Forgot to mention last time that I’ve just read Matthew Williams’ book on The Masterful Mr Collins – a former city engineer who transformed Norwich between 1890 and 1920. Very short but interesting – at least to someone who lives in Norwich. Last Monday (19th) was a bit cooler but dry. Spent most of the day writing four Parish Pump articles – on Bach, Byron, ABBA and Boko Haram.

Also went to Morrisons with Dot. Minor car crash at junction into shops complex, and police showed great restraint in not closing the road. Watched football and the second episode of Jack and Alice, a TV drama which is a bit strange. Thought it had finished today, but apparently not. Also watched a Panorama documentary on where Hamas gets its money, which was surprisingly balanced. 

Tuesday  was a bit windy but dry, and not too cold. Wrote piece for website on flooding in Norfolk and used ten-year- old flood poem linked loosely to an owl and Godfrey Sayers. Anna came to give Dot a violin lesson. In the evening we walked to the Greens’ for a DCC meeting: Graham, Howard, Jude, Debbie and Carrie there, but not Phil, who forgot. Wine from Howard. Quite a long meeting, mainly about safeguarding and community issues, plus finance. Carrie’s last DCC meeting, and she made the most of it… Jude gave us a lift home and we watched a programme about walking in the Peak District, with Bill Bailey and Alan Davies. Radiators very warm again, but everything off. Suspect erratic thermostat. 

Bad night. Had to get up in night to turn central heating off – again. Seemed OK on Wednesday , though. Bit of a miserable day, weather wise: very damp. Jude came round to watch an episode of The Chosen, and Dot and I then drove to church for Bible Study. Went reasonably well, but Dot had to leave halfway through to go to chiropodist – more work on her ingrowing toenail, which was a bit painful. Jude, Debbie, Stephen and Ellie  present. When we finished I walked home; didn’t seem too bad at first but got wetter and wetter.

Called in on Mary to see how they were, following a roof collapse in one of their bedrooms. They’re OK, but apparently they have to have the whole roof replaced, which might impact on us through scaffolding in our garden. Not quite sure how that’s going to work. After Dot arrived I had a bath because I was so wet and obviously having a bath would help. We did some puzzles afterwards, and in the evening I drove her up to orchestra rehearsal because her usual lift couldn’t get her there in time. Wrote a couple of poems, and she got a lift home. Watched first part of a documentary on the Columbia shuttle disaster. 

Thursday – Very wet, though it was fairly dry to start with, and Dot went up to Jarrold’s for a chin wax, having initially had doubts because her head was a bit dodgy. Went all right, though. However, she got very wet walking home (I had driven her up there), having bought cheese and  lingered in the White Company. Watched episode two of the Shuttle documentary and later rang up my cousin Barbara, who seems OK. Said I would go and see her soon. Monday? Bridget came and did cleaning. Watched How to Marry a Millionaire, which was brilliant except for a totally pointless, prolonged and tedious piece of orchestral music at the outset. Dot washed her foot and then did an exercise to put right her dizziness. 

Much better night, and Friday was pleasant, weatherise, with some blue sky. Quite chilly, though. Wrote another poem and fiddled about with the study, tidying things up and looking for talks I’ve done, so that I can make an offer to Bridget, who wants someone to talk to her church group. Found a couple of plays I’d written and can hardly remember. In the evening we met outside with Des, Chris, Jonathan and Matthew and talked with Mary for a few minutes after she got out of a taxi, Des suggesting that she ought to get a few quotes for her roof work. Very  cold weather; mashed potatoes were terrible, and the TV went wrong again. 

Saturday was coldish but not too cloudy. In the afternoon we went out and pruned the roses: earlier Dot had cleaned the front path and the patio while I did the prayers for tomorrow. The TV seems to have put itself right – watched quite a bit of rugby (Scotland beat England, and Ireland beat Wales). Dot listened to City drawing with Blackburn 1-1 away. Meanwhile the heating, which had been ok for several days, seems to have gone wrong again: think it’s the thermostat. Green Party want to hire church hall to talk about climate change. We voted against it, but I think everyone else is in favour. 

Today has been busy, and I haven’t been feeling that great. It’s been cold, too. Had to turn the heating off last night, which meant I had to get up early this morning and turn the boiler on. Now I’ve booked a service for tomorrow morning, when I hope the system will be put right. Had a bath, turned the heating off and drove to church. Not the smoothest music ever, but I think the prayers went OK. Afterwards moved the car to the end of Sussex Street and walked to Kim’s, where we had lunch. Felt very tired. Kai was also there and talked an awful lot, though he was quite entertaining and we had a good time, despite my feeling as if I was slipping downwards. After we got home I turned the heating on again, and now I feel better.

Up fairly early last Tuesday (13th) to turn boiler on. Gas man came about 10am and didn’t seem sure what the problem was. Reset the power switch on the utility room and by the end of the day it all seemed to be working normally, though Dot, in contrast, wasn’t: she had a problem with her ankle, especially when going downstairs.

Nevertheless, and in spite of very wet weather, we went to Carrow Road with Des and saw Norwich beat Watford 4-2. An odd game – very easy for City during first half hour, reaching 2-0, then losing confidence both sides of half time (2-2), then came back to win 4-2. Not sure why. Some kind of problem at Carrow Bridge afterwards – apparently woman on wrong side of safety fence. Earlier we had pancakes (it was Shrove Tuesday) and soup, but not in that order. Very tasty. Got an F F Bruce book on Kindle because I couldn’t  find my copy, and researched NT documents, then started work on sermon. Sent quotes to Oliver and Amy. Feeling better on the whole. 

Wednesday’s weather was not bad: fairly mild and mostly dry.  Jude came round in the morning, and we watched another episode of The Chosen with her: brilliant as usual – neither Dot nor I intended to watch it, but we couldn’t tear ourselves away. As a result we had to rush a bit to get to church: Jude gave me a lift again. Discussed the New Testament documents – how reliable they are and when they were written. Couldn’t find my copy of The New Testament Documents by F F Bruce; so downloaded it on Kindle. It was very helpful. Debbie didn’t make it, but Ellie, Steven, Jude and Dot did. Leanne apologised – she had an appointment. As usual I drove home and Dot stayed for Taizé and then walked, despite her painful foot. Apparently it was OK while she was walking.

Amy FaceTimed while we were watching The Chosen; so we FTd her back later, while she was cooking some Valentine’s Day sweet thing. She has got the job she wanted at Whipsnade and was clearly feeling very perky. We were really pleased but not surprised. Had quite a chat with her. Dot did some more practising, then we had a Valentine’s Day meal – steak followed by strawberries. Not bad. Then she went to orchestra rehearsal, which was switched to Nolan school because St Mary Magdalene was being used; so she drove herself, and gave a lift to Nova (from Hong Kong), who turned up on time against the odds. Dot had quite an interesting conversation with her. I read some of LeGuin and a piece by Keiron Pim in the London Review of Books, which was excellent. Before going to bed we watched an episode of Silent Witness. 

Thursday’s mild and dry, but we didn’t really take advantage of it. Finished sermon, based on one from 2015. Mike Read came round to look up some old chess games, and eventually I took him home with a crate full of all my old stuff – cuttings and games. Bit risky, but better he has them than they just get thrown out. He says he’ll return them. Dot spent a little time in the garden, but her foot is still giving her a bit of trouble. Nevertheless while Bridget was here she walked to the shop. Offered to pick her up, but she walked back. Decided to have a go at sorting out my urinary tract naturally. Dot bought some cranberries and I started using probiotics. Already take loads of Vitamin C. On the evening finished watching After the Flood, which was excellent except for the cop-out ending, And Trigger Point, which is just tension on tension. 

Friday was overcast but dry; not too cold. Linda did our hair: Dot had highlights. I then had a bath and finished The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin. Quite a clever book focussing on different kinds of communities. After lunch we visited my aunt and took some flowers: She was pleased but clearly uncomfortable (physically) and we had to get someone to take her  to the loo. This involved a hoist; so we left. Gave her a couple of our photo books, one of Switzerland; one of Orkney.  Then went to the Robinsons with more flowers. Philip was coherent but a little hard to follow. Had tea and biscuits. Later we had street meet with Des, Chris, Matt and John, followed by fish and chips. Watched Two Way Stretch, an old film that was very funny. 

Saturday was fairly mild and dry most of day, but very wet in the evening. Got a call from Carrie early on explaining why she hadn’t replied to my emails. She’s been very busy as usual. After lunch Dot, Des and I went to the football (Jonathan was ill) and enjoyed Norwich beating Cardiff 4-1 after going 1-0 down. Felt pretty well apart from some soreness in urethra. Don’t think I have UTI.

Sunday’s weather was a bit mixed. Started off very wet after overnight rain, but some dry periods later. Went to church and played in music group, then gave sermon which most people seemed to like, although Matt and Phil didn’t seem keen on the supernatural elements. Ellie asked me to send a copy! Carrie gave me a book on the saints from Phyllis’s house. After lunch Dot and I drove to Lessingham via very flooded roads to see exhibition on Happisburgh. Lots of old photographs – many of them illustrating increasing erosion.

Had cake and tea, then drove on to Happisburgh, where we had a short walk to edge of cliff and I fell over – not over the cliff, fortunately, but over a gate that was lying on the ground. Not hurt, just made trousers muddy. Drove home and watched a bit of TV. Later David FaceTimed us and we had a long talk about football and government, among other things. Dot’s foot seems a lot better.

Last Thursday (8th) was wet and overcast. Quite cold. Second lot of antibiotics, and after bath felt totally exhausted; couldn’t stop yawning and had to lie down for quite a while. Bridget came round to do some cleaning – she was a bit down; so we had to cheer her up. I chose some hymns for Sunday and lay down again while Bridget did some cleaning and Dot get ready to go up to Jarrolds. Sh left just after 5pm: it was one of this evenings with special offers: Bridget drove up after she’d finished and joined Dot for a meal. I made myself sild on toast and felt a bit better. Dot and Bridget had good time: Dot bought me a sweater and cheese. 

Friday was quite damp and mainly grey, but the odd bit of blue sky – and it was dry enough at 5.30 for us to meet in the street: Des (Chris had a bad cold), Mark, Jonathan, John for a few minutes and Ciara, plus Matt and Angela. Earlier had a brief but meaningful chat with Michael about near-death experience. We’d stayed in bed quite late – both of us – I was still feeling effects of antibiotics.  Read quite a bit of Ursula K LeGuin’s The Dispossessed. In the afternoon went to Morrisons and after seeing Des in car park we went for the wine offer, which went wrong and we got in a complicated sort-out with a nice guy on customer services. Later had a long FaceTime conversation with Amy on various topics including food and make-up. She looked very well. Saw last two episodes of The Chosen in Series 3. Still impressive. 

Saturday’s weather was not inspiring, but we walked down to the Nelson to look at the exhibition giving details of construction plans. Just in time – they started taking it down while we were looking at it. Seems quite good though: I think Dot’s attack of diarrhoea was coincidental. Felt pretty ropey most of the day, but better towards evening. Norwich drew 2-2 with QPR away, and Scotland would have beaten France at rugby if they’d had a decent referee. In the evening watched Living – a brilliant film starring Bill Nighy. Beautifully directed and highly recommended. On Amazon Prime. Afterwards Jonathan dropped off tickets for next Tuesday. Naomi is in hospital and not at all well. Amy has got on to her course at Southampton. 

Sunday – If it’s not one thing, it’s another. My UTI seems to be clearing up, but now we have another central heating problem – or probably the same one again. The system wouldn’t turn off and we had very hot radiators, despite my turning the boiler off and opening a couple of windows. So it was a warm night. It’s been a mainly dry day, fairly cool (outside). Went to church this morning and managed to do the new version of Amazing Grace to end with. Went quite well. Discussion with Anna about Phyllis’s estate – bit worried about the way she filled in a form for stonemason… Missed the refreshments. Howard was supposed to lead service but didn’t: Graham did. Dot had long and convoluted discussion with Debbie about Taizé. Spent most of the day watching TV because we were tired, but had a good conversation on FaceTime with David. Also read a bit – LeGuin book very interesting, sociologically speaking. 

Yesterday was sunny but with a chilly north wind. Dry. Juggled with heating to get house at reasonable temperature and booked gasman to come tomorrow morning (which he did, but am not totally convinced he has sorted it out). Wrote to solicitor after yesterday’s conversation with Anna, and later dropped off signed document re Probate. This was part of a walk with Dot up through the Close. After drop-off we called in at the Refectory for tea and doughnut (great jam) and bumped into Graham Drake. Walked home, but Dot went further, down to Riverside and lingered in Boots. Earlier I had driven up to chemist’s to get statins: all went smoothly. Took last antibiotic pill – feeling better. In the evening we took Jude to Claire’s for Cake and Compline (Phil and Eleanor had family commitments) and we had a really good evening. Claire did pancakes, and there was a nice loving feeling all round. House was coldish when we got back, but we went straight to bed with a hot water bottle. 

Saturday (3rd) was fairly mild, with a few drops of rain. Walked with Dot to Carrow Road, then back along the river. Norwich beat Coventry 2-1. Back home, I watched Ireland beat France at rugby. Good game. Had stopped taking two pills (blue and red) because they seem irrelevant and I suspect they were making me feel ill. FaceTime with David in the evening: talked about memories of Yelverton and environs. Watched another episode of The Chosen. Very moving. 

On Sunday it became a bit windier but mainly dry. Went to church in the morning and played in music group: did a song requested by Carrie, with Steve leading – it went surprisingly well, and Ray said he liked it! Carrie preached a very good sermon. Spent most of the day watching TV, and feeling pretty rotten. Cooked pies for supper. Oliver FaceTimed us, and we had quite a long chat. After watching Death in Paradise (new series) I felt a bit better. Funny, that.

Monday was dull, becoming windier. Dot drove me to the dentist’s in the morning – bit of a headache, but felt better than I had during the night, when I took the two tablets I had discontinued and also paracetamol. Dentist took out one of my teeth (top left) after quite a struggle, during which he was at pains to reassure me that it was all “normal”. Dot picked me up, and I rested most of the afternoon (more paracetamol, as advised). Not much to eat rest of the day – a banana and a couple of boiled eggs. Watched another episode of The Chosen and various other things – Silent Witness, a documentary on Blencathra, football and Trigger Point, a bomb thriller. Not feeling too bad. 

Yesterday was windy but not too cold. Dry till late afternoon, but lots of rain in the evening. Dr Hampsheir rang me unexpectedly just after 8am, while I was making tea, to ask how the removal of my catheter had gone.  It soon transpired he was working from a hospital letter dated October 31st: I had had a catheter inserted and removed twice since then – and had an operation. Amazing: still, he’s a nice guy and anxious to help. He ended up writing a prescription for antibiotics because we thought I might have a UTI. I think he’s right. He also said there was no real need to take the blue bladder tablets. We’ll see.

Later we drove to the Town House for our monthly Archant breakfast. My mouth was fine, and I had the usual meal. Tricia was there, but not Brian, or Jenny Downing, who I believe is quite ill. Peter F and David Newham also put in an appearance.

After lunch Phil and Joy came over, and I took them up to their solicitor’s in KIng Street, then picked them up again an hour later. We then had a cup of tea and biscuits till about 4.30pm, which went very well. Feeling a bit under par, but not too bad. Spent most of evening watching television , including an old adaptation of a book by Vita Sackville West – All Passion Spent. Deleted an otherwise promising comedy drama series because of genuinely offensive language (about Jesus). I have never done that before.

Today has been very busy, as Wednesdays often are. It’s been a bit overcast, but dry and not too cold: however, rain is forecast and snow elsewhere in the country, apparently zeroing in on our favourite sports, namely (in this case) Corwen and Buxton – and almost certainly Ballater too. Judy came round to watch an episode of The Chosen, then she took me to church, where I led a Bible study (Steven, Debbie, Judy, Ellie): Dot turned up before we started. Went reasonably well, but drifted off on to historical queries which I said I would look up for next time.

Afterwards I drove home and Dot stayed for meditation and Taizé. Got myself some fried potatoes and toast and set fire to the hob (very briefly), then drove to chemist to pick up antibiotics to combat the rumoured UTI. Went smoothly. Dot went to café after church and then walked home. I did some clearing up, and did quite a lot more when she went to orchestra rehearsal in the evening. Sorted out the drawers in the bedroom and also did a bit in the bathroom. Quite tired afterwards.

We’d had soup for supper, interrupted briefly by Harriet, who called and had a cup of tea. We were watching the last episode of All Passion Spent (very good , incidentally), and she mentioned that her grandmother had been part of the Bloomsbury set of whom the author of APS (Vita Sackville West) was a part. She had, too – we looked her up later.

Sunday (28th) was dry and much calmer, with a bit of sun. Drove to church  – Candlemas – and gave sermon. Went quite well. Didn’t play in music group. Good congregation. Afterwards took Ray home, then watched football on TV. Norwich lost 5-2 to Liverpool in FA Cup. David FaceTimed, and we had longish chat.  Wanted to watch Vera but were disappointed that it had finished; so watched Wilderness documentary instead, on Patagonia, marred as usual by climate alarmism. Then the same thing on BBC news as usual. Apparently it’s the warmest January day in the history of the universe. Or Kinlochewe, anyway. 

Monday’s weathers quite pleasant: dry and relatively mild. We drove to North Walsham and bought some flowers from Sainsbury’s, then put them on graves: it was Dot’s mum’s  birthday. Afterwards drove to Gunton Arms and had a drink and sandwich (Dot was driving). Very pleasant. Then called at Erpingham to see Rosie’s grave. Also looked in church –  nice.  On way home felt more and more tired. Started watching football highlights, and Amy FaceTimed. Felt totally shattered. After we spoke to Amy I lay down upstairs. Eventually read the rest of my book (The Return of the God Hypothesis – very good, disposing of Dawkins and Hawking), with Dot reading her book in bed beside me. Had very late meal – salmon with bread and butter – and watched Call the Midwife and Silent Witness. Earlier Roger Mason rang and had a conversation with Dot while I cleared up and put bins out. 

Tuesday was not such a nice day. Very overcast, much cooler and with occasional drizzle. Caught up with e-mails in the morning. Got two books from Kristine as a Christmas present – both by Meister Eckhart. After lunch drove to the Rosary and put flowers on the three graves as well as telling a guy he shouldn’t be walking his dog there. He ignored me. Had a rest before lunch and then cooked some lamb chops , which weren’t so great. Afterwards I drove Dot up to the theatre – again – where she went with Kim to see an Agatha Christie play. I wrote a poem and cleared up. She walked home. Apparently it was cold in the theatre and hard to hear. 

Wednesday was very cold. Woke early and got up ready for nurse (Katy) to remove my catheter. She arrived around 9am and did the deed, which was very easy. Not much coming out for the rest of the day, which made me a little nervous, but it turned out OK. We went to Morrisons to stock up on food, which was fine. In the afternoon Paul H came round for a chat, and later Bridget to do the cleaning. Had long conversation with the Evetts and made a date for going to Buxton – March 19, if I remember rightly. In the evening Dot went to orchestra rehearsal. 

Thursday was quite a pleasant day, though still chilly. Dry. In the morning drove to Helen and Chris’s for a sugar collection celebration. Not too many of us, which was good. Sue and Roger there, plus Louise and the two Americans. Good chat, some fizz and some lovely food – so much that we took some home and finished it at the end of the day. Started watching Trigger Point –  very exciting. Cooked some breast of lamb that yielded very little lean but tasted delicious.

Walked up to Vue, where we met Eleanor and Kim and watched the first two episodes of Series 4 of The Chosen. Excellent. Had a little to eat afterwards and did some newspaper puzzles together. Actually did more than 5000 steps today – first time over 4500 for weeks. Possibly for that reason woke up halfway through night with severe cramp in foot – had to go and sit in the loo for about 15 minutes to straighten it out. 

Friday was a pleasant day, though cold. Street meet in evening with Des, Chris, Mark, John, Jonathan, Matt and Angela. Fish and chips. Watched a couple of episodes from Series 3 of The Chosen. Dot’s head funny. I had a bad night: not sure why. Red wine?