Sad news from Coventry this morning: Andrew became progressively worse over the weekend and had to be taken into hospital this morning. Can’t say this came as a huge surprise after seeing him on Friday, but sad nevertheless.

We had a quiet weekend in his absence. Dot and I went for a walk down on the Thorpe side of Whitlingham on Saturday afternoon: calm, warm, and hardly anybody about beside the river and  across the meadow. The next day, however, she had succumbed to a cold that had been creeping up on her and stayed in bed with a very bad throat and cough while I went and led the service at church. Pentecost! Matt’s first stab at preaching, and he was very good.

In the afternoon I went to Bally for Open Studios – pretty much a must, as the artists have all had sudden notice to quit by mid-June. End of an era. Excellent main exhibition, but few people there: it was very hot, and I guess many of the potential attendees were on the beach. Spoke to Rupert and Shirley, then Martin Laurance – provisionally buying a painting of his – but spent most of time being shown round the exhibition by Annette. Some good new stuff from her, and if she spent as much time praising her own pictures as she did extolling the virtues of others, she might sell more. Such a nice girl.

Towards the end of yesterday the weather started to turn cooler, but not until after I walked into the city to pay in a couple of cheques. In the evening I drew my final chess game of the season after getting an advantage but not making it count. My 50% tournament score means I stay in the second division next season, though I keep wondering whether to give chess a rest. Dot stayed in bed most of yesterday, but has got up this morning, saying she feels much better. Had a call from Riding Lights theatre company yesterday asking if I knew anyone who could put up some of their troupe who are coming to Norwich next month. We’re going on holiday at the crucial time, but I’ve put out feelers. Nobody has grasped one yet.