Last Saturday David brought Oliver and his friend Cameron up to watch Norwich play Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round. David, Dot and I sat together not far from where Dot usually sits, and the boys sat in the middle of the Barclay end, which was a bit of a risk, but it turned out OK.
Norwich evened things up by getting a man (Hanley) sent off early in the first half, but after that it could have gone either way. In the end Norwich got a taste of their own medicine, with Portsmouth scoring the only goal in the 95th minute. No complaints, really. D, O and C returned to Caddington immediately afterwards, taking in a McDonald’s at Thickthorn on the way. O and C thence progressed to Aylesbury (presumably via a lift from Cameron’s father or mother).
On Sunday I did an Epiphany sermon that seemed quite well received, despite my pointing out that the wise men had very little to do with Christmas. Liz Cannon seems fully recovered after her pre-Christmas drama (see earlier post), but Christine doesn’t seem well. Phil Kerrison’s mother-in-law at Cambridge has died.
On Monday I just remembered to go for a blood test at the surgery. The results came back very quickly, and yesterday morning I got a text asking me to make an appointment at the surgery. Bit worrying, but in fact it turned out to be just a bit too much cholesterol, probably a bad reading because I hadn’t fasted as I was apparently supposed to. Don’t remember this being mentioned until shortly before my arm was pierced. I declined an appointment with Dr R, whose sole aim in life is to dispense pills, and am now trying to get one with Dr Carlile, who sent me for the blood test in the first place. This of course is easier said than done.
In the car park I was hailed by a cheery Bridget, who seemed very pleased to see me. But then she is like that: a really nice person.
Later that day we went to see Jessie and found her asleep as usual. When she woke she was pretty alert mentally, but she is getting frailer and frailer and needs a lot of help going to the loo, for instance. Her hearing is really bad; so Dot has started writing down what she wants to say, and this worked pretty well.
Tuesday was busy, and cold. In fact the past week has been very chilly, and now the wind has got up, with some flooding and erosion at Walcott and Winterton. Dot and I made it to the Archant coffee morning, where we spoke mainly to Tricia and Brian – Robin being absent with depression. Afterwards we bought a mattress cover from John Lewis and then walked down to Pottergate, where we had lunch in the Iron House with Paul, at his invitation (and expense). I had a pleasant cheese omelette, and we discussed the recent exploits of M, who seems to have given up calling on us.
In the afternoon Dot went with Carrie to Ditchingham and bought a sideboard from Emmaus for the church hall. It will be delivered later in the month. I made a start on my article for the Diocesan Magazine, and when Dot returned we went to see The Favourite, billed as a comedy about Queen Anne but in fact more of a tragedy with funny moments. This had won a Golden Globe for Norfolk-born Olivia Colman, who was brilliant, but we both felt the film itself was not outstanding, though good. It also made Dot look up stuff about Queen Anne, which proved interesting.
There was rain, too. Not forecast, and no apology from the weather person on Look East.
Yesterday Dot went up to pay a cheque into the bank, and I went with her in case of technical difficulties, but it proved straightforward. Afterwards she did a bit of shopping (bought me some new pyjamas) and I took a long way home and posted her DNA at the sorting office. Am managing to keep my steps up this week, but today may prove problematical. Yesterday I wrote more of my article for the Mag and e-mailed requests for a couple of potential quotes. Dot was back at orchestra after the winter break.