The atmosphere has been unsettled recently. Last Thursday saw a mixture of dry but windy weather, followed by rain in the evening. I finished my Parish Pump articles – on the Tea Act, David Livingstone, Bob Dylan and the creation of Israel – and went for a walk down by the river, picking up some lentil crisps on the way back. As I arrived back I got distracted by Michael and Margaret on the subject of the strange proliferation of Turkish barbers, with a word in passing from Ciara. So I missed Bridget’s arrival. Dot was making a cake for Sunday. Watched the last couple of episodes of Gold – excellent – then a documentary about it (the Brink’s Mat robbery at Heathrow). Also put the previous episode of this blog on the page with pic and drop cap!  

Friday was blustery, with a few drops of rain here and there. Dot did some more gardening, and I paid Phil the second instalment of Andrew’s money. Tried to put my share in my ISA, but for some reason that didn’t work. Kim dropped in on her way to the station and gave us a ticket for Sunday’s concert – requiring us to find someone to give it to. We already have tickets. After lunch we drove to Mannington so that Dot could go to a textiles exhibition organised by Penny. I went for a walk on the estate – mainly on a beautiful boardwalk, where there was a hide overlooking a lake. When I met Dot out (nice to see Penny and Rob) I took Dot down to the boardwalk. Heard that Sam didn’t get the job at Norwich School – very disappointing for him. Quiet evening watching TV.

Saturday was again blustery with some rain, but not too cold. Oliver is in Canada, and Amy FTd us – we talked about her driving and her plans. Dot finished in the back garden, and I sorted out the charity cash.  Took a long time – then walked up to the sorting office to post the cheques.

Sunday was coldish, but mainly dry. Church in the morning, having survived the transition to BST successfully. It was Steve’s birthday – good to have him in the band. Howard did an obscure sermon on Ecclesiastes. Graham looked nonplussed. After lunch watched Unforgotten, which is really very good. Saw a bit of England’s 2-0 win over Ukraine, and later the Boat Race – female and male, both won by Cambridge. Went to Theatre Royal for the aforementioned concert by Swedish Philharmonia – brilliant, especially the Serbian violinist who played Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Sibelius Symphony No 2 was also excellent. Went in a taxi with Mary, who we gave Kim’s ticket to. Remarkably her seat was right in front of me. We walked home. 

Monday was mainly bright and dry, with a chilly wind. Had a very bad night, but got up in time to go to church: more remarkably, Dot got up in time to take me. Chatted to Steve and Ray in particular, but no Leanne, no Nikki and no Bible study. Walked home at 12 (Steve accompanied me to the bus stop at Anglia Square). Wrote several e-mails and did some reading: also watched quite a bit of TV, including Grace. Dot went over and had coffee with Sarah, plus chatting to Colin about her garden plans. Worrying.

Tuesday was miserably wet and cold. Dot went to a headteachers’ conference at the Cathedral – an annual event which always delivers something interesting. Problems arose for anyone coming in on the Trowse bypass, because of more council incompetence with temporary lights. Anne missed her train, but parked here after Dot had gone and caught a later one. I went to Roy Hansell’s funeral at St Luke’s. Sarah Q was there and also the rarely seen Kibbles – Val in some difficulty after a recent spine op. Had a few sandwiches and cup of tea. Wrote a piece for my website and tidied up a poem. Dot brought me home a spicy beef quiche, which was nice. Watched quite a bit of TV, including A Hard Day’s Night and an episode of Unforgotten, plus a documentary on anti-war activists in Russia. 

Saturday was mild, with a few light showers. Drove to Felbrigg Hall and went for a walk round the lake, followed by lunch in the cafe – very good. Earlier Dot got an early Mother’s Day present from David – some special martini+coffee drink and some chocolates. She FTd him in the evening to thank him. Both my websites are now working properly. Dot started listening to football commentary on the way back, and continued when we got home: disappointing 0-0 draw. Some great saves by Gunn, apparently. I watched a bit of the rugby  – Ireland beat England and won the Grand  Slam. Good team. Also watched Harry Wild and some other stuff. Went to sleep while watching David Attenborough. 

Sunday – fairly mild until Dot turned the heating down. Dry. Church in the morning. I preached on Jesus being the light of the world, and the music group was me, Dot and Matt. Carrie led. In the afternoon I pruned half the roses and Dot continued with her weeding etc. Sam arrived with Lucy and Elliott around 5.45pm, and I played “chess” with Elliott while others chatted. After a meal of salmon, Sam went to his room to prepare, and we watched Grace, followed by Songs of Praise. Earlier chatted with Des about looking after stuff during his holiday. 

Monday – mainly dry, with inconvenient light showers. Quite a busy day. Got up in time to see Sam off for his second round of interviews.    Anna came round about 12.20 for a chat, but I left at 1.15 to hear Sian, Graham’s mother, talk about herbalist stuff disguised as a medieval woman. Very informative and funny. Gave a lift home to Ruth and Ray and got snarled up on school traffic. Home to meet Sam – it seemed to have gone well. Lucy and Elliott arrived to take him home. I played “chess” with Elliott while Lucy had a coffee. They were planning to call in on Phil and Joy on the way home, though I think Sam would rather have gone straight home. In the evening went to St Luke’s for the annual parish meeting. I walked some of the way until it started to rain. Dot picked me up and we had quite a pleasant evening, including a meal. Gave Ray a lift home. 

Tuesday – showery, bit of wind, but reasonably mild. Went to chemist’s in response to text and they gave me an extra nose-spray. Then to Chatham Street to check on coin collection, which I don’t remember seeing before. David FTd in afternoon and showed me how to put an image on the blog page and reinstate a drop cap. Dot’s visit to Cringleford was cancelled but she is down for an Ofsted feedback at Old Catton tomorrow. Watched first two episodes of Gold, which were really good. 

Wednesday – Fairly mild, but with a brisk wind and a few drops of rain. Went to Morrisons in the morning. In the afternoon Dot went to Old Catton School for an Ofsted feedback – in the midst of bad publicity for Ofsted. But both the school and the inspector tors were good. Dot knew the head (of six schools), Ashley. I cut the rest of the roses back while Dot practised violin. I also made a start on the Parish Pump stuff.  Dot went to orchestra in the evening – all went well. 

Quite pleasant weather last Sunday, but very cold in church. I went on my own because Dot was headed for Carrow Road, and a poor performance from City, losing 1-0 to Sunderland. Church was Ok eventually. Had lunch before Dot got home. Matt came round with projector and computer and showed me how to work it. Sam arrived around 5.30pm and we had a chat about his forthcoming interview at Norwich School before I cooked  a chilli con carne. Afterwards Dot and I watched the last Endeavour – excellent – while Sam did some preparation in his room. Went to bed fairly early. 

Monday was milder but very windy, with a little rain in the evening. Up early to make sure Sam was all right. Then after he left had a bath. Dot had very successful appointment with the accountants at 11; back just in time to go to church with me for my newspaper talk – and lunch. Managed to set up OK: Matt was ill with vertigo. Meanwhile Sam got back to ours and sorted himself out: all seemed to go well, though there were nine(!) applicants, I found out later from Phil. He left on 13:30 train, just as I was starting my talk. After making bed I went to Morrisons to get some food for tomorrow, when Kim is coming round. Dot checked her info about Hickling School, which is getting Ofsteded tomorrow. Watched an episode of Clarkson’s Farm, then put bins out and had something to eat before walking to the Great Hospital for Cake and Compline. Eleanor made first-class apple cake, and we took wine.    All present except Phil. Pretty shagged out when we got home. 

Tuesday was quite pleasant weather most of day, deteriorating badly in the evening, as Dot was driving back from Hickling in sleet and pouring rain. She had been there to attend an Ofsted feedback which went really well. Earlier she had spoken to the inspector on the phone and was told she had been very helpful. She is a star!  Kim came round in the morning and stayed for lunch (as planned). As always, very interesting conversation. She’s a bit worried about a lecture she’s setting up at St Martin in the Fields, because there seems to be a shortage of chairs. Played through some more En Passant games – am now up to date. Watched a documentary on the Morse/Lewis/Endeavour series, then an episode of Clarkson’s Farm. Planning committee should be sued for being deliberately obstructive. Also watched a YouTube documentary sent by Oliver on someone who walked from bottom to top of the Outer Hebrides.

Wednesday again was not bad till evening. Rain started at about 9pm and continued. Stayed in all day and wrote most of my sermon. Dot went to Taize at lunchtime, and in the evening to orchestra.  She also wrote her report on Hickling yesterday after I found the document for her – it had been filed under the wrong name. Watched what we think was the end of Hotel Portafino – quite good. Norwich drew 1-1 away to Huddersfield. 

Thursday was fairly mild, with a slightly chilly wind. Dot went to Ladies-that-Lunch event at The Sugar Beat on the A140, with Sue Eagle, Helen Lamb and Pam Dons. Meanwhile I finished my sermon and cleared up, then went for a walk up to Tombland and back through to Mountergate and across the bridge. Bridget came to clean, arriving just before Dot. David FaceTimed in evening – long talk about climate etc: he is migrating our websites, possibly in small boats. 

Friday was mild, but quite a lot of rain, especially in the first half of the day. Had our hair cut, and I rewrote the end of my sermon and chose the hymns. Went to Morrisons and stocked up, then to Des and Chris for evening drinks – with Sarah. Mark is in Norway. Fish and chips, then watched Rain Man. Good film. Also start of new series of Ted Lasso.

Last Monday we were still in Coventry, at the end of a chilly day with snow forecast over the next couple of days. Picked Oliver up from his house and after showing him our room at the Old Mill had a meal with him in the restaurant – very good ribeye and excellent waitress. Dot drove him home (with me) as she kindly denied herself alcohol. Very tired. 

Tuesday‘s – breakfast was a bit slow, but the drive home was easy. I drove to Cambridge Services where we had tea/coffee, then Dot drove home. Arrived home about 1pm. Unpacked etc and watched various TV programmes, then went to bed early.  Very tired. Weather quite pleasant, but cold. 

Wednesday was very cold, but hovering just above freezing. Lots of precipitation, mainly rain but some snow. Drove to Phyllis’s house for valuation of her possessions at 9.30pm. Took about 40 mins – very little worth having. Prepared poems for evening and looked at talk for next Monday. Dot went to Taize, then collected pills and went to Morrisons. Bought new hot water bottle – left old one at hotel! Made meal (sausages) and left a bit late for Halesworth. Drove through lots of sleet and arrived about five minutes late, but not last. Lynne in charge. Fewer people than usual. Read two poems about Andrew, one about the White Ship and Near-Death Experience. Couple of new guys and an artist, Ros, who was very pleasant. Quite a bit of snow on verges on the way home, but none on road. Filled up with petrol. Dot had been to orchestra and said there had been quite a bit  of snow in Norwich, but it hadn’t laid. Some snow on windscreens. Watched Hotel Portafino and were rather late in bed. 

Thursday – miserable weather: cold and very wet, but no snow, as there was in much of the country, including Coventry. Got up in good time to prepare for visit by the Goddards at 11, but they had the wrong date in their diary. Spent much of the day tidying up my room and catching up, but we did watch Endeavour, which was excellent, as was the second episode of Unforgotten. However I did go to sleep towards the end of Clarkson’s Farm. Before that had FaceTime with David and Amy, who looked very good. Some competition between Oliver, Amy and David as to what constitutes a blizzard. 

Friday – mixture of snow sun and rain: very cold. Went out twice: early on to move car and post a birthday card for Phil, and later to buy some milk. Pam and Stuart Goddard came round for reschedules tea/coffee and cake. Had quite a long talk. Judging by what they said about their electric car, I definitely don’t want one. Both of us felt a big down in the afternoon : Dot cooked a lovely meal for Phil and Clare and Matt and Amanda. I worked on computer and spent ages trying to find the right leads for the projector – unsuccessfully. At 5.40 we went over to drink wine at Mark and Sarah’s, plus Des and Chris. Lovely meal and chat with our visitors, Matt revealing more of his knowledge of ancient and modern Norwich. Plus much else. They came by tandem. Bed after midnight. 

Saturday – much better day, weather wise. Quite a bit of sun, and not quite so cold. Dot dropped me off at the post office, and I walked up to the Rosary and back, with a few diversions. Dot continued to the garden centre, bought a couple of things and spent some time in the garden. Meanwhile in Ontario loads of snow, as David revealed when he FaceTimed us. Had phone call from Heather Savigny, saying Simon had a stroke and is in hospital for at least four weeks. Upsetting – he’s had a poor prognosis and she is thinking about moving, because they live on the 8th floor and the lift is dodgy. Watched a fair amount of TV, including England losing heavily to France, who scored 53 points. Also refreshing Premier League highlights, because all the commentators have come out in sympathy with Gary Lineker, who was removed after a rather silly tweet about immigrants and Nazis.  Wrote prayers for tomorrow. 

Last Monday was still quite cold but mainly dry. Walked up to church, but largely inconsequential talk. Dot picked me up at lunchtime, but we returned to hear Stuart talk about the history of Gildencroft, which was really interesting. Took Ray home – his leg is really bad – then did shopping at Morrisons. Dot did work in garden, then Kim called in on way home from station. She took my sermon away and raved about it later. Very encouraging. Spoke to Phil and changed arrangements for tomorrow. Watched Hotel Portofino and Harry Wild  Investigates – the latter surprisingly good.  

Tuesday was a grey day with occasional light rain. Very busy. Caught up with computer stuff on the morning. In the afternoon went to the chemist, who yet again failed to come up with my pills. Then on to pick up Phil, who had early supper with us (salmon) before a taxi took us up to the Theatre Royal for a performance of Girl from the North Country, an excellent production featuring many Bob Dylan songs. Sort of a birthday present for Phil. Afterwards I walked home to fetch car, then picked Dot and Phil up and took him home to Dereham. Then drove home, arriving just after 11.20pm. Believe we saw Northern Lights on way home.  

Wednesday was another rather drab day, weatherwise.  Dot spent much of day making food for tomorrow – she also went to Taize at church. I put Last Princess story on my website, played through some En Passant  games, corrected some Paston letters and listened to a couple of videos on Covid vaccine. Also caught up with e-mails. 

Thursday was chilly but dry. Overcast. Up fairly early to prepare for visit of Julia and Allan. I managed to put rota on diary and website. Very pleasant lunch created by Dot. Intended to go to buy her a new jacket when they left (3pm) but we’d both had a couple of glasses of wine without thinking; so cleared up instead and did packing. I went through another month of En Passant games as well as ordering some wine for next week. Earlier I went up to chemist’s to get my pills: again very slow. Don’t know what’s wrong with them. Watched end of 14 peaks documentary – very good – and two episodes of new series of Clarkson’s Farm. 

Friday – cold with occasional light rain. Left home at about 9.30 and bought Dot a new jacket in Go Outdoors. The girl who advised her asked her if her name was Mrs Lenton: she had taught her at Tuckswood!  Drove down Watton road then cut over to Thetford and the A11. Stopped briefly at Cambridge services for Dot to take over – she then drove as far as Leicester services on The M1, where we bought a sandwich each from Waitrose. I drove the rest of the way. Usual route via Ashbourne. Tired out when we arrived. Brief chat with Dave and Julia when they got back from town, then I slept briefly and had a bath. Drink in the bar and then supper – enjoyed it, but possibly not as good as it used to be. Fish and chips fine. All staff seemed to be new, and lots of people – mainly American – in the bar. 

Saturday – Pretty cold, but dry and no wind. After a hearty breakfast we embarked for a visit to an old water mill at Styal in Cheshire. Some dispute between our hosts on how to get there, but we eventually made it, by a rather circuitous route, passing only about five miles from Anne Coomes’ house. After a coffee, we did a tour of the Apprentices’ House, which was superb, catching the right balance between modern horror at the conditions and the benefits for the workers at the time. Still, all based on slavery… Then went down for a look round the mill, which was again fascinating. Had something to eat and waited ages for tea/coffee, then the toilets were being cleaned… Still, just about time for a look at the water wheel, at the steam engines and straight up the huge chimney. We were given directions back to the car park by a woman with a dog; if only she had given us directions back to Buxton. After a further inter-Evetts dispute, I guided Dave back on to the route he wanted to take, which wasn’t the quickest. But we eventually got back to the hotel. Good ribeye but too much to drink afterwards. In bed too late.

Yesterday was cold but dry. No wind. Spent the day in Buxton. Various shops, cafes. Ended at antiques fair and another cup of tea, this time following chat with local. Walked home, very tired. Meal not great. Long chat afterwards, fixing dates for future meetings.

Today we had a wet start, still cold. Left first after breakfast and bought petrol at Morrisons, then found ourselves behind the Evetts. Followed them a while before they noticed / Dot texted them (not sure which came first). Eventually decided to follow them to this outlet village at junction 28 on the M1. Started on Marks & Spencer which raised boredom to new levels, but the drink and croissant at Costa was fine. Afterwards we split up (again) but kept running into each other. I bought a shirt in Barbours, and Dot got a  Goodmove sweater at M & S and a top on my recommendation at Next. Liked Tommy Hilfinger, but didn’t buy anything. Hundred of young police officers floating around on a training exercise (I asked). They all looked school age.

Drove down to Coventry through rain, and I parked near Minster Lodge and walked over to hand them the picture back. Very odd situation. Old manager had been fired (apparently nothing to do with Andrew) and it was all pretty tense. Green-haired Chantelle was there and assured me that it was all to do with reorganisation (they had a new security door fitted). They had been very, very busy, which was why they hadn’t responded to my e-mails. Didn’t see any residents. Ah well. Drove to Old Mill at Baginton and booked in. Nice room.