David is in Canada, where apparently it’s quite warm, and it’s been a warm week here too. On Sunday – the day David left – I led the service, and then Dot and I went to Su Lee’s 70th birthday surprise party, which took place at her daughter Alex’s house in Brazen Gate, a new town house development behind Sainsbury’s on what used to be the goods yard at Victoria Station, and now isn’t.

We parked on Southwell Road and took what turned out to be a circuitous route via Sainsbury’s car park. It turned out that there was a much quicker one the other side of the bridge, which led directly into Brazen Gate. We came back that way. I used to know Norwich pretty well.

I was a bit nervous about the party, but it turned out to be really enjoyable. Su’s daughters, Becky and Alex, were both pleased to see us and we chatted to most of the people there, including Su’s former and current boyfriend, Brian, and legendary court reporter Grizelda Graham. Alex’s daughter made some excellent cakes. I think it was Alex’s daughter. I spoke at some length to Charlotte, a friend of Becky who works in the same office at Norfolk County Council as former colleague John Birchall.

I played what is normally my annual game of chess on Monday, but something went wrong, and I won – so I will have to play another one. It’s a knockout competition. Quite a nice game, actually, against David Hughes (121). Later in the week I was asked to play for one of the club teams, but declined.

On Tuesday it was very warm, and Dot and I went to the Sainsbury’s Centre at UEA for an exhibition of photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Extremely interesting, but I wonder if his fame results from his adoption of a rather esoteric philosophy behind what he does, which makes it seem more profound than it is. He is not alone in that. Nevertheless, it was a good exhibition, and so was the baguette and cup of tea.

On Wednesday we had the long-awaited visit of Glenn, to look at our shower and suggest the best way forward (it’s broken, and we want a new one). Nice bloke. I stressed the urgency of the situation, and he seemed to get it. But of course Colin is involved… While Glenn was here he fixed the door of our kitchen cupboard, which I had been unable to sort for a while. Easy when you know how, which I usually don’t.

In the evening we went to the cinema and saw the new David Brent movie, which was very funny in places. I think Ricky Gervais is under the misapprehension that Brent is basically lovable, when in fact he’s basically stupid, which is hard to love. The band was good.

Today I have picked up the books from the printer, and I’m about to go and take Phil to the doctor’s in the rush hour…which was quite interesting and also circuitous . Read quite a bit while waiting for him, and Dot is cooking dinner.