Bit drier today after a very, very wet Sunday, with continuous rain nearly all day and lots of flooding in and around Norwich. We got to church all right, though – which is just as well, as I was leading the service. Quite a small congregation, boosted by a couple of visitors, who apparently were impressed by the way we handled a pretty disruptive A, who arrived late and tried to make himself the centre of attention even more than usual. Not sure what was wrong with him.
Dot and I declined an invitation from Debbie to go with her to North Norfolk in the afternoon to hear some talks on Israel – partly because of the weather and partly because we were tired after a busy day on Saturday. I had walked with Dot to Carrow Road – where I had a brief encounter with former colleague Trevor Burton – then later up to St Andrew’s Hall, where we heard the Mozart Orchestra play some very good Smetana, some rather ordinary Ravel and some scintillating Rimsky-Korsakov (Scheherazade). Brilliant violin from Fiona Hutchins.
Ran into a number of friends at the concert – most interestingly former colleague Annie Ogden, who had broken her wrist in August while on holiday in the Orkneys!! Amazing coincidence, especially as she did it in Pierowall on Westray, which was one of our favourite places. What is it about the Orkneys and broken bones?
While on the subject of broken bones, I should mention that my plaster came off on Wednesday, which was a tremendous relief. However, having a former plaster is no fun either. Though my arm is getting more mobile, it is still swollen and very sore (especially around the wrist), and the skin continues to be itchy. Still, at least I can get at it. The doctor seemed very smug that his no-operation policy had (apparently) been successful.
While I was having my plaster off Dot was spending 25 minutes parking the car, which meant she lost track of me, but I found her when I emerged from x-ray – where there had been long queues – to see her sitting in the main orthopaedics area with Mary and Neville Thrower. Neville has been in a bad way recently with prostate cancer and complications which mean he can’t be left on his own.
In the evening Dot dropped me at the Adam and Eve, where Peter Sargent was having a reading of his new book with Paul Dickson. Not many people there, but it was great to see Rita, the licensee, who used to run the ECN social club. She seemed very pleased to see me. Not sure why. Also had a good chat with Milton Lindsay, a former weeklies sub-editor, and with Pete himself.
On Thursday evening Dot and I decided to stir ourselves and went to the book club session being started by Carrie at St Luke’s. I had no high hopes, but it turned out to be very good. Also present: Sarah, Harriet, Judy, Nicky… The book was by Brian McLaren.
Had to get up early this morning because we had the stair carpet cleaned at 9am. Haven’t been upstairs since.