The Paston week at Dragon Hall came to a very misty end on Sunday. I had to preach at St Luke’s in the morning, and that went very well: I don’t think I’ve ever had so many appreciative comments. I spoke on the parable of the talents and gave a very different view from the normal one – that it was really about the behaviour of very rich people, a talent being worth probably well over £100,000. The final servant came out as being the hero.
I got to Dragon Hall just in time to lead the 1pm walk, which had the biggest number of the four in attendance: we started with seven, but dropped three (mother and two children) at the top of Mountergate while the father continued with us. In contrast to Saturday, I then had a woman who was very knowledgeable about the history of Norwich, but thankfully I avoided any drastic mistakes. We weren’t able to get into St Andrew’s Hall again – and sadly not St Peter Hungate either, because my phone for some reason decided to drop O2 and I couldn’t ring the woman who was supposed to let us in. However, that was the only glitsch, and David helped me restore the phone in the evening.
The next day we had our hair cut early, and I popped over to Dragon Hall to see if I could help with the get-out, but the Berrys and Diana were almost finished by the time I got there.
Julia and Dave arrived at lunchtime, and after some food we went for a riverside walk to look at the new bridge – which sadly wasn’t yet open. However, we walked up to Fye Bridge and then back down the other bank. In the evening we saw How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn at the Maddermarket, and it was brilliantly done. The actors were superb and the direction spot-on. Since there were two different things happening on stage constantly, it all had to be timed to perfection, and it was. It’s no exaggeration to say the expertise was dazzling.
Tuesday was Dot’s birthday, and so we spent most of it shopping – at least she and Julia did, after an initial joint swathe through M&S. Then we had a light lunch (scone), and Dave and I departed for the Castle Museum, where we saw (among other things) an excellent exhibition on the family as portrayed in art. Anne joined us for an evening celebration meal at the Last Wine Bar, which was pretty good.
The weather brightened up yesterday for our walk. We started at Acle and walked across the fields to Upton, then back through the marshes and along the river bank to the Bridge Inn, which is apparently owned by Marco Pierre White. We had a very light bar lunch, but the service was impressive. We then walked a bit further along the river and then cut back into Acle and to the car – the car in this case being Dave’s because at the outset my car had failed to start. As I write, I am awaiting the Mazda Europe Assistance man to diagnose and hopefully fix the fault.
In the evening we went to Prezzos, then watched Frozen Planet, during which Julia and I took it in turns to fall asleep. Dave and Julia left after breakfast this morning.