A fairly bright Sunday, but quite chilly, though not in church, surprisingly enough. The service was all rather chaotic – I gave Judy the words to one of the hymns, and she didn’t realise I wanted her to distribute them, then couldn’t find them. I started playing the first hymn in the wrong key for reasons much too complex to explain, but it all worked out all right, even when I told Sue, who is coming up in court for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, that I would probably have run her over. In the nicest possible way, obviously. June came from Beccles, and Ray was surprisingly perky after the funeral – possibly because a lot of the pain of watching his wife die had been released. I preached, and I think it went down OK. Dot did the prayers, and Graham presided at Communion and played drums (though not simultaneously).

Last Tuesday was dry, with a cold wind but not too strong. Wrote two final pieces for Parish Pump, on Corrie ten Boom and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Watched Vera, then had various visitors: Angela with my trousers, in which she’d put a new zip; Des, who wanted to know if Dot wanted some bamboo (she did, and he brought it over later); and Carrie, who wanted Dot to go with her to Wymondham to take some stuff for her son. She did. Carrie was unwell and afraid she couldn’t get back. In the evening Dot went to football with Des – Norwich beat Birmingham 3-1 – while i walked to church for a DCC meeting that wasn’t very impressive. Graham, Matt, Phil, Debbie, Jude and me. No-one understood Howard’s financial report, and Debbie is not impressive as minutes secretary. Jude gave me a lift to the bottom of Kett’s Hill, and I walked home via Rosary Road. We watched the final episode of The Family Pile (very funny) and I watched a few minutes of a Netflix documentary on the Himalayas on the screen downstairs. Impressive in more ways than one.

Wednesday was not very pleasant: damp with a cool wind. Went to Eric Osborne’s funeral at Surrey (CityGates): good attendance. Spoke to Linda and Roger, plus Jenny and her daughter, when I went up to the Rosary (arriving first despite having to get to my car at the end of Sussex Street after the hearse had left). Also spoke to Chris Rumball, who I probably last saw more than 50 years ago. Recognised one or two other faces, but couldn’t put names to them. Wrote sermon in afternoon and early evening while Dot went to Ash Wednesday service at St Mary and Margaret Church in Sprowston. Afterwards watched North Sea Connection, a thriller with a rubbish ending, plus Hotel Portofino and Would I lie to you?

Thursday provided quite a cold wind, with some drizzle early on, especially as we walked along the riverside path to Kim’s and discovered it was a long way round (though flat). Had tea and cakes with her, and the usual interesting conversation. Left about 2.30 and got home in time for Bridget. I tried to ring the valuer, but no answer at first; then left my wrong phone number by mistake. (I was tired.) In the evening watched three episodes of Desperate Measures, which was actually rather good. We’re also now watching together that documentary on Netflix, about someone who climbed all 14 of the 8000-metre peaks in an astonishingly short time.

Friday was a grey day, with showers. Cold wind. Spent most of day at church for Christine Olga Fiske’s funeral. Arrived at 11 and got stuff ready – tables, food etc. Chatted with Steve, among others. Then into old church for funeral service, which started at 1pm. Good number there – probably about 50. Very well done by Graham.  Afterwards, a long wait while the family went up to the crematorium. Back around 3. While we were waiting, I had a long chat with Nikki, who was quite bouncy and optimistic. When family got back spoke to Steve and one of two others, then a really good “reunion” with the Camplings: Mark and his girlfriend Kate, Lisa and her husband Johnny (both drummers), June and their father. Helped put stuff away before going home. Got home about 4.45 – discovered I’d missed two calls from valuer. Weather still pretty miserable, so invited Des, Chris, Mark and Sarah over for drinks. Later watched Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise, a sequel that was quite good. Printed out a hymn before going to bed. 

Yesterday was very cold with a few showers. Walked to Morrisons to pick up food for the evening, then spent a lot of time sorting various things out. In the afternoon I updated my sermon, filed a worship report for the annual meeting and finished the rota, while Dot went to watch Norwich beat Cardiff 2-0, with Jonathan and Naomi making guest appearances. In the evening David FTd – he’s feeling a bit unwell, but seemed lively enough. Then Graham the vicar came round for supper – I cooked chilli con carne, and Dot did a pavlova. After he left, watched last episode of Desperate Measures – very well done, though a mite far-fetched. Satisfying ending, which is what you want, isn’t it?

Thursday – the day after the funeral – was drizzly, generally damp but not too cold. Glad funeral was the day before. Slow start. Caught up on e-mails, thanking people etc. David went out for walk when he got up, and I had a late bath, but went to sleep and dipped book in bath. Bridget came round and cleaned. In the evening Kevin came for chilli con carne and lots of chatting with David (and us). Oliver and Amy arrived shortly after 10pm. I was very tired, and my eyes kept closing; so I went to bed. 

Friday – Better weather: quite mild. All rather late up. Dot and Amy went to shops. Oliver and I played a number of chess games through the day at quite fast speeds. Honours shared. After brunch we all walked up to the Rosary and looked at Andrew’s grave. Also showed Oliver and Amy various other aunts and uncles, plus other notable graves. Out on street at 5.30 with Des and Chris, Mark and Matt. Oliver went with Des to pick up fish and chips. After meal we looked at various slides after fetching them from loft, and saw old videos on computer. Amy very appreciative. Very tired again. 

Saturday – Quite mild. Linda came to cut our hair in the morning, and I had a bath after that. Phil and Jane Coomes arrive around 12.30, and we all walked down  to Gem for lunch. Very nice, but felt I’d eaten too much. Back home for birthday  cake for Phil; then Oliver and I (O driving) took Dot to St Andrew’s, Eaton, for concert rehearsal. Back home, then Phil and Jane left after a chat. The rest of us went to concert at 7.30: very warm in hall. All usual suspects there, including Adrian and Jane O’dell. Amy and I got lift home with Des and Chris in their electric car. Also at concert: Bridget and David, Neville, Graham, Jaya’s daughters, Rachel from church, Angela and Rodney. 

Sunday – Cooler, but dry. Concocted a quiz and delivered it – won by Dot, probably because she is the same age as me, and my knowledge coincides with hers. Astonishing (to us) what Oliver and Amy don’t know, but I guess we would have been exactly the same at their age, faced with questions from the preceding 50 years. David and Oliver went out and generously bought us a new Apple TV for the lounge, then David set it up, as well as transferring the old one to downstairs, where we now have a new screen (his old one from the garage). Quite excited about using both. While they were out we showed old videos from Photos to Amy, which was quite fun. Had pizzas for evening meal (Dot had gone to shops in the morning), and Oliver and Amy had left by 9pm. 

Monday was mainly bright and not too cool, though with a bit of wind. Felt pretty ropey most of day – not sure why. Much better towards end of day.  David left on 9.30 train, and I had a bath, interrupted by phone call from valuer, who was early for appointment at Phyllis’s house. Dot drove me there – his assessment only took about 15 minutes, and I walked over to church for tea and chat, then walked home. After lunch watched Death in Paradise, then wrote a Parish Pump article on the first people to fly over Everest. In evening drove Jude and Eleanor to Archers for cake and compline, which went well. Claire also there, but Vicky fainted in city and then tested positive for Covid. Ray was also quite bad yesterday. Home and watched Marie Antoinette. 

Yesterday – February 15 – was Andrew’s funeral. Cold start, but developed into a really nice day: not too cold – around 10-12C. Up reasonably early, and Dot and I took the food to Surrey Chapel (CityGates). Dave Rimmer organised it all – very efficient – and we met the musicians and Ralph Manning, who was taking the service. Then back home to get ready properly and pick up David. At church in really good time. Disappointed that no-one came from Minster Lodge, but Mrs Baxi and her daughter (Jennifer and Angela) arrived just after we started.

Service went very well, and we all went up to the Rosary. David helped the Baxis and travelled with them (Jennifer in wheelchair). Beautiful up at the cemetery, and Ralph Manning led the committal. All very well organised. Then back to church for food that they had arranged nicely. Spent a lot of time talking to the Baxis; David talked to just about everyone. Other than the Baxis and church people helping, no-one else came – not even Joe or Sam (though Sam has problems with tenants trashing his house in Southampton). The three of us were pretty shattered afterwards: Dot did a chicken meal, and we read a bit and watched a little television. Bed early.

Sunday -was a bit cloudy but mild. Well, 9C. Dry. Went to church. Bit down in numbers. Led, with band consisting of Matt, Dot, Steve and Carrie, who also preached. Quite good – lot of audience participation. Nikki there, and Leanne popped in at the end. Discovered Jim Green, a new member, is a lay reader. Wasn’t feeling great. Gave Ray a lift home. He’s holding up well. Sorted out stuff on computer – cleared up screen etc. Dot finished preparing her room for grandchildren’s visit. Emptied car for clean tomorrow. Watched Songs of Praise, Vera and some rugby. David FTd – possibility of Coomes visiting on Saturday or Sunday! Chrissy not too well – bad cold. 

Monday – Bit overcast and a little chilly. Dot dropped me at church, but nothing much happened, because Steve was trying to sort out the church accounts without having sufficient information and getting “help” from Debbie. Tried to reassure him. Walked home while Dot was getting the car valeted (£25) and buying some food from Morrisons. Felt rather ill in the morning but improved as the day went on. Did a lot of work of various kinds, for example sorting out stuff we’d taken from car and repackaging it more pleasingly. Also sorted out rota for next week and some queries on Phyllis’s estate from the solicitor. Later on got call from funeral director, making last-minute checks. All OK, I think. Sorted out bins, watched Call the Midwife and another episode of Irish thriller. Dot picked up tickets for tomorrow night’s match from Naomi in case David or I want to go. 

Tuesday – Clearing up most of the day. Picked up food from Morrisons for funeral, and sorted out the fridge. Picked up David from station at about 4.30. He had travelled by train from Gatwick to Cambridge, where he changed on to the Stansted express! Quite a pleasant day; fairly mild. In the evening all three of us went to watch Norwich City beat Hull 3-1: a good game, but very cold towards the end.

End of Monday, 6 Feb – Saw first two episodes of North Sea Connection, a very promising Irish thriller. 

Tuesday – Bright sunshine in Norwich, but some fog elsewhere. Cold. Dot had DSSO meeting at Easton; so I walked to Town House for Archant breakfast. Took me 25 minutes, and I was first there. Very nice breakfast, though I forgot the eggs. Sat with Brian and Tricia, next to the window. Very sunny and got too hot; so very tired on walk home. Had a brief sleep on bed. Wrote piece for website. Watched Amazing Spaces and an old film, The Lady Vanishes (Hitchcock). Really good, if you take its age into account. David FTd – he is coming over for funeral – and then Amy: she is also coming to stay!

Wednesday – Similar weather.  Went to Morrisons and did another big shop. Wrote to a lady from Coventry who had written about Andrew, then Dot went to Taize at church. I walked up to meet her as it finished, and we went to the framing shop and picked up our pictures. Looked good. Have put some up on wall: really just the walls on the stairs to do (a serious miscalculation), but of course that’s the most difficult. While Dot was at orchestra, I looked at some photographs and found a few of Andrew for the funeral. More to check, though. Earthquake in Turkey/Syria all over the news – over 24,000 dead, apparently. Horrific for just about anybody in the area, who are battered  already for other reasons, mainly political.

Thursday — Weather very much the same. Up early so that Dot could travel to Tasburgh, then Saxlingham on DSSO duty. Very tiring day. Sorted out lots of photos of Andrew for the funeral, then helped Dot put up thousands of pictures in various rooms. Still lots to do. Also decluttered notice board in lounge. Later watched Hustlers and today’s episode of Marie Antoinette.  Heard from Linda that Eric Osborne had died. Tried and failed to ring her. Likewise Ray Fiske. 

Friday – Overcast, but not too cold. Dot went to two schools – Wreningham and Newton Flotman – stopping for lunch at a garden centre called Foundry in the middle. Meanwhile Bridget came to clean and did an extra half hour. I put together a collage of pictures of Andrew, and put right one of our own that had gone wrong.  Dot came home and wrote her reports and letters before joining the rest of us outside for a drink (Des, Chris, Mark, Johnathan). Fish and chips afterwards, then watched You Only Live Twice (waste of time) and an episode of Death in Paradise. Posted birthday card to Dave Evetts. Caught up on lots of computer stuff.  

Saturday – Dry and not too cold. Dot went into city in the morning, and after that we spent much of the day putting up pictures and clearing up the house. Quite exhausting / for me, anyway. Dot has loads of energy. Other than that watched rugby, with Scotland beating Wales and Ireland beating France. Sadly Norwich and Spurs both lost. Oliver got in touch to say he is coming next weekend; so we’ll have a full house! Happily I’ve had an e-mail from Ralph Manning, who’s co-ordinating the funeral service, to say that the mp3 files I provided are fine.

Tuesday Jan 31 saw a cool wind, but was otherwise quite pleasant. After lunch I walked to Surrey Chapel to have a look round, and I managed to have a word with the Pastor, who said they could deal with mp3 files for the funeral; so later I purchased the relevant files from Amazon and sent them to him. Also had a look at the room we’ll use, which is really nice. Walked back via The Close, of course, and looked at an exhibition  in the Hostry about a very old cloister – now covered by the new one. To be honest, it wasn’t very exciting.

Continuing to read the latest Leonard Cohen book – a novel and short stories – which I got for Christmas. Very interesting, though unsettling. Just before 7pm Steve Fiske rang to say his mother Christine had just died, peacefully in her sleep. Glad we were able to see her yesterday. Had chat with Kim on phone and agreed to meet on Friday. Also had a call from Sheila, who keeps an eye on my Aunt Thelma, to say that Thelma has vascular dementia and is getting much worse. All very death-orientated. So to stay in the mood, we watched Silent Witness.

Wednesday  was cool but dry. Dot spent most of the day with Anne in the city, and I wrote quite a lot of my sermon for Sunday. In the afternoon went to see Thelma, who was not as bad as I expected, but it was hard work. She finds difficulty hearing, which means I have to shout, and she repeats herself over and over again. I lasted three-quarters of an hour and found it hard to locate a member of staff to let me out. In the evening went with Des and Chris to a wine-tasting evening, which didn’t include much food. Still it turned out to be interesting, because we met a couple of women, one of whom worked at Archant and the other in education. They recognised both of us, though only in a vague sort of way. We all got on well and the four of us promised to visit their walled garden at Little Plumstead. On the minus side, I think I left my glasses there. Watched a bit of a programme on moss but fell asleep. 

I didn’t leave my glasses there. I found them  on the kitchen table on Thursday morning. Bright spells, bit windy but not too cold. Dot went to Hickling in the morning for a school visit. I thought I’d finished my sermon, but then realised it needed reorganising. Aargh ! Walked to church in the afternoon to photograph a part of the churchyard wall that had fallen down (or been knocked down). Then  Dot picked me up and we spent about 90 minutes with Ray, during which he told us a number of stories and gave us a cup of tea. Home in time to catch Bridget, then cooked lamb chops, which turned out surprisingly well spent a bit of time on final choice of hymns – and rang Liz Cannon to check it wasn’t Communion. Feeling quite stressed at end of evening and had a strange pain in my head. Probably just catarrh. 

Friday was again fairly mild and dry. We walked into the city in the morning and had tea/e with Kim in Yalm, then walked to Jarrolds and had lunch in their fish restaurant on the second floor. Had a plate of smoked salmon and a couple of poached eggs on sourdough toast. Walked home through the Close, and Kim came back for another cup of tea with me while Dot finished her talk for Monday.

Mild enough to meet in the street at 5.30 – in this case our driveway, because Des and Chris have a new electric car in their drive. They’re moving it into our drive so that a prospective buyer of their old car, who’s arriving tomorrow from London, doesn’t know it’s theirs. Don’t ask. John also joined us. At 7 Des got us fish and chips, and we repaired to eat it . Watched the last three episodes of Bad Sisters on Netflix. Brilliant. David FTd us, which was just as well, because he revealed that tomorrow’s match starts at 12.30, not 3.

Saturday – Cloudy but dry. Not too cold. Having been alerted to the early match time, (12.30) I took Dot down there: for some reason Naomi’s friends, who had been scheduled, didn’t turn up, but they didn’t miss anything. Norwich lost 3-0 to Burnley. Krul gave away a goal , and they conceded from two corners. Had a rest, watched the remainder of a fascinating programme on moss, cleared up and walked down to meet Dot. Back at house watched Six Nations: Wales lost heavily to Scotland. Practised hymns and watched a bit from Iolanthe that David Archer had sent us. Also Death in Paradise and Hotel Portofino, plus a chunk of Amazing Spaces. Never knowingly understated.

Yesterday was bright and dry, but a bit chilly. Church as usual – great to see Ray there. As a result changed one of the hymns to Amazing Grace – his favourite. I preached, and got quite a good response. Hold-up on Riverside Road because of yet more ill-thought out roadworks.  Dot spent a lot of time preparing for her P4C talk.  I went for walk down by river and along King Street and ended up very tired. Watched quite a lot of TV – rugby, football (Spurs beat Man City 1-0), Call the Midwife and the finale of Happy Valley, which was not as exciting as it might have been, but did wrap it all up.

Today was colder but bright and dry. Walked to church and did a Bible Study with Steve, Debbie and Jude: Acts 3. Went pretty well. Stayed for lunch, which was mediocre, and afterwards Dot gave a talk on philosophy for children (thinking skills). Thought it went really well. Kim came along specially. About 15 there. I had parked the car in the car park using an app – quite expensive, but I didn’t know when we were going to finish. Returned about an hour later (and after Dot had retrieved some papers from the accountants) to find her sunglasses, which were on the piano. Watched Vera and a rather beautiful animated film called A Boy, a Mole, a Fox and a Horse, which was lovely and very Christian. Then spent quite a long time clearing up in the kitchen and putting the bins out. Too much detail?