Another warm and sunny day, following a few cloudy ones. I’ve just been up to the little park because Mairead called to say they’d installed a Book Swap cabinet. Spoke to Crispin from the Library Wood Collective and said I’d supply some books, though I suspect the cabinet may be ripe for vandalising. Hope it works.
Have just about decided not to go to Hellesdon Paston event today, because I have a lot to do, and England’s World Cup third round match is on at 3pm.
Highlight of the week undoubtedly was my birthday on Thursday, when Dot took me out to lunch without telling me where we were going. It turned out to be the Blakeney Hotel, and the lunch was delicious. I had a ribeye steak, followed by an exotic fruit plate with tuille, which was terrific – almost as terrific as the large glass of claret I had with it. Afterwards we walked to Morston and back, which was no small achievement, ending with tea in the upstairs lounge at the hotel.
Really love the whole area around Blakeney.
Just got back in time for the licensing and installation of our new vicar, the Rev Sarah Quantrill, who seems really nice. Dot played violin, but I stood down from guitar duties, partly because I had to present the vicar with a Bible (in conjunction with John Easton). Rather thrown by John getting the words wrong, but I think we got away with it, because I didn’t mention the war. Rather jolly nibble-fest afterwards.
Yesterday, after Dot got good news about her knee from the nurse, we popped over to North Walsham to see Jessie, who seemed a little frailer than usual but still made a good cup of tea. Afterwards Dot and I called at Sainsbury’s before going to the cemetery, then driving home via Wroxham, which was full. Neither of us have got into Wimbledon this year (too much worship of the tennis gods), but I caught the end of the longest singles match in the history of the universe (well, Wimbledon), when Kevin Anderson beat John Isner 26-24 in the final set.
Going back a bit, I preached at the service last Sunday, mentioning David’s funeral and “there’s a crack in everything”. Full congregation of about 20, including two visitors. New vicar came for coffee before the service, but didn’t stay. Afterwards we went up to St Luke’s for a rehearsal for her installation. Not really happy with playing guitar for various reasons.
On Monday we had a long overdue meeting of the Footprints Steering Committee, held at the Maids Head, where I failed to take the opportunity to find out what happened in Aylsham, when Past Alive were supposedly left stranded. Other than that the meeting went quite well, though I wasn’t feeling too good, for some reason. Had recovered by the evening, when Dot and I went with Angela and Rodney to Coast to Coast, an American restaurant on Riverside, which turned out to be surprisingly good. I had a rump steak which was beautifully presented and also tasted excellent.