Spent much of Sunday wondering why Dot hadn’t worked out that David was coming to see her for Mothers’ Day. I could clearly get away with murder. I even cleaned the bath and the washbasin in the morning, and went to Budgen’s after church to stock up on bread. Then we went to North Walsham to put flowers on the graves and in a totally out-of-character move I rejected the possibility of dropping in on Jessie. I then (having by now established what time David would be arriving) stopped by the church at Beeston St Lawrence and we had a look round. Warm, calm, dry, idyllic. Not suspicious at all.

David eventually arrived just after 5pm, as Dot was finishing some work in the garden and not noticing how I kept consulting my Find-your-Friends app to see where he was.  I rejected making the bed in the guest room as a step too far and put the chicken in, peeled far too many potatoes for two, and went upstairs while Dot did work on the computer, thus allowing her to open the door when the bell rang.

It was worth it.

David left this morning just after 12, after we’d had a chat with Mairead outside. This afternoon a buoyant Dot is at Little Plumstead school explaining to parents how wonderful Philosophy4Children is. I went into the city to pay in some cheques. It’s nice to be able to do that without putting on a coat.