiful hilly setting, and natural-looking memorials. I had hoped to be able to walk through and then across the water meadows to Bowthorpe, but unfortunately the burial ground is fenced in pretty thoroughly. So I returned to the entrance and was about to walk down the road towards the university when I got a phone call from Dot, whose meeting at Diocesan House had been cancelled. I invited her to join me in a further walk round the wood. I think she was equally impressed.

In the evening, while Dot was at a governors’ meeting at Brooke, I went to a poetry event at King’s Centre, which consisted of a talk by Lex Loizides from South Africa, interspersed with readings by actor John Carson from some of my favourite poets, including T S Eliot, Dylan Thomas, W B Yeats and Robert Frost. Surprisingly, it included a complete reading of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, which may be my favourite poem. There was also some excellent food, and happily I ran into Mark Ulanowski, who invited me to sit at his table (we took him to Greenbelt a couple of years ago). I didn’t know anyone else there. The idea of poetry as prophecy appeals to me greatly.

Yesterday a visit to the dentist for a filling demonstrated yet again that the  advances in dentistry are a strong argument for living in the 21st century. Despite it being a fairly long procedure, I think I can safely say that there was no pain at any point. Of course it could just be that my dentist is highly skilled. On an unrelated topic, we are now on one of Dot’s diet regimes, which I am joining in on a fairly but not completely committed basis in an attempt to shed a few pounds.