We are all ready for the Coomes, who are undoubtedly held up somewhere between Leytonstone and Riverside. It is a sad and damp day, and I have already driven up to the chemist to collect my prescription: one item to protect my upper respiratory tract, one to keep my blood pressure down and one to prevent acid reflux. Isn’t the pharmaceutical industry marvellous?

But I am not yet on my last legs. Yesterday I walked over six miles, which my app tells me is an all-time record. Little does it know: it has not been around long. I walked to Morrisons, and then into the city. Then, later from the car valeting place on Aylsham Road to Constitution Hill, where I dropped off a CD for my prospective publisher. I was picked up by Dot in my valeted car, and later walked to Morrisons again to pick up a few last-minute groceries. Quite a bit of housework too. Very tired at the end of the day, but for some reason I slept very badly.

I have bought Dot’s birthday presents, but I cannot reveal what they are in case she reads this. Not likely, admittedly, but still…

Claire Carrington came round on Thursday to discuss a project involving inviting everyone in church round for a meal and chat. I say everyone – the idea is probably three at a time, and not just us hosting. Not sure if this will work, but we had a good talk anyway, and divided the church up into possible groups of invitees.

Dot was out a lot this week, so I was able to catch up with various things, and I think I have more or less completed the plan for this year’s Alternative Carol Service. It consists largely of debunking Christmas myths and reading poems. I have written four new ones for it. Mostly though it will be carols and readings, plus a Communion. We don’t want to alarm the Bishop and anyway, that’s what we like.

The problem with the Paston Heritage Society’s UEA intern seems to be over, but not before I refused to have anything more to do with it. Lucy now says she will pay the bill. I haven’t heard from Anna.