Lots of things going on in the background: my knee has been quite uncomfortable for a few days, and after seeming much better yesterday is now not so good again. Mairead’s funeral has been fixed for Monday at Earlham – quite surprising, as we thought it would be the RC Cathedral, like her husband and mother. And the Thursday Paston dinner at the Maids Head is looming large: yesterday Dot and I called round the Knees to try on costumes. Dot and Penny looked terrific, and I looked as bad as usual.

Meanwhile we have seen Jessie a couple of times. Yesterday, pre-costume, Dot bought her some new slippers by request, and we delivered them to her. They fitted, and she liked them, which was nice. On Saturday Eleanor visited her and Roger turned up too, which was ideal as far as Jessie was concerned (Eleanor will be taking Jessie’s funeral). We didn’t go – thought it would be over the top.

Reading a lot of poetry at the moment. On Friday I went to what used to be Pinky’s at Halesworth but is now the Swan, since Pinky’s burned down a few months ago. The pub is much noisier, but we have quite a big room upstairs. Had a chat with Nina Roffey, an artist/poet from Beccles whose poetry I like very much, and I read three poems, including (by request) Chasing the Moon, which was commended in a recent competition.

On Sunday Dot and I went to the Seagull, where she read a series of tanka I had written about a Canadian bear, and I read six poems altogether. Oliver the thatcher was there and his usual exuberant self after a successful gig at Edinburgh! Tonight I shall be going to Jurnet’s – all being well – and will read one or two there.

Before I went to Pinky’s – and Dot went round the Greens for a mass reading of Mark in the King James version – we went to Swaffham for lunch with the Higbees in their new house. Yes, they have moved again. Very pleasant, though the weather wasn’t good enough to go outside. As a result I have been asked to speak about the Pastons to the local WI some time next year.

I got back from Halesworth before Dot emerged from Golden Dog Lane, and as the result of a mix-up I went to pick her up before they’d actually finished. So she missed the last two chapters of Mark and will never know what happened. I understand there was a good meal, though. As I write, she is meeting Sue, Helen and Karen for lunch at Presto’s. And it is raining and cold.