Spent the first part of Saturday writing my sermon, which went more easily than I expected, though there were only 11 people there to hear it yesterday. Norwich City again played brilliantly but failed to score, drawing 0-0 at home with Cardiff.
On Sunday afternoon we went to visit Geoff and Sophie at their home. Geoff got up when we arrived about 3pm, and is making pretty good progress, but Sophie is feeling the strain, to put it mildly.
The support for her from the NHS has been minimal. It appears that the better you seem to be coping, the less they are inclined to do for you. I suspect that if she had appeared to be near a nervous breakdown, everything would have been done for her; but because she puts up a brave front and visited Geoff every day, they assume she will be able to sort everything out. I felt very sorry for her. Happily she is getting much more help this week (which she arranged herself).
A massive storm predicted for the rush hour this morning failed to materialise in Norwich, though I believe other areas have been harder hit. It has rained a lot, and it’s windy, but that’s about it.
I have more or less finished the tanka book and am hoping that things will get less hectic now. David is back from Canada, landing ahead of the storm. He seemed to have a really good time.
Chronicle performing at the launch of the Paston exhibition at NRO
In the end we needn’t have worried. UPS failed to deliver after I’d alerted next door, who were no doubt on tenterhooks all day. In the end they delivered on Monday, less than an hour before the exhibition opened, and Dot made a special emergency trip, with the children, to deliver the leaflets to me.
The launch went very well, with a big attendance, and Chronicle’s performance was very well received. I was at NRO from about 10.45 and got home around 5pm, having given Kay a lift to Tombland to pick up a park-and-ride bus. Sadly Lucy didn’t make it, being confined to her house with cracked ribs and in quite a bit of pain. So Peter filmed it for her.
Dot and I had picked gone down to Caddington on Sunday afternoon – the last part of the journey in torrential rain. We had tea with David and then I drove back in much better weather. It was Amy’s birthday, of course. We got her a rather nice leather jewellery case.
On Tuesday, when it rained again, we went out to see Aunt Jessie in the afternoon. The gas man arrived about the same time as we did, to service her central heating. So we sat in the dining room, which worked out quite well, as Amy was able to draw on the table. Well, on paper, but on the table. You know what I mean.
During their couple of days with us Oliver wrote a very good poem, and Amy joined in with a couple of lighter, funny ones. She also made some sugar mice (with a bit of help). There was also a certain amount of table tennis played, with Oliver frequently victorious.
We set out after lunch on Wednesday to travel to Coventry, which turned out to be quite an arduous journey, with hold-ups because of the amount of traffic. Nevertheless we met the Evetts on time at the Allesley Harvester and had a good couple of hours there.
Then Dot and I drove home – again, more arduous than expected because the A14 was closed. We travelled south on the M1 to near Bedford and took the A421. Not a bad route, though further of course.
While the children were with us we also entertained the Hendersons, who stayed overnight on Tuesday while looking at houses in the area. All of us went to Prezzos and had a good meal.
Yesterday – a beautifully warm and sunny day – Fred and Sue arrived around 5.30pm for an evening meal with us. Today we all went to a CBSOB reunion at the law courts, where we were shown round by former pupil Mike Huggins: very well done, though I knew a lot of it from my time training journalists. We then took a walk along the river, and Dot and I won a quiz set by Adrian O’dell, thanks to a bit of knowledge from Dot (Wensum means meandering, for instance).
We ended with a good meal at the Adam and Eve (Rita still in attendance). Thanked Ray Houseago for allowing me to use his name in my column, though I’m not sure he knew what I meant. He behaved as though he did. Throwers also there. The four of us walked back along the river, had a cup of tea and then Fred and Sue left. Dot and I dozed off in front of the TV.
Two performances in two days: the first at Cromer with Chronicle, at the invitation of the Friends of Cromer Museum. There were well over 50 people in the hall, and the songs got clapped! I think it was our best performance yet: we even managed to answer a few questions at the end. We had our new CD on sale. Only sold one, unfortunately – we weren’t really organised in selling mode, but we did sell two books as well.
We had rehearsed at Rob’s house in North Walsham, with food supplied by Penny, and Dot travelled by train to Cromer to hear us (had a bit of trouble finding the hall, but I found her near the fish and chip shop). Our old friend Beryl (from Barn days) was in the audience.
The second performance was by the Sillars Orchestra at Tasburgh Church. Dot went early to rehearse and I arrived about 7.10. It was dark, of course, and nobody had bothered to signpost the unobtrusive car park, so cars were scattered over the verges of a narrow approach road. I scattered mine there too: a fortuitous space opened up for me. Nice performance by the orchestra: I sat with Neville Thrower from the CNS and his cousin-in-law. These details are fascinating, aren’t they?
Wine and nibbles were provided at the break. The vicar bookended the performance very nervously, and Dot followed me home. I didn’t realise it was her until she drew level at the Trowse bypass slip road lights.
Now we are about to head for church, and I have received a text from UPS to say the leaflets are arriving today and can I arrange for someone to be here. Couldn’t be worse, of course. No-one is going to be here practically all day, because after church we are heading for Caddington to pick up the grandchildren. It’s Amy’s birthday, and they’re staying with us till Wednesday while David is in Canada. I may have to approach the neighbours. But which neighbours?
Sir William Paston’s tomb in North Walsham Church. Nonchalant or what?
Continuing on a cultural high, we went to Dragon Hall on Tuesday evening for the launch of Keiron Pim’s book on the Norwich Hebrew poet Meir – or more accurately, the book of Meir’s poems edited by Keiron, called Into the Light. The upper hall was packed: must have been nearly 100 people there. Had a quick chat with Keiron and Rowan, and a longer one with Pete Kelley, who is still doing the letters pages at the EDP.
Yesterday teatime I continued the trend by attending the launch of The Marriage of Margery Paston by Susan Curran. This was at St Edmund’s in Fishergate. Lori Lain-Rogers was there, so we discussed the merits of the Sinclair C5, among other things. Also spoke to Susan, who is a PHS member, and asked her to speak at a members’ meeting. Was introduced to Professor Malcolm Wagstaff and his wife Pat, who have moved to Cringleford from Southampton and find themselves involved in most of the city’s societies. Rob Knee also attended, and we walked back to the station together along the Riverside path.
Earlier in the day we had also coincided – at the Norfolk Record Office, where he had brought some material for the exhibition and we were having a last meeting with the very helpful staff. I spotted what I thought was a wrong attribution in one of the captions and spent some time establishing that it really was wrong (phone calls to Caroline Gilfillan and Di Griffiths). Then I had to contact Belinda at NRO (I was on my way home by then), which proved tricky, as the phone lines were closed. Left a message and sent an e-mail, and she eventually called me back.
Our UEA intern David Whittle was also at NRO, and I was relatively nice to him, considering all the hassle he’d caused me the previous day, most of which I spent sorting out a leaflet for the exhibition. He and Lucy had collaborated on it, and Lucy had asked me to check it before it went. It was full of mistakes and queries, which I set about correcting and answering: after a while I could see that it wasn’t saving my corrections properly, which became very irritating. I could feel my blood pressure rising.
Eventually I discovered that David was in it at the same time, making trivial corrections and cancelling out my corrections when he saved. I must have corrected some things three or four times – and much of them I had to look up repeatedly in obscure places, because I had to be sure. Lucy had assured me that he had finished with it, so I was a bit short with her on the phone. Not long afterwards she fell downstairs.
She called me on Friday morning from the hospital to say she hadn’t sent the leaflet off to Vistaprint before she fell down and could I do it. Could I also ring the care home where her father was living to let him know she wouldn’t be coming to see him that afternoon. I did both; hopefully the leaflets will arrive on Monday morning in time to get them to NRO for the launch.
This morning Dot and I went to Yelverton, where the church now has a toilet and some underfloor heating, for the funeral of Sharon’s father, Les. Her mother had died four months ago. A quiet but lovely service, followed by tea and biscuits at Sharon’s. Jacob was there with his partner Kath, who is really nice. We had West London in common. Didn’t realise – or had forgotten – that Sharon was born in Canada.
One of our plants (cotinus) illuminated at night by light from kitchen: photo slightly enhanced
Dot was successful in fighting off something (see previous post) and is now into the second day of interviewing prospective heads at Hethersett. I am now fighting off something, and I hope for a similar outcome (except for the bit about interviewing heads).
Meanwhile I have managed to send the steam train video to Dave E, and have also posted it on Facebook. I have nearly finished putting the tanka book together, the Chronicle CDs should be ready by tomorrow, and tonight we’re going to Dragon Hall for the launch of Keiron’s book on a medieval Hebrew poet. I am reading a book of short stories by Alice Munro, the recently named Nobel prizewinner. So culturally in good order.
Not much to report yesterday, except that I managed a brief walk and had a longish chat with Mairead, who I met in the Riverside shopping area. We’ve also spoken to Sharon on the phone and established that her Dad’s funeral is on Friday. The Hendersons – in another update from previous post – have also been in touch, and they are staying for a night next week while looking at houses in Norwich. Oliver and Amy are also staying next week, and so are Fred and Sue. Could be a bit hectic, especially as Monday is the launch of the Paston exhibition.
Getting a bit wintry now. Noticed it yesterday on my walk. It was still reasonably mild on Saturday, when Dot and I had a brief walk in Wensum Park and saw an otter catch a fish. Totally unexpected, and of course I’d decided against taking my binoculars and camera. The park is a beautiful place. Pity about the rats.
On the same excursion we called in to the Edwina Gateley conference at St Luke’s, mainly to have a chat with Archie and Cathy, who run the recording company, Agape. We’ve got to know them well over the years, and it was good to catch up. Also saw Bridget Fosten and bought a book and a recording of the event (to be posted to us). Not the meeting-Bridget event, the Edwina event. Speaking of events, I’ve started writing poems for the Christmas event at St Augustine’s.
On Sunday in the pouring rain we went to Birgit’s birthday party and met a number of people from their church, as well as eating some excellent German buffet food. Started talking about sailing to one bloke who sails Lasers, and when I remarked on how difficult it was to televise sailing, he put me on to some great coverage of the America’s Cup on YouTube. I’ve watched a couple of races, and it’s compelling. Beautifully done, and totally amazing boats, masquerading as space ships. For one example, click here.
The other major event of the week was the PHS Trustees’ meeting at North Walsham on Thursday, which should have been straightforward, but Lucy had misread her hospital instructions (no surprise there) and had to be picked up from the hospital at 4pm. When I did this, she was so exhausted after five hours that I suggested we go straight to her house, which we did – taking in the front at Walcott, which had been flooded earlier in high winds. Foam was blown over us as we passed through.
Would have liked time to stop and take some pictures, but I had to unload Lucy and be at North Walsham by 5.30pm. Of course I had to be shown Lucy’s new house and kitten at Mundesley, so even without taking pictures I rolled into North Walsham just after 5.30pm,closely followed by Peter Stibbons. The meeting included a half-hour showing of part of Peter’s Paston DVD, so I wasn’t back home in Norwich till after 7.30pm.
OK: we found the missing photographs for Jessie – old ones with nurses on them, among other things – but Jessie wasn’t able to identify much when we called in on Sunday afternoon. Roger was also there, and we gave him a lift up to Ray’s on our way home (he was delivering something and then walking back).
The concert on Saturday was extremely good, and we had excellent seats. Colin Dowdeswell was conducting, and we had a chat with his wife, who vouchsafed the alarming news that the Hendersons are moving back to Norwich when Paul retires next year. We knew this was a possibility, but it seems to be firming up.
Visited Geoff in hospital on Monday: pushed him in a wheelchair to the quiet spot over the road and had a longish talk, partly while Sophie was talking to an authority figure (not sure who she was) about arrangements for Geoff’s discharge, maybe in a week or two. He is much, much better, but they are both stressed about what will happen when he has to leave.
Busy day yesterday: I was at Cromer just after 10am for my appointment at the hospital, which took place on time. It turned out to be a minor operation: a more major one (sigmoidoscopy) is due to take place fairly soon in Norwich, but this is purely precautionary: the doctor said he didn’t think there was a problem. Feeling more or less OK.
Got back to Norwich in good time, though the weather was so beautiful I wished I didn’t have to. But I wanted to hear Karen Smyth talk about merchants and medieval literature, and I’m glad I did. Had a longish talk with Angela, who is now in charge at Dragon Hall, and a quick exchange with Karen, who embarrassed me slightly by calling on me as a Paston expert when someone asked a Paston-related question afterwards. Fortunately, I was able to answer it (it was about Bromholm Priory), so perhaps I am. Hard to believe.
Had to go to Morrisons afterwards to buy food for the Tuesday Group in the evening, where David A played a talk by John Donoghue about beauty, which was inspiring.
Dot has been out and about a lot, and is “fighting off something” (not me). She was coughing a bit in the night, so I hope her fight succeeds, and includes me.
After trying to find a way of sending my steam train video to Dave Evetts, I have had to admit defeat (file too large). Pity. While waiting for my appointment at Cromer, I wrote most of a poem called Age of Steam, which I have now finished and am pleased with. Have just finished reading a superb book called The Misogynist, by Piers Paul Read. Beautifully written, with a nice ending.
Auntie Ethel’s bungalow at Hethersett, after several weeks’ work cleaning and clearing
Summer lingers on, though there’s a touch of autumn in the air. Today we had our hedge cut by Colin, after a slight alarm when the Norfolk Wildlife Trust said they had no-one to open the gate. Bet they’d have found someone if a great-crested newt was in trouble. Anyway, Colin managed by climbing over the wall and erecting his platform, assisted by his son Jordan, one of Dot’s former pupils.
Also this morning Paston Heritage Society’s UEA intern David Whittle dropped in to pick up leaflets for distribution. At least, that’s what I thought he was doing, but he stayed for a good while, consuming tea and biscuits and taking notes. Dot is now out on the town with Anne, and tonight we’re going to an organ concert at St Andrew’s Hall, featuring the Mozart Orchestra.
The car’s air-conditioning is still unfixed. The garage had the car most of Tuesday, then rang me to say the compressor they’d ordered didn’t fit. And so it goes on. I’d walked back home from the garage, calling on Nicholas to get him to sign some cheques and then at the church hall to read the meter and retrieve last Sunday’s collection. After happening on Phil at Fye Bridge and reporting on Andrew’s condition, I was rather late home and had to rush to Dragon Hall for a talk on Robert Toppes that turned out to be very good. Some Paston references, so I bought the book.
The Seagull had an unusual weekday version of their poetry and music event on Thursday: Dot and I (she “fresh” from a DSSO day at Letton Hall) went, and I read three poems I had written based on our stay in Yorkshire. Dot also helped read a couple of tanka strings.
On Friday we both went to Hethersett to pick up some of the last stuff from A Ethel’s bungalow. My last visit, so I took a couple of pictures: amazing how big the rooms seemed. Afterwards we went to Park Farm for lunch and glimpsed chess player Steve Moore also partaking. Dot went on to one of her schools at Tasburgh, while I fulfilled my mission of getting her pills from the chemist.
Tomorrow we will visit A Jessie, so it is imperative we locate the missing photographs that she’s asked for. They are in the house somewhere…
