Feeling a lot better, though not 100%. Weather is still quite pleasant, and we’re completing our holiday preparations following a visit to Carrow Road. I sat with Philip Robinson and Dot sat in her usual seat; so we were at opposite ends of the ground. Norwich won 3-1 after making hard work of most of the game.

Earlier today I was up with the lark (assuming it was a fairly tardy lark) to speak at the Hub Church breakfast meeting at Cringleford. I was standing in for Heather – no easy task – and I was a bit worried about precisely what form the event would take. It turned out to be quite a small gathering of agreeable people. I decided at the last minute to talk without notes, which was a bit hair-raising, but I think it was the right decision. I spoke on living water (John 4), and one child of about three definitely tuned in, asking if the water in his bottle was living. Karen was leading, and we had breakfast first.

Afterwards Dot and I went to Homebase to buy some taps for the bath, replacing the mixer tap with shower attachment which is now redundant (and dripping).

Last night we had Jessie, Roger, Debbie and Philip round for a meal, which was of course a whole-day event, though they didn’t arrive till 6pm. Dot put everything into it, including the house and garden. Excellent meal, and a nice evening.

On Thursday (working backwards) we were at Angela’s again, mainly looking through Ethel’s old pictures, which came mainly in the form of slides. The process was therefore time-consuming. We had another pleasant meal in the George halfway through, but didn’t get home till about 7pm. Still, we have just about completed the task.

Wednesday was just as full. Glenn and Colin (plus his son Billy) came to put in the bathroom electric shower, which required quite a bit of drilling and cable-running.  I thought they would continue the next day with the rest of the work, but no – this will be done while we’re away in Switzerland. In one sense, this is good. In another, it’s a bit nerve-wracking.

Our big suitcase left us on Tuesday via Baggageman. Big too big really, but the next size we had was too small. Now we can’t remember what’s in the big one. In the afternoon Dot went for a walk with Anne and her grandson Charlie, who is not lacking in confidence. In the evening Judy took us to Cake & Compline at the Archers’.  Delightful as always.

Got a nice letter back from the other churchwarden at Harlestone, saying she’d see what she could do about  the aggressive bush (see last post). In the meantime the hot weather has vanished and I’ve been feeling pretty under the weather with head pains, a bit of shivering and sore eyes. These all come and go, and paracetamol works pretty well; so I am  keeping going with no trouble. Annoying, though.

Needless to say, the starting date for our shower installation has been put off – till tomorrow. This means that Glenn plus one will be working in our house while we’re away, which is not ideal, but I think we can trust them. At least they should have finished by the time we get back.

On Friday a goodly number of ex-CNS pupils  celebrated the 60th anniversary of our first month at the school. This was the day the weather broke, and there was a great deal of light rain peppering us as we were shown round the school by a few Year 8s. Less than ideal, but it was worthwhile, and Rod Kemp gave a very good speech while presenting the Top House trophy to Blakeney House (270 of them, in the Arc building).

Later the rain got heavier, and Dot and I got a taxi up to the St Andrew’s Brew House, where we had a good meal, plus a talk on Cyprus and a film on Norwich in the 50s. I had seen the latter before, but it’s a good film. Had a chat with Steve Chadwick, who also went into journalism, and Richard Watts and his wife. Richard had some interesting stories about what happened at sixth form dances.

Afterwards I had a few stomach problems and didn’t feel well enough to go to Pinky’s, which was a pity. The drive in very wet conditions would not have been much fun, but I do enjoy reading there.

On Saturday the rain abated a little, and in the evening we went round the Hendersons’ for a meal with their Saxlingham friends, Neil and Harriet, who are very nice and extremely green in an innocent sort of way. Lovely meal.

On Sunday I preached on a very difficult parable (Luke 16), but it seemed to meet with general approval. St Augustine’s is very good for my self-esteem. They are really a lovely group of people.

Yesterday it was warm again, but mainly cloudy and a bit frustrating. Dot and I went to the supermarket, then after lunch she went to the dentist’s and I went to pick up my pills, which were not there. So, after some prevarication, I went up to get our Swiss currency and a few euros – and forgot my debit card PIN number. I have never done this before, and I remembered it a few minutes later, but it meant I had to use my credit card, which means there will be a charge. Annoying.

After this I went up to John Lewis, which was where Dot had got herself entangled after the dentist. She bought a frying pan and come rather nice textiles. We walked home via St Julian’s bridge.

In the evening we had intended to walk or bus up to Holy Trinity  to hear a talk by Dr Peter Bussey (a former CNS colleague) on Quantum Spirituality – the evidence (or lack of it). In the end we went by car. It was an excellent talk on a subject (quantum physics) which I find quite compelling. Dot really enjoyed it too. Usually feel quite intimidated at things like this, being surrounded by a crowd of people I assume to be scientists. But the first question was idiotic, and most of the rest I could have answered myself. Felt better.

Dot is at a DSSO meeting at Letton Hall, so I can catch up on a few things. I have just written to the churchwarden at Harlestone in Northamptonshire about my great-great-grandparents’ gravestone which, as you can see by the picture, has been attacked by a bush and is practically invisible. Disappointingly, even when it’s uncovered, the writing is almost indecipherable. Ten years ago it was crystal clear.

I have also fixed the kitchen strip light by purchasing a new one for £15 and using its brackets, which are probably worth about 10p each. Apparently you can’t buy the brackets on their own.

The last few days have been hot. Yesterday, after walking into the city (to buy the light) I went to the cinema with Dot to make use of a two-for-£12 voucher given us by our neighbour, Des. As it happened the tickets came to £6 (Silver Screen); so I still have the voucher, and I believe it runs out today. We saw Florence Foster Jenkins, a heartwarming story about a woman who thought she could sing but couldn’t.  Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep were both brilliant (as were the rest of the cast), but it was hard to believe someone could deceive herself so thoroughly. It was based on a true story, but I suspect some liberties were taken.

On Tuesday I posted a lot of stuff, bought our rail tickets to London for our Swiss holiday and later accompanied Dot on her walk to Carrow Road (Norwich 2 Wigan 1). It was really hot, as it was on Monday, when after having our hair cut by Linda we went to the DCC, arriving late because the vicar gave out the wrong time on Sunday. He said he didn’t, but he did, because I remember thinking it was different from the usual time. I shouldn’t have listened. The meeting was very quick, probably because the vicar will be leaving us – though no-one knows when.

Sunday was busy (and hot). I led the service in the morning, after which we ate a sandwich in the old church (open for Heritage Day) and sped off to Jessie’s for a cup of tea and apple and blackcurrant crumble pie. Oh, yes. This gave us time to get back to Norwich, eat a small evening meal and drive to Lowestoft for a session at the Seagull. Phil couldn’t come, but Dot and I played one new song, Love you anyway, and an older one, Afraid of falling. I also read a couple of poems, Luskentyre and Jokes about Penguins. We both thought it went really well. Ian was on top form, reading two excellent poems.

Very rainy day today, pinpointed precisely on a birthday party arranged by Philip and Jane Coomes for Oliver’s 14th. It was going to be a barbecue, but although it was dry and warm all last week, and promises to be again in the coming week, today was very, very wet. So the party was indoors.

On the way there Dot and I were obstructed by a closed section of the A120 and found ourselves on a 20-minute detour, which I followed on Apple Maps while Dot drove. Interesting countryside – and we were still first at the Coomes’.  An extra guest was Jennie, who we had not seen for some time. She seemed much better. Lovely lunch.

Earlier in the week I got my new reading glasses (Monday). Against expectations this went without a hitch. though I had to have both sets of glasses tightened later in the week.

Tuesday was much busier. Following the Archant pensioners’ lunch, Dot and I met Bill and Judy Spencer, who had arrived on a coach from Lowestoft, where they were staying for a week. Had a coffee with them in Presto, then while Dot went to UEA for her diabetes research project, I took them on a tour of the city – mainly by car, as Bill cannot walk very far. We did get out at Elm Hill, though. I worked with Bill on The Christian in the mid-1960s.

In the evening another Judy (Reynolds) took us to the Julian evening at Howard’s. This was combined with our Cake and Compline evening; so the Archers came as well. All good.

On Coventry I went by train again to Coventry, this time making sure I did not incur extra costs by impinging on Virgin Trains’ “peak period”, which starts at 3pm. As a result I had time to stroll into the centre of Coventry and catch a bus from Pool Meadow to the hospital. Andrew seemed relatively unchanged, though a bit dishevelled. I took him for a short walk, partly to get some cash from the hospital cash point so that they could buy him some shoes/slippers. We also bought him some apricots.

I stayed for about 90 minutes and caught the 1810 to Euston, which was delayed en route for nearly 30 minutes by a train having trouble at Milton Keynes. Apparently. On the train to Norwich I got into conversation with a woman bridge player who lives at Eaton.

On Thursday we went to Angela’s again for more sorting through of Ethel’s leavings. We took some stuff to a charity shop and had lunch at the new Prezzo in Dereham. Meanwhile Charlotte (Vicki’s stepsister) was very ill in hospital with some kind of infection – probably kidney stones. Her husband dropped in and was obviously and understandably very worried. No news since, so I guess she’s recovered, but she had a temperature of nearly 106 at one point.

On Friday I took some Paston Volunteer Handbooks to Rob at North Walsham, and some more to Lucy, where I stopped for a cup of tea with her and Diana, who had dropped in fortuitously.   Very pleasant. The rabbits are doing well.

Last Wednesday I took the volunteer handbooks to Karen as planned, having a chat with Heather C while I was there about a talk I’m doing at her Saturday group in a few weeks’ time. Even Colin came round in the evening as planned, and it’s not often you can say that. However, he did promise to let us have a quote by Friday, and it’s now Sunday…

After that, things (as opposed to Colin) moved quickly. On Thursday we drove to Northampton to meet the Evetts and Oliver and Amy at Coton Manor, where we had lunch and a walk round the very beautiful gardens. It was still pretty warm, but we did have to wear jumpers for lunch, which was outside and in the shade. There was a parrot. I don’t know why.

On the way home I showed the children their great-great-great-great grandparents’ grave in Harlestone churchyard. Since my last visit 11 years ago a bush had grown up in front of it and had obliterated most of the writing. I am thinking of complaining to the PCC. Happily I have a photo from my previous visit.

After this we drove into Northampton and left Dot at a hotel with Barbara. They were delivering some P4C at a nearby school the next day. It went very well. The children meanwhile were in my tender care, or vice versa, and we had a good time the following day, shopping at M&S and visiting Phil and Joy, taking Joy her birthday presents. And a big plus – Oliver fixed our Broadband and WiFi, with a little help from his father.

In the evening after supper we drove to Scole to meet Dot and Barbara, but were delayed at every turn: first by a huge traffic jam at Tasburgh, then by a combine harvester, then by taking the wrong road on the diversion and finally by road works traffic lights on the outskirts of Scole. We were about 15 minutes late, which was annoying. Still it showed the children some parts of the Norfolk countryside they would never otherwise have seen. Oliver said it was the second most adventurous drive he’d been on. The other one involved the centre of Paris and Grandad Evetts.

Yesterday I had a morning meeting at the UEA introducing volunteers to the Paston Footprints project. Not as bad as it sounds: I had some interesting conversations and even learnt a bit about John Fastolf’s house in Norwich. Had to leave fairly promptly to take the children back to Vicky: we met at Cambridge Services in pouring rain, and Vicky stayed for a coffee before heading pack. Dot and I bought a pizza and some other stuff from M&S Food.

Today Dot stayed at home doing preparation while I went to church and played guitar so that Phil could leave the service. Howard played piano for the same reason. After lunch Dot headed for London and her second P4C of the weekend. She reached her hotel on Seven Sisters Road all right – only a mile or two from where we used to live on Bethune Road.