Another gap there, I’m afraid. It’s taking me some time to get back to normal, whatever that is. Still, we have been reasonably busy.
On Monday last week, still feeling pretty jet-lagged, we went to Eleanor’s in Recreation Road (off the Avenues) for an at-home. Eleanor is chaplain at the hospital, a recent member of our congregation and is also ordained, so she took our Easter Communion when we were away. We met a few of her family, and some other members of St Augustine’s who popped in. Dot was able to advise a young woman on the path to take towards a career in teaching, so that was all good.
No let-up the next day, when a meeting of the Paston trustees took place at North Walsham. I managed to stay sufficiently awake to take the minutes, and was still fairly awake in the evening when we went with the Robinsons to the Red Lion in Eaton for a birthday celebration meal (Philip’s). I haven’t been very lucky (or clever) with my menu choices recently, and the smoked haddock was OK, but not exceptional. We all came back to 22, and there was a showing of holiday photographs on Apple TV.
Dot on the boardwalk at Barton Broad
The next day (Wednesday) was blank, so we decided eventually to go for a walk. I had seen a walk at Irstead in a book, but couldn’t find it, so did some web research, and we ended up surprisingly doing almost precisely the walk I’d lost (I found it again later). Irstead is pretty remote (a dead end village), but it has a lovely church, and there were plenty of bluebells nearby. We walked down narrow lanes to a newish boardwalk stretching out into Barton Broad; at the end it was pretty idyllic in the sunshine. The walk continued and was about 3½ miles altogether.
On Thursday we had invited Jenny and Mary round for a meal as part of the new church initiative (don’t ask), but Mary was unable to come; so we had a lovely meal and evening with Jenny, who is sadly about to leave Norwich.
The “pressure” continued on Friday, when we went to an exhibition by Rupert and others at a house in Plumstead Road East. All rather strange – the house didn’t look welcoming, but it turned out to be a bit like the Tardis, with two lovely big rooms. Chatted to Rupert and in the end bought one of his paintings (not paid for yet), which he will bring round when he has the chance.
The same evening was the Paston annual meeting at the Ship Inn, Mundesley. Dot and I arrived very early as a result of unexpectedly traffic-free roads, but fortunately Rob and Penny were already there and had seized the room, which the waiters had been about to use for random diners. Some sort of misunderstanding, but they had sorted it out. In the end a very select gathering on a cold and foggy night (oh yes it was). I said a little bit about Chronicle and took the chair for the re-election of Rob, and Jo supplied some nice sandwiches. Lucy, not at all well, staggered over to give the treasurer’s report, and then staggered back with Dot’s help.
Dig-and-dial phone at Salthouse
A weekend with the Coomes was scheduled, but Kristine rang at around 9am on the Saturday to say David had a very bad stomach problem. Dot moped around for a bit, and so we decided to go to Blakeney Hotel for afternoon tea, and that worked quite well. We got chairs and a nice view. The tide was high. We continued to Salthouse, where we were shocked to find the steep shingle bank had been flattened by the sea, and the car park buried. Added to Norwich losing 4-0 to Manchester Utd, this was a bit of a blow.
After church on Sunday we ventured out again to visit Jessie. I was feeling a bit ropey, but we had a nice time. My blood pressure, taken on Monday, was down slightly but still high and I tried to get the practice nurse interested in my problems, but she demonstrated an alarming lack of curiosity. I am now trying a bit of gluten-free to see if it helps. Meanwhile Dot was doing useful work in the garden, and not complaining.
At lunchtime I reported problems we’d been having with the pump on the central heating (it wouldn’t turn off at night), and amazingly I got an immediate response. Must have been a slow day. A guy came and not only fixed the pump but did our annual service too.
Sunset on our final evening, on the beach near the Mucky Duck
And here we are back again in England. The air is much cooler, but on the plus side, we are on the ground, and not squeezed into an aeroplane designed for midgets. Captiva Island and the surrounding weather were in fine form, but the travel was bit of a nightmare. It all went something like this.
Thursday, April 10
Got to Caddington between 3 and 4pm. Obtained a takeaway Indian from Spice Caddington, who were pleasant and obliging. The food was nice too. I wrote a favourable review of them for Trip Advisor.
Friday, April 11
Left Caddington at 7.25am and reached Heathrow about 8.30. Checked in at about 9 and went through Security without much problem, although it required a little undressing. Patronised Starbucks. Plane left more than an hour late, and I would like to say it was a pleasant journey, but it wasn’t. It was 9½ hours. The food was quite palatable, but the promised help from BA ground staff to get throughout Customs quickly and on to our connection wasn’t. In fact it was non-existent, and we languished in a passport queue until even a last-minute push from an airport man didn’t help us make it.
American Airlines were very helpful and booked us on a flight at 8.20am the next day, then rechecked our cases and sent us on to British Airways, who accepted responsibility and booked us into the Hyatt Regency, with vouchers for free beds, dinner and breakfast. The hotel was good, as was the food, but I didn’t get much sleep. Again. Rang car company at Fort Myers to say we wouldn’t be picking our car up till the next day, and the hotel there saying we needed to cancel. They seemed mystified that I’d bothered to tell them, given that they were going to charge me anyway.
Dot looking good as always
Saturday, April 12
Woke early, of course, and had a good breakfast at 6am, catching the 6.40 shuttle to the airport. I noticed from a board at the hotel that the departure gate – and indeed terminal – had been changed from D35 to C6, so we went to the right place. The check-inwas straightforward, and the plane left on time. The flight seemed very short (about 2¼ hours) and there were no customs at Fort Myers. We were met by the Murrays at the bottom of an elevator.
Had trouble finding the hire car, because it was accessed via shuttle from a booth round the back of the car park. Which surrounds worrying, but in fact turned out very well. Chrissy came with me, David, Amy and Sophie and in fact did all the driving. Dot went with Roger and Barbara and the boys, and in fact they had to wait so long in the queue for their Budget car (ours was Europcar) that we got to the house on Captiva first.
The house, Sunny Days, Andy Rosse Lane, was first-class – especially our bedroom, which had a king-sized hot tub as well as a super-shower. And a very, very large bed. Attended Mucky Duck for 5pm meal. Afterwards I took the two girls back to the house so that they could access the pool very quickly. After the others arrived I soon dozed off and on being roused, decided to go to bed. Shrimp cocktail quite good; grouper café de paris middling.
David, Chrissy and the girls in the pool
Sunday, April 13
Woke at 7am and took a long time to surface while the others went to Starbucks in relays. Had bath and felt rather down. Dot brought me a cake back, and Barbara went for a long beach walk. Dot and I went to the dock for while (breezy but warm), then to shop. The rest is a bit of a blur, but we went to the Bubble Room for lunch, and at some point Dot and I took Oliver to the dock, then to Urchin Court, Sunset Captiva, returning via the beach. Played a couple of games of pool with Roger, then gave way to Seth. Went to dock again, and Dot eventually joined me briefly. Full moon. Children getting along well, both in the pool and electronically.
Monday, April 14
Another bad night. Kept dreaming about dreadful journeys of one kind or another. All went to the Lighthouse Cafe for breakfast, which was as tasty as I remembered it, but smaller. Attempted to park at the lighthouse afterwards, but the park there was full. Sadly, we were destined never to make it. Pity, because I think the children would have loved it there.
Drove back to Captiva, stopping at Baileys on the way for provisions. Afterwards I did the long walk up to Redfish Pass, hoping to catch up with Dot and Barbara, but because of a misunderstanding they were waiting for me at Starbucks. Roger, who had been walking with me, decided to return and called in at Starbucks on the way, thus revealing that I had gone on and was ahead by some way. I, of course, did not know this and continued – pausing only to obtain a bottle of water from Joe, who drew up the beach in a boat.
I reached the pass about half an hour ahead of the girls and waited on a seat, and then on a second seat, because I wasn’t sure which one they would plump for (or had plumped for, if they were ahead of me). Was about to give them up when they arrived, and we walked back down through the harbour and the South Seas resort, spotting a couple of dolphins and a manatee. Sat in harbour area while girls went in a shop, and was feeling very hot; so I was glad of Joe’s water.
Later I beat Roger 5-2 at pool and photographed sunset from the roof of the house. But not simultaneously.
White pelicans in the Ding Darling nature reserve
Tuesday, April 15
Up earlier. Drove to Ding Darling Nature Reserve and saw white pelicans, but we only stopped twice and didn’t go for a walk, which was a bit disappointing, especially as we then proceeded to Traders and had to kill time in shop before lunch. Had a decent Angus steakburger, while the others ventured more exotic stuff. Couldn’t manage a dessert. Drove to Periwinkle Place and some shopping was done.
Eventually all the males drove home, and all the females did more shopping. Dot bought some blue shorts and several tops. When the females returned, Barbara, Dot, Roger and I went over to the dock and saw manatees and a dolphins, as well as ospreys catching fish. An expected thunderstorm did not materialise. I beat Oliver narrowly at table tennis and Roger convincingly at pool.
Wednesday, April 16
Dull to start with, but warmer later. Didn’t wake till after 9 – found tea from David on bedside tables, and neither of us had heard him bring it in. Dot and I bought postcards and walked up to Starbucks with Barbara. Wrote them there while she walked back. Dot and I returned by beach, by which time Mike Decker had arrived from Tampa and gone out to lunch with David and Chrissy at Mucky Duck. Wrote three poems while waiting for them to come back, then had chat. After he left, we all went to Il Cielo for an excellent meal. Very tired afterwards.
Some concern at the Lighthouse Cafe
Thursday, April 17
Awful night. Really bad stomach – thought I was going to be sick, then acid reflux and neck pains. Stayed at home while others went to Lighthouse Cafe for breakfast, but recovered later and went to Starbucks with Dot. Had iced tea, and then we both bought hats in Regatta, the store next door.
Went to the dock a couple of times – saw a dolphin on my own, then returned with Dot. Dark clouds over Pine Island. Sudden wind as walked back, and in the evening a bit of rain as the four of us drove to Il Cielo again. Had mussels followed by lamb. Drove back to house via Gulf Road and Rabbit. Tired again – went to bed quite early.
Friday, April 18
Another bad night, though not as bad as the previous one. Both up before 9am to find house apparently empty, so walked up to Starbucks and back by beach. Returned to find that Seth had been in the house alone, but by this time the others had returned.
Later Dot and I walked up to the deli near Starbucks to get some food, and we walked to the dock afterwards, arriving back at the house to meet the others at 11.30 – about the only example of a joint arrangement in the entire week that worked and did not involve cars. Tried to book the banana boat for the children, but the owner said a fierce electrical storm was on the way and the sea was getting rough. All on the beach till past 1pm, and the sea was indeed quite choppy, but the storm “the size of Florida” never materialised, although I suppose it was out there somewhere.
Played Roger at table tennis and lost 3-0; then at pool, at which I won by about 4-1. Had shower. Even pool makes you quite sticky. All went to Mucky Duck for final meal. I had clam chowder (good) and fish and chips (average), plus two pints of excellent Yuenglings beer from Pennsylvania, recommended by the waitress. The Key West beer I had at Traders was good too.
Packed, then went to beach for sunset shots after I happened to notice a promising sky. Took pic of couple from Atlanta. He said he played golf in Scotland, so he was probably famous.
Oliver on the boys’ table at the Lighthouse Cafe
Saturday, April 19
Another very bad night. Got up at 6.40 to find rain had not materialised as threatened, and it was bright and warm. Finished the packing, and we returned in the cars as we’d arrived – Chrissy driving ours. Followed Roger and a map and found the car place off Treeline easily. The transfer went like clockwork and we reached the check-in via shuttle well before the others. I phoned Dot and we joined forces.
We had planned to have a coffee or breakfast together, but it turned out we were flying from separate concourses with separate Security entrances, so we had to say goodbye there. After Security we got some food and saw the Murrays’ Air Canada flight take off as we were boarding. Our plane left at 12.30 and we arrived in Dallas around 2.30 (+ 1 hour). Spent most of afternoon at gate D14 after a shuttle ride and a nice lunch of wraps.
Much better experience of Dallas Fort Worth airport this time. Our bags went straight through, and all we had to do was let the gate attendants see our Fort Myers boarding passes. The flight to Heathrow left on time and arrived on time after a bit of circling. I got two or three hours’ sleep, and our arrival time of 9.35 (as advertised) meant the flight was exactly nine hours.
Downsides of journey: I sat on middle seat next to a stranger on both flights, the food on the BA flight was awful and two loos were out of order. Dot had brief attack of diarrhoea, and the sound on the movie was so bad I had to turn it off. On the plus side, I had bought a Randy Wayne White book in Captiva and was able to read some of it; and on the flight from Fort Myers I was able to talk to my grandson.
The elusive manatee
Sunday, April 20
We got through passport control and customs quite easily and boarded our bus after a brief wait. It was raining and chilly. Our car was where we’d left it, and we threw ourselves in it and I drove back to Caddington. Again the roads were not bad, and we were home by 11.30 after dropping Dot off to buy food in the village (and then returning for her). After a bite, David and the children were in touch with Chrissy and hers on FaceTime. It all seemed very familiar. We left about 1.30 and were home well before 4pm, listening to Norwich lose 2-3 to Liverpool on the way. Everything was normal, and inNorwich it was dry and much warmer.
We unpacked and had egg and chips and watched some television. Phil came round with an Easter card from Joe and Ilona. Not sure what else happened. It was a bit of a blur again. Watched a bit of the grand prix, then later some more television and went to be very early. Slept a long time.
By way of a postscript, just before leaving for Caddington en route to Florida, I had a most enjoyable day yesterday with Rebecca de Saintonge, looking round the Norwich Paston sites. Dot joined us for lunch in the refectory at the Cathedral to start with, and then she returned home while Rebecca and I did a variation on The Walk, omitting the Castle but including the Cathedral and Julian’s Cell.
Rebecca was born in the same month as me, but in Devon, and her name is French Canadian. She was lively and intelligent and generally fun to be with – and she and her husband are very interested in Dot’s philosophy work. She is aiming to write a historical novel centring on Richard Calle and Margery Paston. Gave her a copy of my tanka book. Interesting theological discussions too.
It was a sunny day, just right for walking. We managed to get into St Andrew’s Hall, and she persuaded a guy setting out a flea market there to open and close the Paston doors so that she could take a photograph.
It’s that difficult time when you’re almost ready to go on holiday, but not quite. In fact in about 90 minutes’ time I shall be showing a visiting author round the Norwich Paston sites, which will take up most of the afternoon, so that should take my mind off it. There has also been some dramatic and unexpected news from church, but I can’t reveal what it was – yet.
We have had our hair cut, so we are ready for anything. I was even ready for another request from Parish Pump to write a 300-word piece for May – this time on Gerard Manley Hopkins, who happens to be one of my favourite poets. Managed to put the words together yesterday, and they’ve been accepted.
Monday was quite exciting, and not just because it rained extremely hard in the evening. Caroline, Rob and I visited Oxnead Hall in the morning to look at where and how we could put on a Chronicle performance in September (26th). The piece will centre on the history of the hall, and afterwards we rehearsed the first draft and made some improvements, which I have to work in on my return from Florida.
The hall’s owner, Beverley Aspinall, made us very welcome and showed us round the gardens and into a couple of amazing performance spaces they have available – one in what were the barns, and the other in the orangery.
In the evening we went with Judy to Vicky’s, where we were joined by David and Bridget for tea, wine, cakes and compline. I forgot I wasn’t driving, so didn’t have any wine. I really think senility is setting in.
Yesterday we spent preparing for the holiday, partly by catching up with paperwork and partly (mainly Dot) getting the clothes together. Which leaves Saturday and Sunday, during which the Norwich City manager was sacked following a poor display at home to West Brom (0-1) and we had a really nice service at church, with Phil leading. I did the sermon and prayers, and Dot read a long passage about the raising of Lazarus. Several people said they liked the sermon, which was nice, and in the afternoon we went out to see Jessie at North Walsham, which was also nice.
I have the American dollars, and unfortunately Oliver has impetigo, which means he has to go to the doctor’s tomorrow (he’s been once). Hope it doesn’t prevent him enjoying the holiday. We have fed the fish for Sam while they were away and woke them up this morning (Sam and Ellie, not the fish) to make sure they were back when we saw a strange man wandering in and out of their house. Turns out he was fixing the boiler.
At last everything seems in order for our holiday in Florida. This morning I had to fill in an application for all five of us for a visa waiver. Needless to say, this went wrong in the middle and I had to get back in to complete it, but with help from David it all worked out. I also checked the seat reservations, and they are all OK – even the American Airlines ones.
Looking up the river towards Foundry Bridge yesterday, it seems more like late winter than early spring.
I’ve spent quite a long time at my desk this week, working mainly on church-related stuff. I’ve written a sermon and chosen some hymns, but mainly I’ve been working on money matters. At the PCC on Monday it was revealed that we had been left quite a large sum of money and given quite a lot more; nevertheless everyone was keen to go ahead with a Paying Our Way day when the Bishop visits at the end of May, which seems to me like flying in the face of the evidence. I eventually mentioned this to Howard, who sees what I mean. Ho hum. I decided not to speak to Nicholas about it, because I don’t want to deflate him!
Part of the church money business did involve some exercise, because I had to go to the bank in Magdalen Street to sign a form and show some identity, then on to the Vicarage in Aylsham Road to get Nicholas to sign come cheques. I then delivered three of the cheques – in Sussex Street, St Giles and King Street – as well as calling in at Howard’s in case he was there to received the new account material. But he wasn’t.
All this amounted to nearly five miles of walking, and I have done quite a lot elsewhere too, so I’m on target for a record week. Of course I haven’t done any today yet…
We resumed our cinema visiting on Tuesday, seeing Labor Day, which wasn’t well reviewed but which we both enjoyed. In the evening we had a visit from Ed, who stayed for a chat and a cup of tea, and last night another former St Augustine’s friend, Heather Cracknell, called in after I caught her trying to find somewhere to park and lent her a permit. She was going to Prezzo’s with some colleagues, but afterwards she called in and had a drink and quite a long chat, which was nice. Rhianna is about Oliver’s age and like him is preparing for high school. Hard to believe.
Meanwhile I visited the dentist again yesterday and was reassured that the work he’d done last week was OK. He also gave me some antibiotics to take on holiday, just in case (after I asked for them). So that’s reassuring. In the evening I recorded five songs in case Phil wants to do them for the Seagull next time, whenever that is. I’ve also written a few poems, so that can’t be bad.
