The days ticked by, and eventually I got to go to the dentist with my broken back tooth. By the time I got there, it felt perfectly natural to have a broken tooth, but Ross quickly (and for only £130) sorted out the problem, cementing the broken chunk back into place. As there was not nerve in the tooth, it didn’t hurt.  Great idea: teeth without nerves.

To accomplish this, I had to get to the dentist’s at 8.45am – a time I had forgotten existed. I had to plough my way through a whole bunch of commuters and schoolchildren. Afterwards I recycled some Christmas cards, courtesy of M&S, then popped down to the bank to pay in a cheque. This took longer than expected, because on this one day of the week the bank opened at 9.45am. I browsed a bit in Jarrolds, then chatted to a couple of people who were also waiting, and a chirpy little mortgage adviser who wasn’t due to start till 10am but had turned up anyway. I was first in, first out. On the way home I paid the newspaper bill.

While Dot was in town supping coffee with Anne, our friend D from church came round to borrow £10. He had to go to Diss to try to get a job, but couldn’t afford the fare. In the evening Dot and I had a meal at the Bicycle Shop café in St Benedict’s with a couple of sickly Greens. The tapas were excellent, as was the wine and the ambience, and we took a look at the room where we’re planning to do some Julian music later in the year. Not entirely sure about its suitability, but we’ll see.

Anna was getting better, and Howard was getting worse. I myself am feeling decidedly below par and slightly achy but hope I can resist plunging into the abyss, especially as I’ve just written a sermon for Sunday. Was perked up somewhat by sorting out the Apple TV with David’s guidance. It is now functioning well on all cylinders.

Yesterday was a beautiful crisp and sunny day (unlike today, which is gloomy) and we drove out to visit Rosie, who claimed to have a bad cold, but it was undetectable to normal senses, or at least ours. She was chirpy and made us tea and provided us succour in the shape of a touch of brandy and some Christmas cake. Very pleasant visit: we resolved to go more often and to keep in closer touch with people this year.