Touch of summer this week. Last Sunday (June 23) was warm and dry. Church in the morning. Heather led and preached, but she wasn’t fully fit. Good, though. One of hymns, chosen as a request from Steve) didn’t fit the tune anyone expected. Ho, hum. I did the prayers. Took Harriet and Ray home. Harriet has had her car clamped for non-payment of a fine she has actually paid. Another cock-up by the council. Felt quite tired and achy in the afternoon, but Dot gave me a massage and I took paracetamol; so felt ok when we drove to Paul’s for supper. Very nice meal – we really like his new house, and we had a good chat too. Parking was very difficult. Scotland lost 1-0 to Hungary; so out of Euros.

Monday was again pretty warm and dry. Started well – did some tidying up in garden and prepared to do charity money, but then decided to install Dot’s printer. This was a nightmare because it wouldn’t find the WiFi in spite of my putting the booster in Dot’s room and then moving the printer down to my study, near the router. Suspect a couple of settings may have been wrong. After talking to David, who FaceTimed us to let us know the timetable for his visit next month, I found a USB connection and with the aid of a couple of adapters connected the printer direct to Dot’s computer. This worked!! Spent almost the entire afternoon on it, though, and got quite grumpy. Hard to believe, I know. Similarly grumpy when Italy scored in the last minute of added time to draw 1-1 with Croatia.

Dot discovered Sarah is going in for a hysterectomy next week. Our evening meal with Anna and Howard was postponed because co-guest Derek Bower woke with high temperature. Did chilli con carne instead. 

Tuesday was hot. Walked up to Boots in the morning to get three new pairs of reading glasses – they seem ok. Went through charity money and sent off several cheques, which I posted on the way to the solicitors in the afternoon. Met Anna there, and we signed a couple of documents relating to Phyllis’s will. Then walked home, and I realised later that my feet were hurting, possibly because I’d been wearing sandals. Toes and instep quite painful: head heavy as well, and Dot has funny head too. I quote. Watched England draw 0-0 with Slovenia, marginally better but very frustrating until they brought on Palmer and Gordon, but it was too late by then. Also watched another episode of The Responder, which is weird. 

On Wednesday saw the last episode of The Responder. Not impressive. Hot weather again. Bridget arrived after 11am and parked her car in our drive so that she could walk to Eleanor’s. Idiots at Great Hospital have decided visitors can’t bring cars in, despite ample space. Later drove with Dot to church for Bible Study: Ellie, Debbie, Judy, Dot and Phil. Wasn’t really happy with how it went. Back home, went to meet Bridget, who had to wheel her hoover from Great Hospital to ours. Coming up Aspland Rd, met Natalie and her husband – she is an Anglia TV newsreader, I think, and she knows Eleanor and now Bridget.

Sarah is out of hospital, having had her hysterectomy, but apparently has covid, though not badly. That is to say, her test was positive, if you believe in that kind of thing. Bridget did our cleaning. In the evening met her again when I walked up to St Peter Mancroft for a talk on faith and film. Extracts from films good, but didn’t like the discussion format, especially when so many of the comments were painful. Bridget and David gave me a lift home. Irritating road works on Riverside Road have vanished. Wore trainers with no socks, and feet felt better. Temporarily.

Thursday – Still pretty warm. Wore shorts! Caught up with editing and captioning my photos – no small task. In the middle of it, Dot had a lot of trouble with Word, which I tried to sort out. Not sure if I’ve done it, but it’s working at the moment. Before that I went to visit my Aunt Thelma in her care home. She’s fading fast, I think. Her 95th birthday is in three weeks’ time and she looks very fragile: slim and little appetite, confined to her bed. Hard to communicate with her now. I don’t think she really hears me well, and she says very little. I gave her a little drink, and an assistant came in with a small mug of tea just afterwards! I was with her for just over an hour, and we both went to sleep at one point. Terry Alcock funeral today; so I had to avoid Carrow Road. Watched final episode of The Outlaws: excellent, unlike The Responder.

Friday – Cloudier and a bit cooler, though warm in the sun. Oliver climbed Kinder Scout with Cameron. CNS Reunion at Willow Centre in Cringleford. Lovely setting. Saw Fred at outset before he went to Ivan’s funeral. Usual crowd. Plus Nick Butcher and Steve Chadwick, who lives in Hamburg and spoke in the afternoon about Deutsches Leben. Interesting, but he spoke very softly. Fred was back in time for that. In the morning, Adrian had put together an autobiographical film about his life, moving around the world in various roles. Very well done. Followed by lovely buffet from Jane. Back in good time for street meet: Des, Chris, Mark, John, Jonathan, Ciara, Matt, Angela and briefly Phoebe. Afterwards watched new comedy show Douglas is Cancelled, which was brilliant in every way. Then a short Dispatches piece about how motorists are being screwed by councils and government. True. We’re all doomed. Doomed, I say. My feet are a bit sore where the trainers rubbed against my instep. Not mentioned by BBC News, strangely.

Another warm and sunny day, thought there was one shower in mid-afternoon. Kristine arrived at 12.44, and I met her at the station while Dot finished preparing food and setting table. She had already been to the shop for a few final things, and I had started writing prayers for tomorrow, which I finished after she left. Had a lovely meal with her, and we walked her over to the station at 5pm for her train, which couldn’t be changed. Came back, cleared up and watched some football (Portugal 3 Turkey 0).

Last Tuesday (18th) was fairly warm and dry. Gas man came early, but farmed out job to an outside agency after finding water in the electrics near the pump. Outside agency coming next day. In the afternoon went with Dot to Rymans to buy printer, but customer service was so bad that we walked out again and had tea and croissant at a new cafe in Davey PLace, where Cath Kitson was. Very good. Then walked up to John  Lewis and bought a printer online, with their help.

It was scheduled to arrive in a few days. Felt exhausted after walk home, but did much of the rota and chose hymns for Sunday. Arranged to see solicitor re Phyllis on Friday next week. Des (back from Lichfield) helped us change position of hanging basket so that the right flowers were in front. Then cooked meal – duck – and chose compline for Cake and Compline: Dot had cooked a fruit cake earlier. Two absentees: Eleanor at Canons’ meeting and Phil somewhere else. One never knows where Phil is (turned out to be BInham). Nice evening. 

Wednesday was mild, with some sun. Dry. No phone call from Dyno, who were doing our central heating repairs; so a bit tense, not knowing when they’d come. Drove to church to do Bible study with Debbie, Stephen, Jude and Ellie. Went quite well. Then drove home so that Dot could go to Taize (one of us needed to be at home). About half an hour after she left, Dyno turned up – a couple of guys who did a great job, repairing stuff in airing cupboard and a valve on a radiator in our bedroom. At least I assume it was a great job: they were friendly and impressive, and it all appears to be working. They were here for a couple of hours.

Later I took Dot up to have her toe done; good job I did, because she had anaesthetic and a swollen toe. I went for a walk up West Pottergate while it was being done. Interesting. Years since I’d been up there. Later I cooked a meal, and then she went to orchestra – picked up by Janet. I wrote a couple of Parish Pump pieces, then realised I’d forgotten about the Scotland-Switzerland match and went up to watch the second half. Result 1-1 was probably fair, though Scotland were a bit unlucky. Incidentally Dyno are a British Gas company, not an outside agency. 

Thursday – Warm and dry. Happily central heating seemed ok. Left it on by mistake last night. Completed two pieces for Parish Pump, on George Stubbs and Joseph Priestley. Went with Dot to Morrisons – filled up with fuel and bought food. Dot had to take care of her foot; so spent some time reading in the garden. Bridget came to clean, and we had a chat about my upcoming talk. Watched England draw 1-1 with Denmark. Very negative and deserved to lose. Went for meal with Mary and Neville Thrower – had a good time, though Neville was a bit shaky. Lovely dessert. Lots of talk about various ailments and reminiscences. Discovered that Mary and Neville got engaged at Linn of Quoich!! They stayed at Bridge of Cally. Amazing.

Friday was mainly sunny and warm. Finished other two Parish Pump articles (Hitchcock and Explorer 6) but not before a surprise visit from my brother Phil. He had come in by bus to enquire about assisted travel by train to Princes Riseborough to see Sam’s new house. In the end I think he decided against it. But I gave him a lift back to Dereham. The window cleaner had come earlier, and later Dot’s new printer was delivered. Out in street for a long time – interesting discussions, especially between Dot and Ciara. Cooked meal and also salmon for tomorrow. Watched some football but nothing very exciting. No surprise there. Also penultimate episode of The brilliant The Outlaws. 

Today, Monday June 17th, was a bit of a muddle. It was largely dry, though we had occasional threatening clouds blowing over. We were both up in good time for Linda, who came to cut our hair. I had pretty much decided that the central heating was causing the trip switch to go off, and so there was very limited hot water, but light and working fridge and freezer. We were awaiting the gas man, who was due between noon and 6pm. Bit awkward, as I was due to go for an eye test at Boots halfway through the afternoon, and Dot wasn’t quite as au fait with what exactly I’d worked out the previous evening. But I needn’t have worried. At 5.45pm I got a call from British Gas saying they’d been swamped by emergency calls and couldn’t make it. They are now coming tomorrow morning. I hope.

Meanwhile I had been looking for my slide copier – unsuccessfully as yet. Also spent a long time with the eye doctor, who said there was basically nothing wrong with my eyes, but of course I needed new reading glasses, having destroyed most of the ones I had. I eventually ordered three: the second one was half price and the third was free. In the evening Dot made a cake for tomorrow (Cake and Compline), having gone to the shop to buy ingredients, and we watched Belgium v Slovakia (1-0), which was a travesty and made me want to stop watching football altogether.

Last Wednesday (June12) was mainly dry. Cool. Walked to church for Bible study, dropping a signed document in at solicitors’ on the way. Dot followed later by car as she had momentary diarrhoea. Quite a good study – Steve, Debbie, Judy, Dot (eventually). Afterwards I drove home and had lunch, as well as publishing my blog. Back to pick up Dot – trouble starting car again; so we drove up to the garage, who fitted a new battery in key fob. In the evening walked to St Peter Mancroft Octagon to hear Malcolm Guite, who was quite good. Trip arranged by Bridget, and Eleanor came too. Coincidentally also the Cannons. Naomi Tuma was helping to organise. MG’s poetry is very different to mine – quite didactic, but very well done. He also sang a couple of songs. Afterwards Bridget gave me and Eleanor a lift home. Dot went to orchestra and was late back because she helped with putting stuff away. Watched an old Death in Paradise before bed. 

Thursday was quite warm, becoming more overcast and cooler in the afternoon. Intended to write my sermon, but things intervened. Accompanied Dot to Dunelm to replace dryer that didn’t fit the hole. New one seems successful. Bridget came early and we showed her our holiday photos instead of her working. Spoke to Des, who is going up to Lichfield again. Watched documentary on Mississippi and then first episode of new series of The Outlaws, which is very funny. Got some ideas together for rota. David FaceTimed us and told us Oliver had got a first on his dissertation. Had quite a long chat. Entered Crabbe competition with Long Lens poem. 

Friday was mainly dry until time for street meet, when it rained heavily. Had Mark and Jonathan round for drinks and had long discussion on politics, on which we were pretty much agreed. Earlier Dot did quite a bit in the garden, and we went to Morrisons. I did a bit of walking by the river. Spoke to Fred: Ivan’s funeral is the same day as the CNS reunion. Before Dot got up Des came round to say he was off to Lichfield. Car is working ok. At Mark’s instigation we are starting a WhatsApp group for street meet. 

Saturday brought sun and showers, one of them a heavy thunderstorm. Got a couple of pix of lightning. Wrote my sermon in the morning and did a lot of catching up in the afternoon, including editing pictures, managing to register my phone screen protector, sorting out loose papers and researching a new printer for Dot. She almost lost the prayers she’d written for tomorrow but I managed to retrieve them and print them on my printer. Watched a bit of documentary on Charles’ birthday. Don’t know why. Started on rota – most key people will be away, it seems. I may take over. Got chess book from David for Fathers’ Day – John Emms’ Simple Chess – Looks good. 

Sunday started very wet, but later warm and dry. Went to church and had to park a long way away again. I preached. Took Ray home afterwards and got home in time to welcome Fred and Sue. I cooked salmon. We had a good chat and then walked up to Tombland with them, where they caught a bus back to Beeston Regis. Walked home and felt exhausted. Had to lie down while Dot cleared up. FaceTimed with David, who was at Caledon. Spoke briefly to Murrays. Fathers’ Day. Watched England win their first match of Euro 24, beating Serbia 1-0. Not very impressive. Then downstairs lights went out for third time, and after experimenting, I think I’ve tracked it down to the Central Heating, which I’ve turned off. Bit of a relief – could’ve been without fridge, freezer and WiFi. Still not certain. Gas man required.

Thursday, June 6 – Quite cool. Sun and showers. Walked into town to buy stuff from chemist, gift shop and butcher’s. Rained a bit. Drove to Braemar and had warm scone and tea in Gordon’s – very good. Then drove to Linn of Quoich and walked up to the bridge, where we found someone working on the house, and a van parked outside. Remarkable. Rained a bit.

Walked back over the top through the Caledonian pines and down to the car. Realised that shiny white building we could see in the distance was in fact Braemar Castle, dominating the valley. Tried to work out how the van got up to the house. As we were about to drive back, the van appeared – it had obviously come down a track on the other side. As we drove along to the Linn of Dee the van appeared again – and yet again, as it took a short cut through the Mar estate. We stopped for a while above the confluence of the Quoich and the Dee, and again at Braemar, where I went to the loo. Stopped for a read near Balmoral, but we both kept going to sleep.

Had pies for supper. I finished London Rules, a Slow Horses story, which was excellent. Dot is just finishing To Kill a Mockingbird. Feeling very tired. Forgot to mention that at the Log Cabin the other day Dot bought me a book about the Scottish islands, with some great pictures. 

Friday – Cold, quite windy with showers. Called at Larks Gallery then drove to Cambus O May and walked across bridge, plus a bit on the other side. Then drove to Log Cabin via Strathdon –  lovely road over hills. Had small lunch then drove back to view of Lochnagar and stopped for a while to read. Then back to Ballater and after a while drove to riverside and walked along path next to golf course. Trees being uprooted on opposite bank as river cuts into bank. Sorted our stuff out and in the evening walked to Crannoch Grill for another very good meal. While at Log Cabin Fred rang to say Ivan Lincoln had died, but I had already texted him that news, having been apprised by Joyce. Sent Des & Co pics of us with whisky in street, and they reciprocated. 

Saturday – Mainly dry. Becoming a bit warmer as we travelled south. Left Ballater at about 10.10 after chat with cleaner and visit to petrol station and (Dot) to Grocer to buy whisky fudge. She drove to Glen Shee, where we stopped for tea and doughnut, then on to Kinross services, where I bought crisps and took over driving. One slight error while bypassing Edinburgh, but not a big problem. Eventually stopped in lay-by near Berwick for sandwich and then on to the Lindisfarne Inn, where we arrived just after 3pm and checked in. Room very hot, but we got it fixed. Meal at 6pm – trout not bad, but Dot really liked her venison moussaka. I slept for a while afterwards, then we drove over damp causeway to Holy Island and back. Problem with starting car – maybe keys have packed up. Locking still works though. Rather worrying. Dot did some walking to make up steps. 

Sunday – Sun, cloud and very windy, but dry. Had a bad night thinking about car key problem. Good breakfast at inn after checking and finding our breakdown coverage was pretty comprehensive. Managed to start car and drove to Holy Island. Paid for three hours’ car parking: four would have been better, but I didn’t realise we were going to walk to the castle and go round it: quite an experience. By the time we got back to town and Dot had eaten a crab sandwich we had only half an hour to spare. Again car was reluctant to start, but we stopped on way to causeway – rather foolhardy in the circumstances – and read for a while. Car did start again and we got back to Inn, then read/slept for rest of afternoon. Had venison pie for evening meal, which was adequate. Both had liqueur to follow. 

Monday – Mixed weather. Some rain as we travelled south, and very windy. Again. After another full English we were last out, and the car started. Dot drove down the A1, which was quite pleasant, and we stopped at Wetherby, which was crammed and confusing. Found our way to fuel and filled up. I drove next, following Google Maps recommendation to avoid congestion on A1, but it went slightly wrong, though we were able to stop at Ferrybridge services on M62, which were very good: Costa girls very friendly and helpful. Also bought food at M&S, and on emerging circled roundabout twice without finding the right route, then headed east on M62 until it joined the M18. This added a few miles but avoided the congestion altogether; so it was a Good Mistake.

Continued south amid fairly heavy traffic and ended up at Cambridge Services, which has been made more confusing by fencing off the area we usually stop in. Nevertheless we reached it by ignoring a No Entry sigh. Dot took over again and drove the rest of the way. The Highways agency have excelled themselves on the Newmarket bypass by not only failing to complete work there after several years, but by parking one of their lorries so that it blocked half of the inside lane, leading to a delay of at least 15 minutes. After that we had to wait for Norwich for the next ridiculous delay on Riverside, where poor traffic light sequences led to unnecessary delays for traffic heading for Riverside Road. An ambulance parked for no apparent reason by the lights didn’t help.

We got home just on 6pm. Very tired, unpacked a bit and ate a bit before watching the final episode of Red Eye, which was very good. Also had long chat with Amy, then Oliver and David. Amy is doing well at the Zoo, and Oliver has finished his exams. David is working hard in many areas. Tidied up, shaved off beard and had a bath. It was midnight.

Tuesday – Plenty of rain and chilly. Dot drove me to hospital for 11am appointment to check my flow! Found this quite difficult: you have to have a full bladder but not go too soon. Anyway, after several cups of water I made it, and the nurse seemed to approve. I have another appointment in three months. Got the 26 bus  to city centre during a heavy shower: horrible bumpy journey as always. Told woman Dot said it would be fine in July and August…

Got off in Orford Place and went to Apple, where I bought a new screen protector for my phone: £34! Woman had three attempts to fit one. Then to Boots, where I booked an eye appointment for next Monday. Then walked home, feeling extremely tired. Cleared up and wrote some essential e-mails etc; emptied cases; paid a couple of bills. Watched a bit of TV – couple of episodes of Rebus, Scottish river documentary in Sutherland, for instance. Had fish pie we bought in services on way home – M&S, very good. Spoke to Jonathan briefly; intended to take car to garage, but it started OK, and I was very tired. Earlier it had locked us in car for a few moments at hospital. 

It’s Wednesday June 5 – the first day after Dave and Julia returned from Scotland to Nottingham – and the weather has turned much chillier. With showers. We had lunch with Ella at the Boat Inn in Aboyne, and she insisted on paying. Very good fish and chips. Ella looked well, and was greeted by several people as we sat there.. After we drove home we managed to get some washing dry by keeping an eye on the weather.

We didn’t do much the rest of the day except read and rest and watch the rain and hail, but we managed to reach our steps goal by walking inside the house! When we went to bed just before 11pm the sky was blue (oh yes) and the rain had stopped.

A week ago, the first full day of Dave and Julia’s visit, there was lots of rain in the evening but it eased up a bit as we walked to the Clachan Grill for another superb meal. Veal chop this time. Started with Cosmopolitans. All very relaxing.  

Thursday was dry but very windy and quite cool. Drove to Drum Castle, which was quite a trek, and did the guided tour, much of which I remembered from last year. Then, after lunch, looked round gardens and then drove home via Ella’s house, Tarland etc. Too late for Cheese Company. Had fish and chips for supper, plus battered Mars bar. Watched some cricket on TV, then had discussion which included some politics. Went to bed. 

Friday was dry, fairly warm but some wind. Drove down to Loch Muick and parked free because the ticket machine was broken. Walked down to the loch side, taking it fairly slowly. Got as far as the bridge, which was apparently made of the wrong wood, then walked slowly back. Dave had a couple of breaks. Saw deer in the glen bottom. Clear view of tops. Then drove to Cheese Company and had a toastie. Nice place. Drove on via Pass of Ballater to look at Glen Shiel Bridge, then over the tops to Balmoral. By now very misty over Lochnagar, so no great view. Down to Lochnagar Distillery, where Dot bought a couple of glasses and some chocolate. On by back road to Ballater, where we had a long rest. Meal at Green Inn: very nice duck. 

Saturday was dry and quite warm. Walked to various shops; Dot got some plasters, and we visited the Wood and Wool shop. Almost had coffee at corner cafe, but didn’t. Drove to chairlift , had lunch after parking at new area (free if you were using chairlift), then all four of us took chairlift up. Dot and I walked to the summit – quite difficult – while Dave and Julia waited for us. Had brief chat with couple of woman climbers and a foreign guy ( I offered to take pic of him and his son). The latter understood what I was saying, and he seemed quite pleased. Afterwards drove down into Braemar (traffic lights where repairing Callater bridge) and we had a look round Fife Arms hotel before  sharing a pot of tea (£3.50). Split up and looked round shops. Had call from Fred to say Ivan Lincoln was on last legs and Joyce not too well either. Went to chocolate shop and bought a selection, then we all drove home. Ate in after visit to Co-op. Dot and I had pie with fried-up vegetables. Cheese and chocs to follow. 

Sunday – sunny in morning; overcast later. Dry. Went for shortish walk to end of road and back through golf course. Then drove to Cheese Company for coffee and out to the Lecht. On the way back stopped at The Watchers, then at the Log Cabin, where we had lunch. Very pleasant. Then drove back to Ballater, where the Duck Festival was in progress. Split up for walk through. Dot and I saw winning giant duck being escorted by pipe band. Also watched very good R&B group on village green, then Dot and I had ice cream and returned to Bertie’s. Julia and Dave had been there for some time. 

Monday was mainly sunny and dry, but with a lively wind. We filled the car up and drove to Balmoral, where we spent most of the day. Lots of construction work on old restaurant site and behind ballroom. Had drinks and later lunch at a temporary cafe in the old mews; temporary loos behind. Visited ballroom, with watercolours by the King – several of them of Norfolk. Later split up to complete tour of grounds and met by the gate at 4pm. Popped into new gallery at car park and bought some cards, then drove home.

Dot spoke to woman opposite who had been laying gravel: she bought the house last September. Discovered that what we thought was a practice by the fire brigade last time had been a real fire, started by the grandson of the previous owner who had been disinherited. He is now in jail, apparently. Later we got Indian takeaway, which was OK. 

Yesterday it rained at first, then mostly dry. Cooler. Had quick walk down to the river before leaving.  The other three had a drink in the corner cafe, but I wasn’t thirsty. Left about 11.30 and drove to Aberdeen airport, where we dropped off Dave and Julia. We then drove back to Crathes Castle by a somewhat circuitous route and had lunch: soup for Dot and scone for me. We then walked round the grounds and eventually the gardens, which were superb. I got some really good pictures and a video of some oystercatchers. Dot drove from there. Eventually we went to the Co-op, and I bought a pie. Dot bought something Indian to go with leftover rice. After supper we watched a bit of TV, and I did some clearing up. Spoke to David on FaceTime. Message from Evetts revealed they’d got home in six hours door to door.