Dot did a lot of reorganising on Thursday and Friday last week, with my study at the centre of her efforts. Much of it has been repainted, and it’s now much more aesthetically pleasing. We also moved the main filing cabinet into the garage – a very tiring exercise, as we not only had to take all the files out, but all the drawers too. And then put them back. We took a trip up to the tip and the charity shop yesterday to dispose of certain items that had been cluttering up the garage, which will be refurbished tomorrow (our wedding anniversary). Adrian O’Dell has been round to collect some books for a charity event he’s running.
Also last Friday I popped round to see Phil and Joy in anticipation of their trip down to Southampton, receiving instruction about keeping the garden watered and also exchanging presents. In the evening I drove to Halesworth and Pinky’s, where I duly read three of my poems, including one I’d written the same day.
On Saturday we met the Robinsons at Café Rouge to celebrate my birthday. It was a good meal, but the service was slow, which always annoys me. Afterwards they came round for coffee.
On Sunday we went round the Greens’ after Holy Communion and a certain amount of music-making, mainly in ceilidh vein and mainly involving Anna, Dot and Phil. As a result of the visit (for lunch) and various discussions, I drove Dot and the Greens to a lute concert in the evening at Park Lane.
On Monday I had been intending to walk into the city, but it rained, despite what our weather apps said. Yesterday started damp, but after I’d had a cup of tea with Paul, the weather brightened and we played pitch and putt at Eaton Park. I was pretty much as inconsistent as usual, except that I putted left-handed, with a considerable degree of success. Afterwards I had another cup of tea with Paul – and Maryta, who had been doing walking netball with a woman who shouted.
In the evening we had Cake and Compline with Jude, Bridget and Claire. Dot had cooked an anniversary chocolate cake, which was delicious. During the day my tooth had come out again; so this morning I went and had a temporary filling. In a couple of weeks I will have a crown put in – at first temporary, then (in September) permanent. So that’s another load of cash out of our account. Good job we’re not pensioners. Oh, wait a minute: we are.
I have just watered Phil’s garden; so it will almost certainly rain soon. Amy has sent pictures of Menorca – they are only a few miles from where we stayed at Migjorn, and the beach we frequented at San Tomas.