Dot and Anne are walking in the city; it’s a bright but cool day – a distinct improvement on the chilly, wet and windy days we’ve had recently. I’ve been doing some work on the Paston Database – a list of people mentioned in the Letters or otherwise associated with the family.
Happily, I now also have the correct reading glasses: I picked them up from Boots last Wednesday.
On Thursday Dot and I drove to Kirby Bedon for the annual sugar celebration at Chris and Wendy Lamb’s rather impressive house. This consists of a selection of impressive nibbles and some champagne to celebrate the collection of huge amounts of sugar from schools just before Christmas for the benefit of shelters and charities helping the homeless. Dot encouraged some of the the schools to participate, and I helped transport the sugar to an obscure site near North Walsham – bit like drug-running, but with the opposite effect on the end-users. Sue and Roger Eagle turned up late after being prompted by a phone call from Dot: Sue was in fact at a meeting with Rob Knee about her new Paston role, arranged by me!
Afterwards we drove to North Walsham to see Jessie, who is not too good. Roger was there, too. She is in some pain, and the doctor has given her only a few days – but she has already exceeded the previous estimate by some weeks. Called in at Sainsbury’s before driving home.
On Friday I had my first professional massage – by Verena at Little Plumstead. My knee had been giving me some pain, as had my lower back, and Dot persuaded me to go. Verena was very thorough and took nearly 90 minutes if you include the preliminary chat. Felt good afterwards, but the next day everything was very painful. Happily by Sunday it had subsided, and I know feel pretty good, as far as knees and backs go.
Yesterday was busy. Dot went to the High Noon derby match against Ipswich, leaving me to hold the fort at church, where Matt joined the worship band on jazz piano for one of the hymns. Sounded pretty good. It was Eleanor’s last Sunday, and she gave a lovely sermon based on Isaiah 6 and Luke 5. She is going to the Great Hospital as their chaplain and vicar at St Helen’s Bishopgate. We gave her a gift of John Lewis vouchers, and Sarah baked a cake. There was a quick PCC meeting afterwards (small influx down from St Luke’s) to agree that a number of people should be put forward as authorised worship assistants. I am one of them. Next step, bishop.
Meanwhile Luke (and his wife Michelle) had been at Aspland Road installing some LED lighting in the kitchen. I was back to receive them on their return from the match (together with, or slightly before Dot), and Luke finished off the fitting, though he still has to install the switches and a bit more tubing (for want of a better word). Norwich had beaten Ipswich 3-1; so everyone was happy, apart from the Ipswich fans.
The previous day we had had Sean, Ciera, Freddie and Phoebe round for roast chicken, and Freddie had been very bullish about the likely score. Sean and I tried to prepare him for a possible reverse, but he was adamant – and, as it turned out, right. It was a nice meal and a really good evening.
Andrew is back at Minster Lodge and seems to be recovering well. They are planning to put him in a bigger bedroom, with a double bed and a sofa.