[written Aug 25] 

You’d think we were well over our Canada trip by now, but last night was one of the few since then that I have got a good night’s sleep. Would probably have slept longer too, but Dot had to get up to go and receive her new glasses at 9.45, and afterwards she suggested we visit the Ivy; so I went up and we both had a glass of wine and some sourdough bread. In fact because they were a long time with the bread, we got three glasses of wine and some olives too (the latter items on the house). The Ivy – an offshoot of the London restaurant – opened this week in London street, and we were pretty impressed. Great look, and plenty of attention. Chatted to two bar staff and some others.

Afterwards we went up to the Castle to see the Paston Treasure exhibition, which was pretty good. Will probably go again. Shortly Dot will go to Carrow Road.

Quite an eventful week, as the weather has become gradually cooler (it poured with rain yesterday for a while). On Monday I played my knockout chess game against Dave Dempster, and despite getting a good position from the opening I managed to lose it through making a move slightly too quickly and overlooking something. Still, I fought on for nearly 50 moves and had some chances. Left my score sheet behind by mistake and had to ask my opponent to send me a copy.

On Tuesday we had our hair cut and then went to see Jessie with Jude. Car park full but I was lucky enough to get a space when someone pulled out in front of me. Later we took Judy to Cake and Compline at Claire’s. Claire had a slight medical emergency, and so Dot took her to the walk-in centre while Judy and I ate cake and had a pot of tea, but they returned fairly quickly. David and Bridget were also there.

The next day we had a surprise visit from Fred and Sue, who arrived while Dot was up at the West Norwich getting her legs looked at. We walked up to the Cathedral Refectory and had tea; Dot joined us a bit later, with legs in good shape. Later I dropped her at the hospital with Jessie’s going-home clothes, which Dot had washed, and she got a bus home. Later still Dot went to the Norwich-Preston match, which ended 2-0. Our first win of the season.

Thursday we were on the road again, taking Phil to Coventry to see Andrew. Dot and I shared the driving, and it wasn’t a bad journey. Stopped both ways at Cambridge Services, and on the way back had a snack at Patisserie Valerie. Andrew was quite well and liked our present – a National Geographic book of stunning photographs. Andrew took him a collage picture of his family, which he’d done pretty well.

Yesterday Dot had a massage early on with Verena, and I wrote my sermon for Sunday.