Sunday 24 August – Quite warm with some sun in the afternoon. Posted birthday cards to Barbara and Julia, then watched football. In afternoon went up with Dot to “picnic” in Old Library Wood, together with various neighbours and Matt playing his hurdy gurdy. Also spoke to Jude and her friend Bernadette(?), who moved up to Norwich from London a couple of years ago and then lost her husband. Really nice to see them, but wasn’t feeling great.

Nevertheless carried on after a lie-down and we had Matt and Amanda round for a meal – entirely prepared by Dot. Had a good time with them – Matt is an enthusiastic talker and very knowledgeable on the history of Norwich. We also watched a Channel 4 documentary on the reshaping of Norwich Castle. Nightmare for those involved. Felt a bit better in the evening but still heavy-headed. David FaceTimed and persuaded me to buy a new suitcase. He seems well, but Amy has a cold. Roger and Barbara are still stranded in Italy because of Air Canada strike, but have tickets for Tuesday flight. 

Monday – Warm and often sunny. Felt just about well enough to get up, bath and reach Un Café by just before 10pm to have breakfast with Brian and Tricia. Had a good time and definitely have been feeling better, though not well. Don’t know if it’s the antibiotics or the infection, if there is one. As I went to bed I felt my stomach wasn’t right, but… Earlier Judy came round for a cup of tea and brought us a card signed by church members and some flowers! Really nice. Before that, on the way back from breakfast we called at Dunelm and bought a new suitcase. Pretty quiet apart from that. Watched quite a bit of football, plus Ridley and a documentary on Orkney that included the Italian Chapel! Good to see it again. The Chapel, not the documentary. 

Tuesday – Still warm but cloudy, and some wind. Promised rain did not materialise. Rang Ray and then Barbara, whose 80th birthday it is. She was very bouncy, considering she had had a recent frightening experience involving a bee sting and a lifeboat. I spoke to her just after Kim had been to visit: very much the same vibe, if on a different level. Dot was in the city getting dollars, and fruit from the market, and having a pedicure; so I showed Kim our Channel Island pictures, which she seemed to like. She also brought us a lovely gift for our 80th birthdays – stunning “prophetic” mosaics that fit together. Later had scrambled egg, mushrooms and spinach and watched too much TV as usual. Final episode of Ridley and more about islands. Felt very tired at end of evening. Got in touch with Val Gemmell, who is at Bungay, aiming to see her tomorrow. 

Wednesday – Warm, sun and cloud; light rain in evening. Drove to Bungay (Outney Meadow), where Val had parked her camper van. Had a chat in the van, then drove her to Norwich, got a bus up to Red Lion Street and then had a lovely lunch in the Ivy. Really nice to reminisce with Val and talk about our families. She came back to the house for a drink and then we drove her back to Bungay. Tried to take her via Church Road and our Yelverton house, but needless to say the road was closed. Tried a different route back home after dropping Val, but it didn’t quite work.  Got home around 7.30 and I lay down and slept for most of the evening, followed by the rest of the night. Wasn’t feeling great: suspect I ate too much at the Ivy.

Thursday – Quite warm.  A little rain, but happily not till I’d cut the ivy back. Dot wouldn’t let me use a long ladder; so I had to cut the shoots lower down so that the upper part would die away. Not ideal, but… Dot rearranged the pots as part of the operation. Was feeling tired most of the day as has become normal. Headache too, though both improved at end of day. I have now taken the last of my antibiotics, which may help, and had a proper meal tonight (salmon). Watched a bit of dramatic football (Grimsby beating Man Utd 12-11 on penalties and Rangers going down 6-0 in Europe match) and first two episodes of a pre-1066 historical drama, which has been panned by historians as “not accurate”; so it’s probably spot-on.

Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17 – Still warm, but cloudy. Yesterday afternoon (Saturday) Dot and I decided to go for walk round the pitch and putt course on Mousehold, which was quite enjoyable, though I became very tired. Later lost my appetite and couldn’t finish my meal – though I did manage the salmon. Afterwards went to lie down – started shivering and felt pretty bad. Went to bed with hot water bottle (!) and eventually went to sleep. Surprisingly slept very well, but still felt shaky when I woke up, though the shivering had gone.

Yesterday (before I was ill) we had practised some songs for Bridget’s get-together today, but I wasn’t well enough to go. Usual UTI symptoms developed. Had a bath, but didn’t feel much better, though we were able to watch football. Spurs won and Norwich scraped 2-1 away win at Portsmouth. Judy came round and Dot took her and Howard to Bridget’s. They had a good time; I slept mostly. When Dot got back David FaceTimed and we had a chat – with Dot telling him more than he wanted to know about the party she’d been to. She brought me a scone back, which I ate and we watched Beck (very good) and another sacred Scottish islands documentary by Ben Fogle – this time Islay, Jura and something very small across the Straits of Corryvreckan and its impressive whirlpool. 

Monday – No change in weather. Had bad night and felt pretty rough during the morning, but gradually improved through the afternoon and even cut some ivy back and put it in the brown bin. That was after having a bath and watching some football. Dot got interested in getting me the right food to eat and went to Morrisons, where she met Claire and also had problems finding  ingredients; so was quite a long time. Later watched Ridley: very good. Also finished reading The Last Battle, the final book of C S Lewis’ Aslan trilogy. Brilliant, but probably wouldn’t get published today. 

Tuesday – Cooler; cloud. Still felt dodgy most of the day, but did some house-tidying while Dot went to Jarrolds in the afternoon for waxing and manicure. Nice to see things sorted out. Putting new cartridge in printer unexpectedly tricky, but did it. Got down big suitcase from loft. It doesn’t look like ours, but can’t think whose else it would be. Dot did me special lunch of poached egg on toast with avocado: very nice. In the evening drove to meal with Mary and Neville at the Cellar House in Eaton. Parking tight – came close to edge of drop but extracted the car later. Good food – had medium-rare rump steak and chips – then we went back to the Throwers’ house for cake and ice cream, and a talk about illness and getting old. Oh dear. Felt definitely improved by the time we got home.

Wednesday – Cloudy but quite pleasant. Dry. Again felt ropey on waking but improved as day went on. One dose of paracetamol at 12.30pm. Bridget came to clean at 9.30; so I had to get up and move car. Dot left at about 10.40 to pick up Joyce and take her to North Walsham to meet Sandra again for lunch. After Bridget left – shouting a greeting to a mystified Des, who was engrossed in a conversation with John – I went out for short walk and to post pic to Linda (Eric’s grave, which she had asked me about). Popped in at station for no good reason. Did a bit of picture editing and attempted to finish a poem. Dot cooked chicken in the evening – very nice – and we watched Masterchef and another episode of In Flight. 

Thursday – grey and coolish, especially in Norwich. Warmer and with the occasional shaft of sun in Essex, where we spent the afternoon. We travelled down (Dot driving) by the fastest but not shortest route, down the A11 and M11 to near Stansted, cutting across to Great Dunmow and then up to Duck End, where Liz and Pete live. About 90 miles. Had really nice time there, with Brian and Jacqui, Rob and Sue, Jeannie, Jan, Christine. Others couldn’t make it; Jan’s husband is too ill with dementia.

Lovely food, and I had a long chat with Rob and Pete, who I like very much. He is a businessman in the engineering industry with a special interest in cars. Rob and Sue have visited every corner of the known universe. I drove back by the more country route, with only the occasional diversion. Took in Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds and the occasional road closure which you could in fact drive round with minimal effort, using a parallel lane. Quite tired by the time we got home. Had a bite which I probably didn’t need and watched Masterchef and the penultimate episode of In Flight. 

After that, felt quite ill and was shivering. Very bad night – so bad that I determined to go to the walk-in centre and this morning (Friday) was seen by a lovely 60-year-old nurse, who listened to what I had to say and prescribed antibiotics, which I have started. She was very thorough. Have been feeling very tired and warm and not capable of much. Got the antibiotics from Boots on Riverside, where Dot met me. She has been quite busy: Anna called early to deliver some paint; Paul then called but left (mainly because Dot was not dressed) when Dot said I was ill. Later Howard called to do some painting; street meet as usual (I was still in bed), and then Dot picked up Howard and Anna and they went to the Bowers for a meal. Or at least Howard did: Anna had a migraine. Vicky was also there. Dot brought me back some blackcurrant tart, which was lovely with ice cream. I had been to sleep and felt much better. 

However when I woke up (Saturday) I didn’t feel so good. Head very heavy and general bad feeling. Meanwhile Carrie came round to see Dot about her group working in schools, and they had a long chat. Had a bit of lunch but wasn’t at all hungry. Then Dot went to football (lost 2-1, but Spurs top of table). I tried to sleep, then had a bath, then did a few puzzles in the paper. Took another paracetamol and shortly felt better. Had a small dinner – avocado and egg on toast – plus an even smaller sweet – banoffee pie. Watched a fair bit of TV about islands and also Annika. Earlier had seen last episode of In Flight, which was pretty good, though with some loose ends and a questionable moral compass. The good news is that Mark is home.

Monday – Very warm. Felt a bit dodgy with some stomach pain and funny head (what’s new?), but as usual improved at end of day. Dot went to see Anne for lunch and chat, and I wrote my three pieces for Parish Pump – Wright brothers, Margaret Thatcher and an American Seventh Day Adventist conscientious objector hero. In the evening watched a bit of T√, including Narrow Road to the Deep North, which includes much more violence than it needs to. Rang surgery and stressed my imminent holiday; so now have phone appointment with a clinician on the 26th and have been told it’s not urgent. So I hope they’re right. Elevated liver enzymes, since you ask. I am looking suspiciously at my perindropril. 

Tuesday – Still very warm. End of world near. Dot drove me to podiatrist to get my feet looked at: apparently they’re pretty good, except my toes are too close together: most people’s are at my age because we were designed to walk barefoot, and most shoes are too narrow, pushing the toes together. I also learned there are three beats to a pulse – and heard it. That’s good too, especially in feet and legs. Afterwards we came home through traffic and then caught a bus up to Red Lion Street. Popped in to M&S to try to get something for Dot’s hair, but they didn’t have any. We got it later at Boots, on the way home.

But first we had our afternoon tea at the Assembly House – a birthday gift from the Cake & Compline crowd. Very pleasant, though a bit on the sweet side. Service was first class. We took a few small items home to finish them in the evening. Called in at Hays to inquire about Canada, but had forgotten to take passports. Still, got some guidelines and were encouraged to call in again, which we will. Then walked through Castle Mall (including Boots) and on home. Felt very warm indeed. Met Des as we arrived, and had a chat, but we really just wanted to sit down. In fact we ended up lying down for quite a while: got some sleep, and we both read a lot. Dot has finished The Last Battle, which she is raving about and says everyone should read. Meanwhile I have been reading a really good crime novel called One of Us is Dead, by Peter James. Dot revived enough to listen to Norwich City beat Watford in the cup 2-1, and we watched a couple of comedy programmes before going to bed. Upstart Crow is very clever. 

Wednesday – Very warm but cloudy. Drove to The Foundry near Tasburgh to have breakfast with Robin and Shelagh, Brian and Tricia. Very nice meal and chatted till past noon. In the afternoon I drove Dot to have her feet seen to – by the same guy, Aidan, who did mine. I read while she had them done, and then we drove up to the chemist, where I picked up my pills. Bach home watched Ridley, a new two-hour police drama that was very good. David FaceTimed and we talked about Diderot , plus a new project he’d planning that might involve Philiosophy for Children material. Had a light meal. Nice messages from Eleanor (card) and Jennie (text). Blackbird died in back garden. Cat or natural causes? Mysterious loud aircraft noises as went to bed. 

Thursday – still very warm and dry. Dot and I bussed up to city to Hays and booked our seats on the Canada flight. Hadn’t been able to do it at home. Then on the way back (also by bus) called at the rail station and booked our tickets to Heathrow and back. Bridget came to clean and brought us ice creams. Dot sent away for printer cartridges and I ordered some wine. Then we had street meet one day early: Des, Chris, John, Matt, Sarah. Ciara was fishing and Bob and Mary are away, as are Joe and Sam. Des got us fish and chips – one of each, which was about right. Watched first episode of In Flight, a sort of thriller. 

Friday – Dry and quite warm. Went to Morrisons to stock up, then in the afternoon to Christ Church Eaton to hear a talk on plagues which, to be honest, wasn’t very good. Quite a lot there, though, including Eleanor, who we thanked for the very nice card she sent us. Had rock cake. At 5.30 pm had mini-street meet with Matt and Angela, who had had her sisters with her yesterday. Watched quite a bit of TV, including two more episodes of In Flight. Had light tea which included shrimps, which I think may have upset my stomach. Had a bad night and then stayed in bed quite late. Naked Wines and printer cartridges arrived. Got in touch with Evetts to arrange November dates at Blakeney. Finished One of us is Dead, which was very easy to read, though I would have preferred the protagonist to be less stupid. The writer, on the other hand, was quite clever.

Wednesday, August 6 was Andrew’s birthday. Sent messages to various people about St Augustine’s, and rang Ray. After lunch drove up to the Rosary and put some roses (courtesy of Dot) on Andrew’s grave after substituting a new holder for one that had been broken. Took bus up to Castle Meadow for evening meal at Côte Brasserie, one of my favourite restaurants. Had a really nice meal (steak frites de luxe and crème brûlée)and risked a Grand Marnier coffee. Chatted to couple at neighbouring table. Earlier had conversation with surgery (Donna) but still no blood test results. Ho hum. Watched a couple of things on TV, including a Songs of Praise featuring Keith Getty. 

Thursday – Bit of cloud, but mainly sunny and dry. Slept late and had a bath, but we were up in time for Bridget, who had switched from afternoon to morning for her cleaning. Felt unaccountably crappy for a while in the afternooon, but improved when David FaceTimed and we talked about his projects, among other things. Had fruit salad with bread, butter and paracetamol before  catching the bus up to the city for a visit to the Maddermarket, where they were putting on Dad’s Army, including “Don’t tell him, Pike” and the Brief Encounter classics, starring my former colleagues Trevor Burton and David Newham, both of whom I said hello to afterwards. Met Bridget and David in bar, and had ice cream at half time. Pleasant walk home brought me up to more than 4000 again. 

Friday – or rather Saturday, as we’ve only just got to bed after driving home from Snape, and it’s past midnight. But we’ll stick with Friday. It’s been warm all day. Quite late in bed this morning, and Dot watered the garden. I edited a few pix. Left for Snape just after 3pm after taking papers over to Des and telling him how good Dad’s Army was. Missed street meet, of course. Stopped at Two Magpies for drink and two sausage rolls, which we ate on our arrival at Snape. Also had a couple of glasses of wine from riverside hut. Very relaxing. Amazed everything else was closed.

Went for a short walk, then back to auditorium, but no entry until after a choir had sung outside. Not my sort of thing, but very fine of its kind. Bought some water and got to our seats, which were excellent – as they should be for the price. Everyone very friendly. National Youth Orchestra 160 strong and with flamboyant female conductor who was very good. They played Star Wars stuff and a piece called The Observatory, by Caroline Shaw.  Very well done. After the interval Holst’s Planets Suite, which was terrific, especially Jupiter. Great to hear 160 young people put everything they had into what was effectively I Vow to Thee my Country! Terrific tune, and not the only one in/on Jupiter. Getting out of Snape car park was a slow business, and so was the journey home. Accident in front of us, where a van hit a car at badly lit road works at junction with A12. Eventually made it home and grabbed some cheese and biscuits. As you do. 

Saturday – very warm and dry. Went with Dot to Morrisons in morning to stock up. After lunch walked with her to Carrow Road. She went early in the hope of getting a free drink, but she didn’t qualify. Unexpectedly Jonathan and Naomi were there: she seemed quite well, but Jonathan is suffering from shingles. I walked back by the river and was exhausted. Lay down for a while. Cooked an instant chicken meal which was a bit tasteless. Watched Annika, but it seemed as if we’d seen it before. 

Sunday – very warm. Odd not going to church, but we watched a documentary about the spirituality of islands, which was interesting. In the afternoon parked on Oak Street and walked down to visit Kim for tea and cake. She is having real trouble with an injured leg that doesn’t seem to be improving, but as always we had an interesting talk and a really nice time. Watched quite a bit of TV later, including a new series of Beck which was excellent. Then did a bit of reading, and had a brief FaceTime chat with David, until he had to sort out a problem for Amy.

I finished the second of two excellent books Dot got me for my birthday. The first was The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd, which is a highly original look at the Cairngorms; the second was The Place of Tides by James Rebanks, which is even more unusual and set in the islands of north-west Norway. Both very  highly recommended. 

Friday, August 1 – Some rain and sun; windy later. Booked côte brasserie for Andrew’s birthday; also Snape for a concert next Friday (National Youth Orchestra) and Assembly House Afternoon Tea – a birthday gift from Cake and Compline. In the afternoon Dot and I practised songs for (as we thought) tomorrow, then I did the charity money.  Then out for street meet – windy, but sunny. Des and Chris, Jon, Angela (but not Matt). Saw Mary briefly : she has shingles. Again. Fish from different shop not quite so good, or maybe I wasn’t hungry. Watched cricket and a couple of other things. 

Saturday started grey and chilly, but became sunnier and warmer as we moved north. We had been intending to go to James Knox Whittet’s for lunch and some music (we had three or four songs ready) but his wife Ann was ill with a lung infection, and it was cancelled. So we drove to the Jarrolds café near Letheringsett and had a lovely lunch of toasted chiabatta (in my case with egg, chives and watercress). I also had two iced peach teas. Then we bought some food from the adjacent shop after viewing the gardens (impressive). We then went to Morston and walked out to the marshes opposite the blue house at Blakeney Point. Very few people about: sunny and warm. Felt blessed. Stopped off at reopened Anchor Inn for cider: they’ve done the place out beautifully. Then home, popping in to Morrisons on the way for petrol. Dot drove all day. Cooked pies and watched cricket. 

Sunday was quite warm, but with light rain at times. Drove to church intending to have chat with Graham afterwards (he said he was coming down after the St Luke’s service), but this went slightly wrong because (a) he was late and (b) Harriet had a major collapse, having walked to church with her dog after being in hospital for three days. Paramedics were called, and she was eventually taken away in an ambulance. Meanwhile we fixed an appointment with Graham for the next day, and then took Ray home. He seemed even less well than usual and is on regular Co-codamol. We went home and had lunch, then did some reading. Later watched cricket and ate sausages. Also watched end of Karen Pirie: police procedural. Very well done but don’t like what she wears. As if that mattered. Walked extra steps in kitchen to bring day’s up to 4000. As if that mattered. 

Monday – A little light rain and a bit windy, but reasonably warm. Tried to get blood test results again, but no luck. Must be a clot somewhere. I know what you’re thinking. Took Dot to violin lesson in the morning and did some picture editing. Met her in Prince of Wales Road. Graham arrived by bike and we had a chat about our plan to “retire” from church, in the sense that we would step back for a while. He didn’t necessarily agree with our reasons, but was very kind and saw it as a “season change” thing, which we do too. Big step, though we are happy about it. Called Judy to let her know, and wrote to Phil.  Afterwards went to shop to buy food for tomorrow. I cooked salmon and watched the cricket, which was very exciting and I think a fair result. (India won by six runs, which meant the series was drawn.) Read quite a bit and went to bed quite early. 

Tuesday was dry and windy, but quite warm. To Town House for Archant breakfast. I had a slightly smaller version than usual , and Dot just had coffee. Tricia was there, and we were joined eventually by Robin and Shelagh, and also by Bill Woodcock, then by John Rogers, a former photographer who I vaguely remembered. He had a number of memorable pix he had taken, including the first one of The Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, when he went to court. Sadly we had to leave earlier than we would have liked because we had a full day: Linda was coming to cut our hair, and Oliver, Amy and Sophie arrived at roughly the same time.

The trio had a drink, then went into town while Linda finished and I had a quick bath. We got the bus up and met them on Castle Meadow after a Park and Ride driver took us up without charging us. I didn’t know that our bus cards were not valid on P&R. I also didn’t know that the bus stop “spoke” to us about the schedule. A little boy did it while we were waiting. After walking through the Arcade we went into Jarrolds for drinks, olives, nuts and dipping bread. Then to Scandinavian shop while Dot visited Thorns, and Oliver and I popped into a Norwich City shop in Jarrolds. I had forgotten it was there. Bought a few things in Scandinavian shop, then home via Elm Hill and the riverside path. Got very tired and had to stop a couple of times. After a rest at home and looking at a few pictures on screen (plus an episode of Outnumbered) we had our evening meal – a complex Indian affair put together largely by Oliver and  Dot. Nice, though. Oliver, Sophie and Amy left at about 9.30, just as David was calling them on FaceTime, and we cleared up. It was great to see them. 

Cloudy with some quite heavy rain on Saturday 26 July. Finished off my Parish Pump articles – on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the Nuremberg  laws and Albert Schweitzer. Then wrote up my blog and lightly edited Dot’s Rhodes blog so that she could send it to Anne. We went to the charity shop and dropped off lots of clothes, including some of my old trousers, then on to Morrisons to get some food and a cake for church tomorrow. When we emerged it was pouring with rain, and we got quite wet. Cooked pies for supper and watched cricket and Tour de France as usual, plus a couple of comedy items and the first episode of Gold, about the Brinks Mat robbery. 

Sunday – Cloudy but dry. Led the service at church – used feast day of St Samson (Guernsey link) from Ray Simpson book. Smallish congregation. Carrie did quite good sermon on prayer; unfortunately the usual suspects had to add stuff that rather spoiled it. Anyway, took Ray home: he’s suffering rather more than recently. After lunch walked to the Maids Head, where Rob was doing one of his costumed talks – this time on the Mayflower pilgrims. Had a chat with him and Penny, whose father’s house, it turns out, was close to the hotel we stayed at on Guernsey. Rob was happy to do a Paston talk for Norwich Rotary; so I’m passing his name to Janet. It was our 57th wedding anniversary; so we had Anne’s champagne with our salmon supper. Watched end of Tour de France, last day of fourth test (superb holding job by India for a draw) and the final of the women’s soccer Euros, which England won, rather luckily, on penalties. 

Monday – Cloudy. Tried to catch up with some things like fixing our outside light and getting our hedge cut – the latter can’t be done till October, unfortunately. Replied to David, Oliver and Amy on Diderot, though I seem to have lost one of the replies and had to do it again. According to my phone, David is now between Calgary and Medicine Hat. Dot spent a lot of time preparing tomorrow’s lunch, and I helped with some clearing up. Cooked fish. Watched all or last four episodes of The Gold, about the Brinks Mat robbery. Very well done. 

Tuesday – Dry.  Perhaps a bit cooler, at least according to the nurse who expertly took my blood this morning. Results on Friday, I hope. Walked a little way afterwards, which helped me to exceed 4000 steps for the day. Took some papers over to Chris; then Kim and Anne arrived for lunch – a lavish affair prepared by Dot which was more than sufficient for supper too. They left after 4pm, and I had to lie down for a while. Felt excessively tired, which may have been the wine or the shrimps, or neither. In the evening watched the first two episodes of The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which was a bit horrific (Japanese POW bits) but nicely done. Read the book some time ago. 

Wednesday – Cloudy but quite warm. Threat of rain never materialised. Got up early to greet electrician from Homecare, who arrived at 8am (warning call at 7.30!). Replaced our LED light in porch at back. Watched him do it- very complex, and nothing like replacing a light bulb. Read up a bit on Daniel before going to Bible study at church. Went quite well, I think. Morgan, Judy, Debbie, Steve and Ellie-on-phone. Steve’s birthday: gave him a copy of Mist and Fire. Lucky man. Practised some songs for Saturday. Seemed to go OK. Had an hour’s sleep while Dot worked in garden. Cooked evening meal (duck) and we watched a couple of episodes of Karen Pirie, a police series. 

Thursday – Warm and dry after early rain.  Aimed to get a lot done but failed pitifully. Had bath before Bridget came to clean. After lunch took bus/walked to visit Linda (Shingles) and deliver a birthday card. She is 77. Roger was there and we had a longish chat and a small glass of red wine. Then I set off to walk home, taking in Southwell Road and cutting through alley to Queens Road and All Saints Green, then Westlegate, at which point I got tired and boarded a bus. Amusing journey home.  Woman behind insisted to her friend she had betrayed her by telling some else she used a microwave. “You must have told her, or how did she know?”

Walked up hill home and then lay down a bit. Put together a letter re church for the vicar but did not send it – yet. Spoke to Howard and Anna about it in the evening: still undecided about what to do. Later FaceTimed David and had a chat about Chrissy and his journey to White Rock, Kelowna and Calgary, interrupted by Barbara and Roger, who were over to help in the garden. The FaceTime was interrupted, not the journey.