Feeling pretty frustrated at the moment, because I walked up into Norwich and omitted to take my phone with me, which meant my steps weren’t recorded. Apparently there’s no way you can adjust for this with the new phone. Aargh! Equally frustratingly I wasn’t able to buy a projector for my Swaffham talk: Richer Sounds quoted a low price of about £400, which is ridiculous when you can get them for less than £70 on the internet. I also was unable to solve Andrew’s diary problem, as no-one appears to sell 2019 diaries this late in the year for people who forgot to get them earlier.
On the plus side I did manage to complete writing my Swaffham talk and put all the pictures in the Powerpoint file, which I copied to the … the … oh, that stick thing. I then completed my Blofield text and sent it off, as well as editing Rob’s North Walsham text and sending that off. Oh, and I went through some of the Paston timeline and did some corrections. I also changed the pillowcases and made the bed. And got Des’s bins in.
Des is in Portugal. Dot is at the Cathedral for a Church School Heads conference. I have finished the Tombland book – an 800-page novel about Kett’s Rebellion, and Norwich City have got promoted to the Premier League. They made the final step by beating Blackburn 2-1 at Carrow Road last Saturday. Dot was there, and I watched it on TV. Quite an impressive sight, but they should have won about 6-0.
Before that Chris, Sean, Ciera, Bob, Mary, Dot and myself went to the Ali Tandoori last Thursday, an event long planned by Des. He, however, was not there, having had to go to a family conference in another part of the country following a crisis involving his uncle, 89. Nevertheless we had a good time: the meal as expected was good, and so was the conversation.
The next day Kristine paid us a flying visit, arriving at 10.50 and leaving at 1600. It was beautiful sunny day, though a bit chilly, and we walked up to the Cathedral Refectory and had a light lunch, followed by a stroll round the cloisters, the Cathedral itself and the shop. Then back to the house and the rail station. Most enjoyable.
On Saturday we went to North Walsham. The weather had changed for the worse, but the rain had eased off by the time we got to the cemetery, and were able to arrange the flowers – at least Dot did as usual while I threw away the dying ones and inserted fresh water. The cemetery has got rid of its old bins and has a new disposal cart up by the entrance: bit of a longer walk, which is quite good.
Afterwards we went to Jessie’s house to meet Roger and Debbie and pick up a couple of photographs and cups, plus a Pike family tree that I need to incorporate into mine. Very strange being there while it was being prepared for sale. We’ve been visiting for well over 50 years.
In the evening it was the big match – still wet and windy. After being at the caravan all week, Fred had decided to go home – probably a good decision despite the result. Not sure when he would have got out of Norwich.
On Sunday we had a Communion led by the vicar but starring Adrian, who came in, took his shoes and socks off and then proceeded to strip completely down to the waist before going to the loo and then getting a mug of milk from the fridge. We had a visitor called Andy from Plymouth who was clearly shocked by all this, but we carried on regardless. Afterwards Matt (Mr Enthusiasm) took us for a tour of the pumping station, which is not normally open to the public. Lots of old machinery. I felt close to it.
The next day Adrian came to the parish meeting, but stayed fully clothed. Quite a nice meal, Italian style, but the meeting was predictably tedious. Too much safeguarding. Nice people, though. I walked most of the way there, and Dot picked me up in St Augustine’s Street. Some people will do anything to keep their steps up, and on that occasion I remembered my phone.