We missed Jack Earl’s funeral, because no-one told us when it was, and it was much sooner than I expected it to be. It was in fact last Wednesday at Southrepps, while Dot was having lunch with Carrie. Later in the afternoon, oblivious, we had our hair cut and in the evening went to the orchestra Christmas dinner at Cosmo’s, which has replaced Habitat on London Street.
The latter was interesting, because it was a serve-yourself, eat-anything restaurant that tempts you to eat far too much, with food ranging from Chinese to roast beef, and suchi. You are served with drinks,and everything is cleaned away very efficiently so that you can have another shot. I liked it. I sat at the end opposite Yvonne, who plays bass clarinet and comes from Scotland but now lives on Newmarket Road. She was very interested in what Dot does (who isn’t?), and we had an interesting conversation.
The next day, the Higbees came for lunch, but not before Dot and I drove to Hempnall to load up some sugar for the Eagles as part of rather sweet charity event. Then Dot drove with them to Rodham (three cars) while I returned home in her car and cooked some chilli con carne. It all came together when Dot arrived only moments after the Higbees. The lunch was OK, and we had a pleasant afternoon.
They left just before 4pm, and about a quarter of an hour after they went and just as I’d finished getting rid of the dirty dishes, Jude knocked on the door with a card; I invited her in, and she stayed for an hour and a half, drinking sherry. As she’s extremely entertaining, this was a bonus.
On Friday, the hectic activity continued. We both went to the PHS Christmas get-together which – in the absence of Rob and Penny, who were in Kent supervising the birth of their grandchild Enid – was a bit chaotic. Lucy had gone to sleep and was half an hour late; we had to buy our own drinks and mince pies, and the whole thing would probably never have got going if I hadn’t persuaded late arrival Lucy to stand up and introduce it. After she had done so (very effectively), Peter showed some excellent videos, in one of which (not quite so excellent) I read a Paston letter. It was around this point that I asked Lucy when the funeral was going to be, and discovered it had taken place two days earlier.
In the evening Dot and I went for a light meal with the Robinsons, which featured some excellent salmon. Philip is anticipating much medical intervention: a prostate biopsy and a new hip. I felt quite sorry for him: he is booked on a cruise in January and intends to go.
Much of Saturday morning was taken up with last-minute Christmas shopping, during which we had a break in M&S cafe. We managed to get home in time for Dot to hear most of Norwich City’s game at Manchester United, and she was totally over the moon when we won 2-1. A real Christmas present for her. I don’t feel I have to buy her anything now.
Yesterday saw our usual Alternative Carol Service, which I wrote and presented. It went surprisingly well in view of our lack of rehearsal, and we got a very good response from the 24 or so present, who included Vicky and her mum and dad, plus Liz and David Cannon. This was followed by an exceptionally good Christmas meal.
My attempts over the weekend to get in touch with Joe and Birgit fell on straight-to-voicemail ears; I decided at the last minute that taking their present to Hethersett was a waste of time as they had probably left early for Germany. So I left a message on their phone, but I still haven’t had a reply.
This morning Dot and did all the food shopping at Waitrose and got home just before it poured with rain, and not long before we took delivery of a parcel for David. Quite relieved that we were home when it arrived. We are now awaiting the arrival of David, O)liver and Amy, who appear to be on the A11.