We’ve made it to November without being ambushed by Hallowe’en. The last couple of days have been clear and quite pleasant, though definitely autumnal. I have maintained a good walking record during October, but will start this month badly, as I shall not do 5000 steps today, barring unforeseen circumstances.
On Sunday we got to church at the right time, namely an hour later than usual after reconnecting with GMT. I led the prayers. We didn’t go out to see Jessie afterwards, as she needed a rest following her exploratory operation earlier in the week. No diagnosis yet. I am surrounded by people in poor health; my poet friend Joy has heart failure (broken mitral valve), which doesn’t sound good, and our friend Naomi is in hospital with severe Crohn’s disease and possibly appendicitis (they removed the appendix anyway). I got a text from her pleading for a visit, so I bussed up there yesterday and arrived just before her mum left. She is pretty depressed about the prognosis, unsurprisingly, as the prognosis is that no-one really knows what they can do about it.
Then today I drove over to see my cousin Stephen, who has multiple sclerosis and can only get around with the aid of a four-legged support. I went to see him because I had the wrong phone number and I had to ask him about an acquaintance of his father’s named Janet Mann.
Someone in Africa had been asking another cousin, Ann (Rumsby), about her, and I expected to find Paul at Stephen’s. Sadly, though, his dementia has worsened and he is in a care home at Horsford. On the plus side, Stephen knew Janet, and I was able to give her a ring later, asking if she minded my giving Ann her number. She didn’t, and with any luck she’ll be connected with the friend in Africa (Anna Smidt).
Apparently Stephen has little or no contact with his brother, who lives only two or three miles away from him. On the other hand, Stephen has a dog. He sees his sister Pat about every five or six weeks, when she comes down from Stamford to see Paul.
The last few days I’ve been very busy putting together a leaflet for the Blofield/Paston event on Saturday. It involves quite a bit of research into family trees which, though fascinating, soon becomes all-consuming and frustrating in equal measure. I managed to end up with something that I think is mainly right, and I am getting it printed by Nick Gorvin for £90, payable by PHS. I hope.
While I was visiting Naomi – or more accurately, just after I got back – Dot went to St Augustine’s to help with a “Hallowe’en” party that apparently went down very well with the local families. Meanwhile I made the evening meal, so that she could eat it before going off to watch Norwich City lose again (2-1 against Wolves).
Today (or possibly yesterday, or both) Dot got into a conversation with Des about the Norfolk Restaurant Week. As a result the four of us are going out to lunch at one of said restaurants on Friday at lunchtime. Before that I shall be travelling to Coventry tomorrow to see Andrew who, I’m told, is doing well. I hope I don’t set him back.