Christmas is over. Or is it? I seem to remember there are twelve days of it, and here in Tier 4 that’s probably still true in spite of the time distortion. We’ve just “attended” a joint service with St Luke’s on Zoom. I’m not sure in what sense it was “joint” because the only way I got into it was going on to St Luke’s Facebook page, and no-one from St Augustine’s took part in it. I circulated the link to St Augustine’s members, but only Matt and Carrie returned up. If we carry on like this we could get an Archdeacon coming round and complaining that we don’t get on together. Carrie says we need grace.

Before lunch we went for a walk, starting over the Julian Bridge, then down Mountergate and opposite into The Close, then round past the Cathedral and into Bishopgate. At the bottom of Bishopgate we turned left and walked along the riverside path up to Cow Tower, where the path was flooded. We knew it would be because we walked that circuit in the opposite direction yesterday, and I took some quite nice pictures.

Back on Tuesday Anne came round for coffee and an exchange of presents. After lunch I took a present to Thelma’s care home, then drove to Mulbarton, where I left a present for the Gazleys. They were out, but I left it on the door handle and carried on to Lucy and Naomi’s, where I had a chat with both on the doorstep. Naomi seemed well, but Lucy didn’t look at all good. She said she had an infection, but then she often does. Meanwhile Dot was listening to a broadcast of Nimrod by the Self-Isolation Orchestra. She had practised with them but didn’t record her bit in the end: still, she got her name on the credits!

She also posted another present to Andrew, and I was astonished to hear on Christmas Eve that they had both arrived. Later we watched Dr Zhivago, which is a great film. Dot and I saw it together in Leicester Square when we first went out together. It started at 11.30pm on a Friday, finishing at nearly 3am, and there were no night buses. I hailed a taxi, which went over well.

On Wednesday we were shoved into Tier 4, effective immediately after Christmas, and Dot tidied the house. Amy FaceTimed. I was busy, but I can’t remember what I was doing. It rained really hard from about 4pm. We watched The Wolf of Wall Street, which was interesting and had lots of naked women. I didn’t think it was a particularly moral film, but then I don’t suppose it was meant to be.

Thursday was Christmas Eve, and the weather was patchy. We met in the street for a Christmas drink – Des and Chris, John and Mary. Very enjoyable until it got too cold, and we went and posted a last-minute card, then filled up with petrol and went through the car wash. I had to run and put the code in again and almost failed to get back into the car. Could have been nasty.

We started watching the midnight service from Norwich Cathedral, but went to sleep. We saw the end of it the next day, which was Christmas!! We had a champagne breakfast and then looked at our presents. Dot rang Harriet. I don’t know why. Had a really lovely lunch, after we’d spoken to David and Chrissy about 1.30pm and opened our presents from them. I had an iPad from David (and Dot) and have been really enjoying it. Great for looking at pictures and reading stuff.

After lunch we watched Viceroy’s House, about the partition of India, which I suspect we had already seen, or seen in a different form. Very good film, if you like problems to which there is no answer. Later I walked down and looked at the river, which was very high. I had been alerted by Des. We also spoke to Dave and Julia and had a long chat with David and Chrissy, Oliver and Amy on FaceTime. Later we watched Call the Midwife. It was a really good day.

After our lunch and walk yesterday (Boxing Day) we watched La La Land, which is excellent film if the opening pointless dance scene doesn’t make you turn it off. It features some inconsiderate driving by the heroine, which is a big turn-off for me. However, the rest of the film was extremely good, especially when they weren’t dancing, and the ending was excellent.

At 4pm we had our much-heralded quiz, with everyone setting questions. Amy’s were particularly difficult. I have no idea who won, except that it wasn’t me, but we had a great time and agreed to do it again at New Year. Afterwards Dot and I had another Christmas meal, which was again excellent, although I forgot the sprouts. In the evening Norwich lost 0-1 at Watford and played pretty poorly.

In the middle of that Claire came to the door twice to deliver presents, which doesn’t strike me as proper Tier 4 behaviour, particularly as she’s just had covid. In fact she came twice, because she dropped her house key in one of the packages that we’re supposed to pass on to Judy and Eleanor. Not yet, methinks.

The shortest day of the year yesterday, and a really unpleasant one. Heavily overcast all day, with rain the air, and now heavier rain. I had been hoping to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn just after sunset, but no chance.Before that I walked up to the post office to post a parcel to Andrew and had to wait ages because a young woman not only had a long series of parcels to post but had to to write registration slips (or something) for all of them. No consideration.

I managed to write my Parish Pump pieces – on Keats and the RSV – and made a start on a piece on medieval Norwich for the Paston website. We also watched The Eagle has Landed, which was excellent. That made two exceptional films un two days: yesterday we watched Forrest Gump, which we both thought was brilliant: Tom Hanks really nailed it.

Earlier Paul came round for a cup of tea and present exchange. M is getting a bit worse. Dot has finished putting up decorations! I also had a chat with Amy on FaceTime about a Christmas quiz. Fixed it provisionally for Boxing Day.

Sunday was the Alternative Carol Service. Only 15 of us, but it went really well. Star performance was Judy and Dot as two sheep. Everyone seemed to appreciate it. Afterwards we went outside and sang a couple of carols to the neighbours, who had told Carrie they’d come out and listen. They might have listened, but they didn’t come out; so Carrie took some presents round to local children. She doesn’t give up.

In the afternoon we drove down to Alburgh and collected our Christmas cake from Marion – a very small version, as I’m not really supposed to eat it, and she only charged £5, though we put that right. Later we had a long chat with David and Chrissy, which was nice. Incidentally, we’ve agreed not to send Oliver and Amy’s presents but to wait till we see them. Don’t know how long that will be with the latest scare – a new strain of covid has stopped us seeing them this week – and Andrew of course. I’ve decided to post his, but not all at once. We are still in Tier 2, but Aylesbury and Coventry are in Tiers 4 and 3.

On Saturday, to take our minds off tiers, we watched a quite interesting film called The Beguiled, set in the American Civil War. As a further boost, Norwich beat Cardiff 2-0 and are now wen clear at the top of the Championship.

The day before, I picked up my pills from the chemist after waiting in line outside again – fortunately in the dry, though it was chilly. Later David got in touch to say Dot’s present was ready to pick up. It was getting late, but it seemed a good idea to strike while the iron was hot. She drove me up to Bank Plain and I made the pick-up. Miraculously she still doesn’t know what it was, or even where I picked it up from.

Later we watched KIng of Kings, which was surprisingly moving, though not meticulously accurate, making strange leaps. The acting was good.

Getting towards the end of another week. It’s a bit damper today but still reasonably mild. I’ve just posted the cards for Aspland Road through letterboxes, having driven up to get my pills from the chemist around lunchtime. Queue outside as usual. We’re still in Tier 2, unlike most of the country, which has been shifted into Tier 3. We’re very fortunate to still be able to shop normally. Happily, we’re both still ok. David has just FaceTimed to say Dot’s present is ready for collection.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but with a snap in the air. We drove to North Walsham, got some stuff from Sainsbury’s, including a frozen turkey crown, and took some flowers to the cemetery, which was looking beautiful in the sun. After driving home for lunch, Dot and I posted some cards at the sorting office (I think all the cards are gone now, including the electronic ones) and then walked up to the Rosary to put some flowers on my parents’ grave. Again, very beautiful. Had a brief chat with one of the workers there who we’ve spoken to before. Dot spent a lot of time wrapping presents (she’s still at it) and after a meal we watched the final of Professional Masterchef and had no trouble picking the winner, although they were all good.

Wednesday was pretty cold. I drove Dot up to the Forum, where she met David Archer and Vicky, and there was an exchange of presents. She had a coffee, but they had to stay outside and she got pretty cold. She walked home, calling at Dipples to drop a present off for Vicki. In the afternoon I walked up to the Rosary again, and in the evening we watched Norwich beat Reading 1-2, playing really well. Sadly Spurs lost to Liverpool, which rather took the gloss off it. Norwich now three points clear at the top of the Championship.

I have finished the Order of Service for the Alternative Carol Service and sent out everyone’s parts. How can it go wrong? We’ll see. Amy meanwhile got a brilliant exam report, exceeding her teachers’ expectations in absolutely every subject. She is a star. Had a bit of an alarm earlier in the week when we heard she wasn’t well, but apparently it was just a headache.

On Tuesday it was the Rosary again, and we had Zoom Cake and Compline in the evening. We used one I found on the net, which everyone seemed to like. Before that we did a version of Would I Lie to You?, which went well. This followed a version organised for our CNS Group the previous evening by Peter Bussey, using the word “organise” rather loosely. Still, it went well. Of the 11 people on camera, Fred Riches and Roger Prince (alias Humphrey Bogart) featured strongly. One of Roger’s false statements was that he had Jamaican nationality and a Jamaican wife. This was only false because he had two Jamaican wives (not simultaneously), but if you have two wives, you must have one; so I think this should have ben disqualified, or declared true – partly because it was the one I guessed as true. Still, he’s a barrister; so no point in arguing.

Also that day we watched High Society, which I surprised myself by really liking. The day before we had watched Scott of the Antarctic, which was strangely compelling. Not sure their planning was very careful: amazing what explorers in those days thought was essential.

On Monday we had both been into the city separately, buying last-minute cards and presents. Sunday was church as usual, with Carrie leading and Liz Cannon preaching. During the week people (including Dot) were making angels for the windows. In the afternoon I posted cards and went for a walk, though the weather was not pleasant. During the walk down Rosary Road, Andrew rang, and we had quite a coherent conversation.

The day before Norwich beat Blackburn 1-2, and we watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a rather unambitious comedy that was nevertheless quite entertaining. We also saw a very good French documentary on the fire at Notre Dame last year.

Cold on Monday. I walked down Bishopgate and round by the Cathedral while Dot was out walking with Anne at Poringland. On my way home, on Thorpe Road while adding a few unnecessary steps, bumped into Jude again – this time she was with Mrs Edwards, wife or widow of the former chief education officer for Norfolk. Jude said I had almost certainly written about him, but I denied it (though I almost certainly did, during my very brief stint as education correspondent in the mid-1990s).

Tuesday was even colder – very crisp, but much more appealing, with a mainly blue sky. Dot had a DSSO Zoom meeting in the morning, and in the afternoon we posted a couple more Canada parcels and one to the Coomes family. Longish queue in the post office, dutifully social distancing. Later while Dot went to Boots I posted her head teachers’ cards and then walked up to the Rosary. At just after 3pm, the sun in a clear sky wasn’t reaching the top of the hill. As I write Dot is watching the end of A Star is Born – the James Mason and Judy Garland version. Pretty poor film. Neither of the two lead actors can act, I don’t like Judy Garland’s voice, the songs are worse than mediocre and there is really no atmosphere. Hollywood at its worst. (Dot said it got better towards the end.) I had been thinking of watching the updated version, but certainly won’t now. Later we watched It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which was wildly funny.

It was not quite so cold on Wednesday: it started foggy and continued very, very damp, though not developing into rain (had some overnight, I think). Spent much of the day transporting sugar: started at Brooke School, where we collected two crates, then in the afternoon we called at Worstead again and picked up a couple more bags, then took it all to the barn at Swafield, where we encountered a pleasant farmer. Then dropped a present off at Rob’s and on to Sheila’s, where we chatted to Bridgett and dropped off cards and presents. Back home via Wroxham, and I walked some cards up to the post office while Dot vacuumed up surplus sugar from the boot. Norwich beat Notts Forest 2-1.

On Thursday the temperature was 6C, with a lighter sky but still overcast. Mainly dry. Dot went to the shops on her own but was back by the time I tuned in to the Norfolk Record Office family history (advanced) event, which was interesting, but not as interesting as the first one. I turned off my camera and ate lunch while it was on.

A number of parcels were delivered, including one which had me mystified until David texted me to say it was for Chrissy. I have now forwarded it to Canada, but I’m not sure any of the parcels I’ve sent to Canada have arrived yet. Also posted three UK parcels. Another long queue at post office. Afterwards I walked round and over the Julian bridge to get my steps up. Judy came round with presents for Compline group. We may have to be postmen for some of them. Des came round with groceries: he had been on Look East briefly the previous night, complaining about an anti-vac poster that had been put through our doors.

In the evening we watched a live streamed concert from St Albans Cathedral, which turned out to be very well done. Put on by an organisation called FANE. John Rutter conducting, about ten excellent singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – plus the chorister of the year. Afterwards we spoke to David on FaceTime about presents for Oliver.

Yesterday was warmer but quite wet for most of the day, though it desisted for our evening walk up to Delia’s Restaurant at Carrow Road. We posted cards on the way, and came back along the river, by which time it had started raining again. But we had had a lovely meal – Dot’s belated birthday meal – and so it didn’t seem to matter. The food was excellent (we both had sea bass, and I started with pate and ended with cheese. It was a bit of a risk, because I couldn’t avoid a fair amount of fat, but I risked it and am being careful the rest of the weekend.) When we got back we watched The Bourne Legacy, which was excellent of its kind. Earlier Eleanor had popped round to leave/pick up presents for/from the Compline group.

Also this week Dot has been making angels for church windows, I have finished the script for the Alternative Carol Service, and (most importantly) Oliver has had his Cambridge interview, which he says went well. They would be mad not to take him.

Quite wintry the last few days, though there has been no rain today. We are back at church under the new regulations, but still masked and distanced. It’s Advent of course, and I preached on darkness and light. Had a long chat outside with Matt afterwards, taking in the general topography of Norfolk, our experiences of the CNS and the Paramoudra Club. Dot spoke to Carrie and Kim, whom she has invited to our Compline group. At home watched final of Young Chorister of the Year – something I wouldn’t have seen myself doing 20 years ago – and the wrong boy won. Still, they were all excellent.

Spoke to Andrew on FaceTime. He seems much the same. We struggle to have a conversation, but I’m glad we have contact.

It was very cold last Tuesday too – the first day of meteorological winter, as we were informed by the weather people. There was a north wind, which made a difference although it wasn’t strong. I posted Sophie’s parcels to Canada, and Dot went to her violin lesson with Anna – she took me halfway (entrance to the gym), and I walked home. In the evening we watched the original Dambusters film, which was good. A three-part documentary by Dan Snow on the next three nights corrected a couple of factual errors and rubbed home the high cost in lives among the air crew.

It was cold again on Wednesday, but there was blue sky; so it didn’t seem so bad. Best day of the week really, which was fortunate, as I took the car up for a service and had to go for a walk while it was being done. I walked as far as I could up Holt Road, which turned out to be just past my cousin Mark’s house. I then crossed over and walked back to the airport, noting a surprising number of take-offs – most of them grey planes. The non-Ingrid person on the service desk took for ever to do the paperwork, but I was eventually able to get back home for lunch. Dot spent most of the day on another Zoom art retreat: she gets a lot out of it. In the evening Norwich lost dismally to Luton 1-3. They were very poor, and so was the referee.

Thursday was very wet, with a dark sky all day. Hello Fresh arrived, and so did our groceries courtesy of Des, whose gouty foot seems to have improved. Dot had a Zoom session with the head at Cringleford. Defying the rain, I sent a parcel to David, then bought some cards and candles from Revelation. Dot cleaned the stair carpet and went to Morrisons for some more (*carpet) shampoo. Later we watched Enemy of the State – a fast-moving thriller with a brilliant ending. Also watched The Man in Grey – an old b&w film featuring a young James Mason and Margaret Lockwood, who was my father’s favourite actress, I think. Most of it was set in Regency times, and it was quite nicely done but with nowadays quite unacceptable racist undertones at times. I suppose the time will come when they refuse to show it.

Friday was wet and grey again, and still cold. Linda came to do our hair at 9am, and I had a bath afterwards. There was was a touch of sleety snow mid-morning (not lying), and an ice warning. Finished my sermon and later watched Whistle Down the Wind – another old film about some children who mistook a murderer on the run for Jesus. Not as bizarre as it sounds. I thought it was excellent in just about every way.

Much better weather yesterday – dry and not as cold as forecast. Dot went into the city to buy presents, and I went up to meet her. Norwich rather luckily beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. We played badly for about 80 minutes and should have conceded a penalty (though not two, as was claimed in some quarters). Scored our two goals in the last ten minutes. All three goals were excellent. In the evening we watched Hang Em High, another Clint Eastwood western, which bit off a bit more than it could chew. Thought-provoking, but the structure was odd.