Lying in bed worrying about the car – for more than one reason. A couple of days ago the tyre alarm sounded, and I found the front offside tyre was down a bit on pressure. So I decided to monitor it. Then tonight Dot took it to the Greens’ and it wouldn’t start afterwards – until she rang me and I told her to fiddle with the keys. That worked for some reason, but then she complained that the car had sounded funny. So at least one problem to sort out, and possibly three. We may have to go to Scarborough by train.

Last Sunday was warm all day, but rain in the evening likely to last a few hours. Drove to church in the morning and led service.  Interesting sermon from Heather on Trinity icon. Nice prayers from Debbie. Chatted to Steve, and Judy’s friend Mavis among others. Wrote piece for website on being unable to contact people. Had main meal at lunchtime again. Both of us felt a bit under the weather in the afternoon – Dot having trouble with insect bites on her arm – so didn’t go to concert in evening. Dot wrote report on school visit. Watched Test highlights and Van Der Valk, which was excellent. Like all the main characters. 

Monday – Warm and dry. Rained quite heavily overnight. Dot dropped me off at church and went to Morrisons. I walked home and then in the afternoon walked up to Boots for an eye test. Had no difficulty spotting that ophthalmologist was very striking. And extremely polite. Ordered new set of glasses, because near sight is deteriorating. In the evening Des and Chris came over for a drink and whisky cake and looked at our Scottish photos. 

Tuesday – Rained in the morning, but stopped by the time Anne arrived. She went in the city with Dot, and they lunched at the Ivy while I had fried eggs and sausages at home. Sad or what? Did a bit of reading and computer stuff. Later walked to Budgens to get cash from ATM, then up Rose Lane, over to the river and up Julian’s Alley. Rested in church garden and popped into church, where I bumped into woman on retreat from Bromley. Watched Test, which Australia won by two wickets. Then football, which England won 7-0 v North Macedonia. 

Wednesday – Again warm and quite heavy. Drove up to chemist to pick up pills. Unexpectedly easy. Walked to church to do Bible study. But only Debbie and Steve there: talked to Debbie about silence in church and other things. Then we looked at Philemon. Dot arrived with car for Taize and I left with car, but not before popping into Phyllis’s house. Tyre alarm went on car, checked and found front offside a bit low. Dot went to orchestra in evening. I read some more of Translation State. Amazing imagination.

Thursday – Heavy atmosphere, with constant warning of thunderstorms, but none materialising. I spent a great deal of time and energy removing the Cassette and CD elements of our sound system and recreating it as a turntable  with loudspeakers. As this involved a pre-amp and about a million wires, it was not easy, either psychologically or physically, especially as Dot wanted it the other side of the room. After a couple of false starts  and frustrations I managed to complete the job while she was at Thurton School. Nevertheless felt extremely tired afterwards,not to say disorientated.

While still in that state I ordered a combined cassette player/CD player from Amazon for about £60. It should arrive tomorrow. Bridget came to clean, and we spent a bit of time looking for an injured baby bird I had seen earlier. “We have an injured bird also.” Eventually she did the kitchen (Bridget, not the bird) and Dot arrived back from Thurton. In the evening Dot drove to Golden Dog Lane for handbells and I cleaned up the house and watered plants. Afterwards Dot couldn’t start the car and rang me: i suggested fiddling wit the keys, and it started. Oh, I said that.

Last Tuesday was – not bucking the current trend – very warm.  Dot finished painting walls, and I went to Morrisons and bought lots of food. Later cooked salmon. Watched last episode of Guilt, which was very well done.  In the evening we drove to Golden Dog Lane for DCC, which was a bit trying, despite the Prosecco and fruit salad. I walked home. 

Wednesday was – yes – very warm. Dot went to the Yarmouth school with the brilliant head – Maria. I switched on Des’s solar power (I think). Watched YouTube of Alan’s funeral service as it happened: all very good. Dot went to the garden centre and bought a huge pot for the front garden and a huge hanging basket for the drive. Erected latter with help from Mark.

In the evening we drove to Salthouse for a Private View involving Charlotte Ashenden. Welcomed by Ian Dyble, the vicar, who remembered us from last time (and probably elsewhere – not sure where, but he used to be at St Thomas’s). We’re on the same wavelength. He also paints and writes verse. Also met Charlotte’s husband. Afterwards called in to the upscaled Manor at Blakeney and went to the loo. Beautiful light at Blakeney (not in the loo). Ate mussels at home then watched Ladies in Lavender, a film which was surprisingly good. 

Thursday was, yes, very warm again. Dot’s school visit was cancelled, so she spent much of the day in the garden. In the early afternoon I walked up to Richer Sounds to ask about replacing my aged, old-style sound system; got a lot of chat from Roger, but nothing all that helpful. Bit disappointed. Bridget came round to clean in the afternoon, and David came around 5.30 to meet her. 

Friday was – you guessed it – very warm. Dot and I drove to Bawdeswell Garden Centre and had a snack and cup of tea with Julia Higbee, as well as a discussion about her church, which has problems. After we got home Dot watched Alan’s funeral service, and I watched it again! Then out for street meet – Des and Chris back from Portugal , Mark, John and his eldest daughter; Matthew. Quite hot sun Fish and chips, then watched cricket and football. Former much more exciting. Tired out. 

Had a very bad night: started by feeling vaguely sick (though not ill), then had a very heavy stomach, and couldn’t sleep.  This made Saturday a very odd day. Also a change in the weather, with much more cloud and even a (very) little rain in the afternoon. This was just after Dot had allocated apace for all of her new plants and cleared up, with a little help from me. Mark has also spent hours (literally) on cleaning his car, and I wrote to Rosemary Town, and sent her a couple of pictures. Also posted the letter.

Meanwhile, David had FTd us, and I was able to thank him for a Father’s Day present he’d sent me – an SF book by Ann Leckie called Translation State. I enjoyed her previous ones. We had our main meal at lunchtime, I lay on the bed for a while in the afternoon – may have gone to sleep – and after tea we watched the Test Match highlights, preceded unintentionally by the Trooping of the Colour highlights. King’s Birthday, and all that.

We’re in the middle of a warm spell: nothing too oppressive, but certainly tiring. Nevertheless, Dot has done a lot of painting, including walls and gates, and as I write this on Tuesday morning, she is finishing the wall at the NWT side of the house. I have to say it all looks very good.

Last Thursday was dry and quite sunny; pleasant without being warm. a couple left a car in front of our drive overnight; so Colin and his father could not park their truck in front of the house, and when there skip man arrived he could not reach it. Fortunately he was quite happy, as it was too heavy anyway: he already had a load on. Eventually the owners (Australians) came out, and Colin’s father told them to move. They parked opposite and I told them they might get ticketed. Started telling them to park on Riverside Road, then decided to give them a permit. Felt good. Had been quite angry.

Dot had already been to Taverham School at this point. Anna arrived at just after midday to give Dot a violin lesson. Bridget came to do the cleaning later, and in the evening we took Eleanor and Phil to cake and compline at Judy’s. Phil managed to miss the barriers and notice and came to our front door. Grrrr! Supposed to not use path till Monday. Don’t think any harm was done. Nice meeting. Vicky was the only absentee. 

Friday was warm, but with a bit of a cool wind in the shade. Everyone “panicking” about heat and drought. Man came to take skip away while I was in the bath. Dot and Mary moved cars to assist him. Dot spent much of the rest of the day weeding and cleaning the drive. I finished editing the holiday pictures. Street meet in evening very well attended – Dot and me, Mark and Sarah, John, Ciara, Bob and Mary, Matthew and even Paul at the very end. Sent pic to Des in Portugal.  Watched end of Local hero again and first episode of Guilt, a Glaswegian thriller. FTd Amy and Oliver. O has finished his exams (he “smashed” them) and Amy has three to go, ending on 21st. Both seemed happy. 

Saturday was warm. We were going to meet Kim for coffee, but she had a migraine. I read a bit and entered some poems in two competitions. Dot started her gate-painting with the gate on Mary’s side. I walked to St Luke’s for a ceilidh in the evening; Dot drove. Got a meal there (buffet) but exhausted by the end of the evening. David FTd Dot just as she was leaving home. He was having a meal in Toronto after visiting garden centres. Jaya among many others at the ceilidh; Anna’s friend Alison also played violin. Organisers were Gathering Gates – a  bunch of hippies led by Liz Day. They gave chocs to the band and thanked us, though. 

Sunday was warm again. Oliver has just climbed Snowdon for the third time, as it turned out, with quite a large number of friends. On a less adventurous note, we went to church in the morning and played in the worship band. Also did a song in Communion. Claire came. After lunch we drove to  N Walsham and put flowers on the graves. Then on to Walcott. Sea fairly high. Walked a bit and had an ice cream, then drove home via Wroxham – not too bad. Put flowers on Rosary graves. Cooked chilli con carne and watched some inconsequential stuff – Countryfile, I think, and Antiques Roadshow. Don’t know why. Inertia, probably. David FTd from Caledon, and we had a chat – also with Barbara and Roger. Very tired. Opened access to new path, and we both walked up and down it. Bit worried about the incline. 

Yesterday was – you guessed it – warm. Dot drove me to church and I did a Bible study with Stacy and Steve. Went quite well.  Walked  home. Dot spent most of the day painting doors and wall outside and re-arranging things. I had a blood test at Thorpewood by Emma Richardson: very competent. Nice woman. Watched a couple of episodes of Guilt, which is quite compelling. Dot and I read through DCC agenda and financial statement, then Dot read from her Lindisfarne book and Psalm 91. 

It’s Wednesday, 7 June and it’s grey again; still a bit chilly, but signs of increasing warmth, at least in the forecast. Some halfhearted bursts of sun today. Colin and his father have been working on  the garden, concentrating on the path, which was finished by mid-afternoon – at least as far as the stone placement is concerned. Grouting tomorrow. Till Saturday our front door is inaccessible. Awkward. Dot went to Brooke school in the morning, and in the evening she went to orchestra. We finished watching Malpractice, which was quite well done, but had a woolly ending. I am editing the holiday pictures and choosing some to show friends. Long job.

Back to last Friday – still mainly grey, but sunshine for the street meet in evening. Des, Chris, Dot, me, Mark, Matthew and Jonathan (briefly) – followed by fish and chips. Earlier Dot went to the shops and I walked up to the Rosary. Watched three episodes of Ted Lasso (one to go). Wrote a poem and a half. Much earlier Linda came round and cut our hair. 

Saturday was warm and dry. Looked through Julian images that Lucy sent me, then after lunch drove to the Urban Jungle, just the other side of Costessey. Quite interesting: some very expensive plants. Dot took some notes and we had tea and Victoria sponge. When we got home we watched the Cup Final, which we’d been recording. Man City beat Man Utd 2-1 after scoring in the first minute. Fair result, because Utd got a ridiculous penalty  (ball hit  hand).  In evening watched the end of Ted Lasso, which was quite nicely done, and David FTd – he looks well but is spending a lot of time in Cambridge. 

Sunday was warm and sunny, despite a bit of wind. Led service at church – Ray has testicular cancer. Howard spoke on Ecclesiastes – got a bit out of hand with audience participation. After lunch went to Strumpshaw Fen – longer walk than intended, but watched a heron for a long time and saw marsh harriers. Cooked duck, then watched a couple of programmes, including Annika, which is growing on me. Spent quite a bit of time tidying up my study, but too tired to finish. 

Monday was much cooler but still dry. Colin and James are making progress on the walls. Dot drove me to church: did a bit of Bible study, but the general distracting chaos overtook us. Nevertheless spoke to a number of people, including Steve, Nicky (who is 27 weeks pregnant), Alison, Judy and Graham. Also a couple of new people – a husband and wife and a man with his seven-month-old baby. Afterwards continued with clearing up and ordered a couple of things from Amazon – bath plug and computer adaptor. Very tired in afternoon after walking home from church. Watched rest of Annika episodes , a bit of Gordon Lightfoot in concert and a bit of Local Hero to restore our wa after particularly gruesome repeat episode of Inside No 9. Dot is reading me extracts from David Adam book in bed: very good. 

Tuesday was grey again – even a bit of drizzle and a bit chilly too. Colin and James here again, making a lot of noise. Dot and I went to Archant breakfast at Town House. Chatted with Robin and Shelagh. Also there, Steve Snelling, Andy Russell, Frank Gordon, Bill, Jenny, David etc but not Eric and Linda –  on a cruise. Brian is pretty ill, but slightly better than he was, according to an e-mail. Good breakfast as usual. Posted sympathy  card to  Rosemary Town – Alan died the other day.

Adapter arrived from Amazon, so was able to download pictures from Panasonic. Wasted a lot of time trying to cancel BT Sport – will probably have to ring them. Dot walked to Morrisons in the afternoon to buy celery for meal she’s cooking this evening. Des came over with his key: they are going to Portugal for a week. Janet and Graham Smith came for the meal in the evening – pretty relaxed. Have written a song for  Dot to  play violin in. 

Coming toward the end of May – Sunday was a really nice day: warm but not too warm; sunny but not too sunny. After cooked breakfast, we drove from Lindisfarne Inn down to Bamburgh via the coastal route. Walked briefly in dunes at Bamburgh: magnificent castle, but bank holiday crowds, so didn’t attempt anything ambitious. Back to Holy Island, where the tide had gone out, and we accessed  the causeway, then parked in the visitors’ car park. Walked around town and went in the  museum and priory, which is still stunning.

Bought a David Adam book on Aidan, Bede and Cuthbert. Had ice cream, walked some more – halfway to the castle – and had a coffee. Struck up conversation with couple who had been to Norwich, where the woman bought a £180 teddy bear from a shop on Elm Hill. Drove back, stopping at a couple of points on the causeway road (pre-causeway) and did short walks up into the dunes and over on to the sands. Back to hotel for evening meal. Fell far short of finishing my fish and chips.

Monday – the journey home. Warm and dry, and not too much traffic, considering it was a bank holiday Monday. Filled up with petrol before leaving, and Dot drove to a service station near Durham that was well away from the main road (Don’t you hate that?), where we switched driver. Didn’t even go to the loo. Then I drove, taking the route not recommended because of forecast hold-ups. Glad I did. Stopped at a nice service station – Woolley Gap, near Wakefield  – very friendly and a lovely view.

Then Dot drove and I spotted speed cameras using Google Maps. Arrived at Fosse Park Aldi at Leicester about 3.30pm and found Heather and Simon in the cafe. Heather was quite bouncy, and Simon was very positive, but I think he made a big effort for us. Since his stroke, their life has been extremely difficult. Suggested they write a book about it; they seemed to like the idea, but it might be too big a burden. I drove to Cambridge Services, where we bought some food, and then Dot drove home. Ate most of a pizza, watched final MOTD of the season and then Masterchef.

Surprisingly, Tuesday was much colder, while Ballater basked in 22C. Dry, though. Woken by skip arrival, together with Colin. Spent most of the morning unpacking and sorting out, while Colin demolished our steps in rather noisy fashion. Dot made some phone calls, and Austin came to wash the windows. Spent much of the afternoon on the computer, catching up with various things left undone. Cooked sausages for supper and watched Detectorists, which is wonderful however many times you watch it. Beautifully written and directed, and with a lovely atmosphere. 

Wednesday – Had quite a good sleep: think my back is improving. Still quite cool and cloudy, with spots of rain. Colin and his brother James came to continue work on our front garden, and our Naked Wines order arrived, probably within 12 hours of our ordering it, which is remarkable. Later did some shopping at Morrisons. Felt exhausted at end of the day. Watched quite a big of TV and cooked salmon. 

Thursday – Bit chilly again, with grey skies. Colin and James here again all day to put in the new slope – coming along nicely. Wrote piece for website in the morning. In the afternoon Roger and Debbie called in for tea and biscuits; they came by bus from North Walsham for a day in Norwich. Later showed Des and Chris the garden work so far. Later still Dot went to handbells at the Greens. I walked with her to the upper Close, then later went and met her on Prince of Wales Road. Watched Test cricket v Ireland and then the final of Masterchef. Any of the last three could have won. All were pretty much perfect.