Last day of November and a surprisingly busy day – sadly grey and drizzly. Preparing for a quiet day catching up on the computer, I suddenly found myself driving all over Norfolk on sugar-collecting missions. Slight exagerration: Dot had agreed to pick up sugar for Sugarlamb Charities Inc from Alburgh, her former school, and I volunteered to drive her. After picking it up we drove down on to the Happisburgh road, retracing my mysterious drive after I had the coronavirus test in Leiston, when I “lost” several miles and ended up in Homersfield. The re-drive wasn’t terribly enlightening, except to suggest that the road I remembered as being part of the Halesworth-South Elmham road was in fact the narrow road leading into Homersfield. Still didn’t seem quite right.

However, we returned to Norwich with a sweet cargo and a petrol fill-up, and after lunch Dot arranged another pick-up at Worstead. I agreed to chauffeur her again, and this time it was not quite so smooth. I persuaded her to stay and chat to the head teacher while I waited in the car. I was quickly joined by carloads of parents on pick-up duty. Walked round the green several times, but it was pretty chilly. Eventually Dot emerged after a successful chat, and we drove home. In the evening we watched The Homesman, which was beautiful but very strange and not entirely satisfying.

Yesterday was a nicer day in the sense that it was drier, but it was pretty cold. Dot and I listened to our final Rolf podcast in bed, and then went for a walk to show her the rail bridge over the river that I had found recently. Unfortunately, the way was blocked by a locked gate; so we had to turn back. We had parked our car in Morrisons car park because we didn’t want to walk too far. In the afternoon we had two Zoom services – the first was Sarah’s licensing at Carlton Colville and the second our last Augustine’s Morning Worship at 6pm. Bit strange. Talked to David on FaceTime in the evening, Amy on a separate occasion and Andrew in the middle of Sarah’s service!

Saturday was rather grey and offputting, but I eventually went for a walk in the dark to St Helen’s Bishopgate and back. Have been having a few twinges in my left side, but I now think this may have something to do with slightly mouldy bread. In the evening we watched The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which is as good as everyone says it is. I also wrote a very abridged autobiography for Tony Friedlander’s CNSOB project: 1000 words, which is twice as long as he requested. That’ll teach him.

In the evening on Friday we watched Seven Psychopaths, a Tarantino-esque film which was brilliant in many ways, though (of course) a bit over the top in both visuals and language.

Not sure if I’m going to achieved 4000 steps today, but I have done for the last 13 days and managed an average of over 4000 a day for the month – my best since May. I must be feeling better.

Fog first thing this morning, but by mid-morning the sun had come through, and I took Dot to see my recent Thorpe walk. We did the main bit, which was enjoyable, but had to cut it short because Dot needed to get home. Still, we did well over 3000 steps and met some friendly people. Amazingly, since I had been there a few days ago, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust had put up two notices on the muddy paths, claiming the marsh for their own. Are they reading my blogs? Probably not.

At lunch time the Mazda garage rang and said they had to shut on Saturdays and would I ring them about my appointment. This was a bit mystifying as my appointment (for a service) is next Wednesday, but I rang anyway. When they rang back it turned out to be a general message, but it certainly didn’t read like one.

It has been getting colder. Yesterday I went out at about 2pm to try and catch a bit of sun, but it was mostly behind buildings even at that time. I had to come back early because I got a message saying my Amazon package had been delivered, and Dot was not answering the phone. However, it turned out she had received the package, part of which was a microphone to assist her in recording her violin for a couple of projects she’s engaged on. I went out again for another short walk, across to Riverside.

In the evening we had our Compline on Zoom. Everyone except Vicky turned up: she had a problem with Amy, but Amy seems OK now. I have started to dictate my early novella, Realm, to my computer: not perfect , but better than I thought it would be. Dot and I have started praying together at lunchtime. There is no obvious connection between these two things.

We are now in Tier 2, which is marginally better than being in Covid lockdown, but we will probably have to cancel our meal with the Robinsons at Delia’s, though we may go on our own. The only real problem is not being able to meet who we like at home (or their home). Meeting outside is OK, and most shops will be open. The economy is a disaster area, of course, and I’m not sure all this is necessary.

On Tuesday I walked to the shops with Dot and walked round the car park while she browsed Boots. It was cold, but as always lower temperatures in still conditions don’t seem nearly as unpleasant as temperatures five degrees higher in a bit of a breeze. I think we need a different way of measuring temperature.

Wednesday was grey and damp – one of those really unpleasant autumn days – but we went to the Blofield Farm Shop at Oaklands, which was superb, and then on to Morrisons, because Des has damaged his ankle and so couldn’t do our shopping. This brought our steps up nicely. Dot’s new “Fitbit” is working well. In the evening we watched The Medusa Touch (1976), which was pretty impressive.

The weather has settled down a bit: it’s been cold but mostly calm and sometimes sunny over the last four or five days. As a result I’ve put together a whole week in which I’ve walked over 4000 steps a day. This may not seem much, but it’s quite satisfying as it appears to mean I’m recovering from my illness.

It did rain in the evening last Thursday, but by then I’d walked my 4000 steps, and we had chili con carne in the way I’ve always done it. I have to say it tasted very good, possibly because it’s a long time since we’ve had it. But there’s not all that much fat in it; so why not? We’ve been watching The Crown, which seems to get worse as it approaches the present. There’s been a lot of criticism in the media: I’ve never been a fan of Prince Charles, but I’m sure he can’t have been so consistently bad. Gillian Anderson sort of had Mrs Thatcher’s voice, but she was the wrong shape (head and body), making her look a bit top heavy and weaker than she was. Prince Philip and Princess Margaret came off best, perhaps, and Princess Diana looked the part. Got the impression that the writer, Peter Morgan, didn’t really like anyone involved, which is not helpful for a writer.

On Friday we drove up to Sainsbury’s to get some soup and one or two other things, then I walked quite a way back along Yarmouth Road, noticing a track to the river that I hadn’t been aware of before. I returned to it the following day and discovered a whole world I didn’t know existed. Reached the river and could have got on to the marsh if the path was a bit drier. For a fuller description, see my website. In the afternoon Phil came round with presents for Dot and stayed for a cup of tea. He walked both ways; so can’t be too bad.

It was cold again on Saturday, when I did the Thorpe walk. I Had just left when the Archers came round with birthday presents. Dot spoke to them outside and got pretty cold. Received letter from the NHS urging us to book a flu vaccine and scan ourselves into a digital hub to save them the expense of sending out letters. Needless to say, Dot rang about the vaccine and was told there wasn’t any. I tried to scan into the hub, and the system was down. No wonder the NHS is at risk of being overwhelmed.

This was a good day in other ways. Norwich beat Middlesbrough 1-0 away to go top of the table, and Spurs beat Manchester City 2-0 to go top of the Premier League. We bought a day from NOW TV to watch Norwich, but then discovered it wasn’t on; so we watched the Spurs match instead. Very high quality stuff from both teams.

Earlier Anne had come round with presents and stayed for a couple of hours. I tried to stay well clear of her. An extremely large poinsettia was delivered from Julia and Dave, and we rang them and had a chat.

Sunday was Dot’s 75th birthday! She received quite a lot of presents, considering the lockdown, and spent some time organising her new Fitbit, which isn’t a Fitbit but something very similar. Despite present-opening and fizzy wine, we got to the 10am Zoom joint service just in time. It was led by Richard Turk and featured a sermon by the Archdeacon. It was her visitation Sunday, but of course she couldn’t do all the admin things she should have done. Lucky her.

After lunch we went for a walk at Fairhaven, which was very enjoyable. South Walsham Broad was beautiful in the sun. They had a one-way system in operation, but surprisingly there weren’t many people there. At the end Dot had a takeaway Chelsea Bun, which she pronounced the best she’d ever had. Also hot chocolate. I drove, and we got home in time for a FaceTime with Oliver and David. It was snowing in Canada. I cooked a special Lasagne that we’d bought at Sainsbury’s, and Dot had sticky toffee pudding. We watched The Apartment – a classic film.

Yesterday I spoke at some length to Phil Kerrison on the phone while he was walking his dog on Earlham Park. He seemed a bit down; so I’m glad I rang. Then Minster Lodge rang me to talk about David’s care plan. He seems to be doing pretty well. I’ve finished selecting a number of poems as candidates for a new book, but may have to thin them down further. I’ve only looked at the last ten years. In the afternoon we walked up to the Rosary, which was very pleasant, and in the evening we watched The Nice Guys, an excellent, witty film that would have been near-perfect without the offensive swearing.

This morning the window cleaner came and asked for possible audio material; so I’m sending him a link to Veronica Mary Rolf, which I hope he finds interesting!

Friday the thirteenth turned out to be quite pleasant, and I went for a walk round the Cathedral area. Dot had problems contacting one of her heads (Aziza) on Zoom, but she sorted it out eventually. The weekend was very unpleasant – wet and windy. We spent far too much of it watching TV: two films – The Magnificent Ambersons, an Orson Welles product that I thought was better than Citizen Kane, and Wagon Master, an old John Ford Western that was rough at the edges, but very entertaining. We also saw the last two episodes of DNA, an excellent Danish thriller with a thoughtful ending. On Sunday we caught the first two episodes of the new season of The Crown on Netflix – fascinating in many ways, but I’m not sure how accurate the script is. Mrs Thatcher was portrayed rather badly by Gillian Anderson, though it may have been the fault of the script/direction.

Before that we had Zoom St Augustine’s, which for some reason was at 6pm. Howard hosted it and preached, but I led it. I have put a rota together for December and January, but of course if we’re still locked down we’ll be zooming again. The Turkish Grand Prix was really good, on a wet track with Lewis Hamilton showing how good he is by coming from sixth on the grid to win it and take all-time top spot over Schumacher. Lance Stroll led for a long time but fell apart at the end. I’m not sure why. His teammate Perez held on for second.

Monday was a much nicer day – dry, but cold. I would have gone for a walk but Dot was in the back garden most of the day, making it look good in its new incarnation, with pebbles and crazy paving where once there was gravel. As a result I felt I needed to be around to answer the door, because we were expecting a number of parcels. It is Dot’s birthday on Sunday. I also have two new jumpers.

In the evening we watched a Science and Faith lecture on Zoom. Good content, but poor delivery. It was by a theologian who has a new book out with the word “Ramified” in the title. In my feedback I pointed out that this was not a word that anyone used, and the organiser wrote back, agreeing with me. I think theologians produce books for each other, in a language of their own. We avoided the discussion group, but went back for the questions at the end.

I was on Zoom again yesterday (third day running), when I decided to take part in the Jurnet’s poetry group meeting. Quite interesting – I read a poem called This Is Not It – but I recognised very few people, except Hilary Mellon and one or two others. It turned out that we had three people from the United States (not Jurnet regulars), one from Ely and another from somewhere else outside Norfolk. Some quite interesting poems, and it ran the full two hours.

Weather-wise it was quite a mild day, though rather overcast. Good for walking, and I ended the day with over 7000 steps. I walked round the outside of the riverside path (past Zaks) and noticed a young couple swimming from the opposite bank, which I thought was a bit reckless, though they seemed to be having fun. A bit further on I passed Trevor Burton, a former EDP colleague, and said hello. On to Whitefriars, via a new path through to Barrack Street and a look at the city wall at the bottom of Silver Road. I was looking for Ship Yard, which used to be off Cowgate, but I think all trace of it has disappeared, and it is probably underneath the NCB factory.

I came back by the other side of the riverside path and over Bishop Bridge, after which I happened on Jude Sayer sitting on a bench almost opposite her house on Riverside Road, and we had quite a long chat – so long, in fact, that Dot rang me to see if I was all right. I said I was with a woman. Dot was in the front garden when I returned, doing more excellent work, and Bob and Mary were talking to her, in masks. They were arriving home from a walk.

I’m happy to say that the new phones are working well. It certainly helps to have one in the living room. I am trying to choose poems from my last ten years to include in a new book, but am having difficulty thinning them out. Today is sunny, and Dot has just gone up to the sorting office to post a birthday card to Bridget. She is going to Alpington School this afternoon, and I intend to take another walk.

Bright autumnal day today. Bit of a chill in the wind, but temperature hovered around 12C. Dot and I drove to Felbrigg Hall, had takeaway lunch (parsnip and apple soup for me) and went for a longish walk round the grounds, taking in the lake. Beautiful outlook. Afterwards we drove back to Norwich, and Dot queued for quite a while outside the chemist’s before she was allowed in to pick up her pills – apparently people getting flu jabs were causing hold-ups. We then called in at Sainsbury’s to get some oil for frying, and some sorbet lollipops. Earlier Des had delivered our weekly shopping from Morrisons – feel a bit guilty, but he seems to like doing it.

Later, after darkness fell, Amazon delivered our new phone. The old one had been going haywire; so I hope this one will be OK. At the moment it’s charging for 16 hours. I should say “they are charging”, because there are three handsets – one for the lounge, so that we don’t have to rush out of the room when the phone rings while we’re watching television.

Before this, Anne Coomes rang (after having e-mailed earlier) to stay that her Parish Pump website is in financial trouble, and would I mind cutting my normal three (or four items) monthly to two. I said yes, of course. Problem for her is that many churches are stopping their parish magazines because no-one is going to church during Covid restrictions, and many church mag editors are not tech-savvy enough to adapt to providing it online. Also, of course, nothing much is happening with the churches shut.

Yesterday Colin was here with his father to work on the back garden, replacing small gravel with pebbles and crazy paving set in concrete. It is now setting, and we have to avoid standing on it. Discovered that Colin’s mum had died of breast cancer about a month ago, not long after she discovered she had it. Dot had a Zoom meeting with a head in late morning, and at teatime went to a safeguarding meeting at St Luke’s. Later we watched the film I was Monty’s Double, which was surprisingly good. Amy also FaceTimed us to talk about Christmas. She is very organised.

On Tuesday Anne came to see Dot, and they went for a walk to Riverside, calling in to Boots for various purchases. More shops are open than in the previous lockdown, and the restrictions seem not to be as severe. Later I went for a walk round the Whitefriars complex, looking for a place where we might put a plaque to commemorate the burying of several Pastons there. Took several pictures and had a few ideas. Pretty tired when I got home, to find Dot leaving with documents for her accountants. Later we watched the film Midway, which I thought was excellent. It was on Amazon Prime.

Dot spent most of Monday doing housework, but in the evening we had Cake and Compline, to which everyone turned up, which was nice – and a refreshing change from the fiasco on Sunday, when almost no-one turned up for the St Augustine’s Zoom Remembrance service because they “didn’t have the link” – although it was provided on the notices given out the previous week. Just goes to show that people don’t read things. Dot and I were joined by Carrie and Judy, plus Matt; Sarah gave a good sermon which included an appreciation of St Augustine’s – it was her last service with us.

Had a long talk with David and Chrissy on FaceTime, and afterwards with Amy. We also watched The Spy who Came in from the Cold, which was good in many ways, but with a rubbish ending that I’m sure we’ve seen before. On Saturday we watched the latest two episodes of DNA, the Danish thriller which is really good. In a rather less thrilling encounter, Norwich managed to beat Swansea 1-0 and go third in the table – behind Watford only on the number of goals scored.

So here we are in another lockdown, and last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. Hang on, that’s something else, but today I did go to the Rosary again – the first time since I became ill in mid-June. Before that I had been going nearly every day. Everything is still there, but it’s now covered in fallen leaves. The air was cool but still, and there was bright sunshine: we have been granted some reprieve from the grey rain that seemed to go on for ever.

While I was at Manderley – sorry, the Rosary – Dot was visiting a school at Newton Flotman. Because the schools are still open she can do this, though most of her talks with head teachers are by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. She has been having trouble with her knee, but it seems OK today.

Yesterday was Bonfire Night, and possibly the first when we saw no fireworks, although you could hear them. Wasn’t really in the mood to go out and watch the sky. It was the first day of Lockdown 2, and Dot spent much of the day in her office, catching up with various things, but primarily her tax return documents and liaising with schools. I spoke at length to Lily (I had been planning to go and see her, but now couldn’t), and Naomi texted to ask us to help with a project for her mum’s birthday. Later we had a FaceTime chat with David and Amy: Oliver has done well in his maths tests, and Amy’s parents’ evening went very well. She is very organised. How did we get two such talented grandchildren?

Wednesday was sunny and still, so that although the air was cool it didn’t feel particularly cold. Nevertheless I wrapped up when I took the car in for an MOT, and I was able to go for a walk while it was being done. The alternative was sitting reading in a mask in the showroom, which was not much fun. Found Meadow Way Chapel (closed), and when I walked to Budgen’s later to buy a couple of things I reached over 6000 steps. While there I bought some toilet rolls which were on the floor begging to be bought, and not all because I was panic-buying. Oh no.

On the way home from the MOT I called in at St Luke’s to see if I could find the earring that Dot thought she might have dropped on the way out of PCC on Monday, but no luck. Meanwhile we had some wine delivered and Dot did an extensive clean of the birdbath and bird-feeding area. In the afternoon we had a last hurrah in the street: Des and Chris joined us with John and Mark for a cup of tea and talk. When the other John walked past on his way home, that made seven of us, and we think someone took a picture of us from the footpath at the end of the road! Technically, John was not part of the group; so I think we’re OK. Dot spoke to Delia’s ono the phone and optimistically rescheduled her birthday meal for December.

In the evening we watched the last episode of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, which was very good. Also watched Funeral in Berlin, which was a decided improvement on The Ipcress File. We are also watching the Vuelta cycling, in which Hugh Carthy has a good chance of a podium. Norwich meanwhile beat Bristol City 3-1 last weekend and drew 0-0 with Millwall midweek. They are third in the table.

Also last weekend the new lockdown was announced. It seems over the top to us, but we have since learned that things are very bad in the north of England, with everything shut and pressure on hospitals. Odd. I led the last church service for a month on Sunday, and in the afternoon Dot went to play with her sextet from Sillars at Colney Lane – brought forward because of looming lockdown. In the evening we watched the first three parts of a Danish thriller, DNA, which was exceptionally good.

We watched the fourth part on Monday after clearing up outside, following high winds overnight. Huge amount of leaf fall. Filled the brown bin up, and on Tuesday after it was emptied I filled it up again, purely with leaves from the drive and front steps. The Evetts rang about Blakeney, and we said we’d wait till Blakeney rang us, which they did this morning (Friday). We let them keep the deposit and said we’d book again when we fix on a day.

After lunch on Monday I went to see my Aunt Thelma at Poringland, and had another good chat. She gave me a book on Norfolk which she thought was mine, but I don’t think it was. I now have the combination to get through the side door into the garden, but I still have to stand outside her window to talk to her. Not easy!

On Tuesday Dot and I both did our safeguarding course for being on the DCC and got our certificates. It’s almost impossible to fail, of course, but we both got 100%. Collusion? Wash your mouth out. Neville Thrower rang to see how I was. Told him I was OK. Dot talked to Mary.

On Wednesday I forgot to mention that we did a Norfolk Record Office quiz on Zoom, which turned out to be entertaining. We were hopeless at dates, but better at faces and places. On the other hand, the one date we got right, the organisers got wrong – Robert Kett’s rebellion was given as 1579 instead of 1549. How did we know that? Both of us have been on Paul Dickson’s excellent Shardlake walk.