Tuesday, June 30 was warm and dry despite a few clouds. Busy day, despite unpacking everything yesterday. Had a bath – the first for some time. Thanked Des and Chris for looking after our plants and later had a long chat with Mark about the heat last week. In between drove Dot to hospital for her physiotherapy from Charlotte. She was very good despite keeping us waiting for 20 minutes. Had an ice cream afterwards (Magnums) and came across Lisa Campling and her sister, who seemed pleased to see us. Their father was having a stent put in.
Drove back through city to Morrisons, where we stocked up on food and filled up with petrol. In the evening we watched some football and the jolly aftermath of Serena Williams losing at Wimbledon. Norway 1-0 v Ivory Coast. Later watched an old episode of Vera, cleared away and crawled into bed after renewing my Genes Reunited subscription with some difficulty. Before that, had a chat with David on FaceTime. He seems fine.
Wednesday – Cloudy but dry. In bed late. Caught up with quite a lot on e-mails and (with Dot) chose and posted birthday cards to Eleanor, Joan Brown and Holly. Checked accounts. Put water in piano. Booked a Bob Dylan play for next February! Opened remaining correspondence and disposed of unwanted paperwork. Teeth still irritating. Watched England beat Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1, thanks to two excellent goals by Harry Kane. Gordon made a big difference when he came on as sub. England had been 1-0 down for much of the match. David FaceTimed as I was cooking sausages. Pretty similar views on the football. Watched Death Valley episode. Felt very tired.
Thursday – Warm but windy. Rang dentist and got an appointment for 2.30. Dot dropped me off on Ber Street after lunch, and I got there about 20 minutes early, spending the time chatting with receptionist Charley, who is 47 and off to the Lake District with her family tomorrow. Tooth was much better today, but Adam took an x-ray and poked around. Couldn’t really find a problem, but consulted NHS (after I left), and then suggested by phone another appointment in a month’s time. Possibility of replacing crown, or it may be a nerve problem. Walked home, where Bridget was talking to Dot before cleaning.
I managed to put some photos on Facebook, then Mark and Sarah came round for a drink (because we won’t be at home for street meet tomorrow, and nor will Des and Chris). Had a good chat with them for about a couple of hours (our politics are similar). Much earlier Dot went to the shed and got stung, largely because there was a large wasps’ nest in there. Contacted some people who deal with that sort of thing, and they should be coming in a day or two. Annoying. Cooked some salmon, and we watched a bit of Spain v Austria (3-0).
Friday – Mainly warm and dry. Bit cool in the evening, but perhaps that was because we were on the river. Earlier Dot walked to Boots and got a few things while I got gradually nearer catching up with my to-do list, including working out why none of my passwords (or possibly user names) worked on BT. Very irritating. Started editing recent pictures. At around 5.40 our two passengers (David viola and Nova violin) arrived for their lift with us to Horning. I apologised on WhatsApp to our usual streetmeeters, and we made good time despite traffic, parking at the village hall.
We were quite early so had a drink with a few others from orchestra: yes, you’ve guessed it: it was Sillars Centenary Boat Ride and Buffet. The boat, the Southern Comfort, was packed and the food was good. Talked to a number of friends, including Jaya, Neville and Mary, Janet and Graham, Penny, Vicky and Anthony, Bev and a number of others. Got some quite good pix during the evening. Towards the end Dot and I went downstairs at the bow, where it was not so chilly. Got back exactly on time – 10pm – and got home in good time too. Watched 20 minutes of Argentina failing to score against Cape Verde, then went to bed. Tooth hurting a bit. (Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time.)
Saturday – Quite warm. Very tense day and still feel uneasy. Robin turned up at 8.30 as planned and came back twice more, each time painting the rail on the stairs and waiting for it to dry. Total cost £120. Not worried about that: Robin is very professional and does a superb job. Wasp nest remover due between 3 and 7 but didn’t turn up till just after 7. I had cleared a way for him, removing drier and sunshade, but all he had was a cylinder and hose with nozzle, and no protective clothing. He insisted I stay indoors and took very little time to destroy the nest and, he said, killing all the wasps in the process. Well, most of them: I shouldn’t clear up for a few days in case of angry nestless wasps in the area.
He then asked for payment in cash and so I had to go to the station and then Prince of Wales Road ATMs to take out the money. He couldn’t give me a receipt, apparently. So I photographed his car registration number. He doesn’t know I did that. Still feel I shouldn’t have paid him, but hope all goes well and I get a receipt from the company. While he did all this I was cooking dinner (chicken), which miraculously turned out OK. All day long there have been police in the road, partly to do with a stolen motor bike dumped opposite and partly some other reason which remains obscure. There was a possibility of going to a concert, but of course that was ruled out. Watched a bit of tennis, with a British wild card, Arthur Fery, winning in the 5th after losing most of the way through. Very tired. I mean me, but I expect he was too. His nose kept bleeding. His parents are French.
Sunday – Quite warm and dry but cloudy. Woke up late for some reason; not sure I ever caught up. Didn’t go to church. Dot washed towels. Over to Library Wood to join in Music in the Park, which had started at 1pm. Spoke to Jon Sissons, who had earlier been fixing a table in his window: he said it was to keep out heat. Spoke to Jude and sat with Mike and June Webb. Mike sang a song with the very good three-piece jazz band that was playing. Helped June and Mike to carry their chairs home: they live at The Nest, off Rosary Road.
All day we were expecting delivery of parcels from Joy – I kept popping back to see if they’d been delivered. But no. Dot checked with Joy, who said they were arriving in the evening; so Dot stayed at home while I went to the Seagull – pointlessly as it turned out because the parcels were put through the door. Ho hum. Watched a bit of Wimbledon and when I came home the end of Brazil-Norway, which Norway won 2-1 despite a ludicrous penalty award against them. Read six poems at the Seagull – five of them from Scotland: The Shape of the Sky, Oyster Catcher, Local Heroine, Fingertips, Birkhall and Encounter at Castleton. Kaaren absent ill, but Sue, Peter, Lynne, Joan Murray and a few others I knew were there. Home journey straightforward apart from annoying 45-50mpher who I eventually managed to overtake just before Hellington.