Israel is receding into the distance, though I’ve just written a piece on it for my website. Several members of our group have reported being ill, but I don’t think any of them has coronavirus, although a couple of them self-isolated, which seems quite a nice idea. Dot and I have just pieced together a narrow IKEA bookcase or two for the hall, but we need something to stick it to the wall, as I’m pretty sure there’s wiring where there would normally be a screw.
Dot picked up the bookcases yesterday while I was at the doctor’s. My blood pressure was unexpectedly low, and so there was nothing to talk about really. I am going to have a blood test at the end of the month. Before that we’d been up to Boots to choose frames for my new glasses, and Dot unexpectedly got some too. She doesn’t like to be left out. Afterwards we had a cup of tea in Tea Junction.
Later still we went to the cinema to see Emma, which was entertaining and quite satisfying.
On Monday we had been to the Robinsons for tea/coffee and a rundown on the Holy Land. Philip was quite perturbed that there were 55 in our party, because he had been under the impression that we had gone in a minibus. He was also worried (quite rightly) about Syrian refugees on the Turkish border, though this wasn’t as near Israel as I think he believed it was.
In the afternoon I drove to Beccles for a meeting of Suffolk poets at Lynne Nesbit’s house. She is a singer and a poet, and good at both. The other four were slightly less impressive, but I think we’ll manage to get something together for the Poetry Festival. Good cake and tea, and quite a pleasant afternoon. I read a couple of controversial poems, but they seemed to quite like them.
On Sunday I preached at St Augustine’s, including as you might expect references to the Holy Land, but concentrating on Psalm 121, which has more impact after you’ve been to Israel. Ray and Chris weren’t there because Chris is quite ill: her stomach cancer is rearing its head again. During the Peace we all made eye contact only (coronavirus) but took Communion as usual!
The previous day we had been to the George Hotel at Swaffham for Allan Higbee’s 80th birthday party – a lunchtime buffet with cake and drinks. Dot was kind enough to drive back, and although we didn’t know many people there, we got to know some by the time we left. I got on well with Allan’s brother Brian, who is a big Leonard Cohen fan – and a singer and guitarist. He played a Cohen song later on. Allan is not a big fan: he’s more into choral music. Lot of family members there, including Alex (very nice) and her daughter Ariana and husband Paolo, who is working for Amazon and loving every minute.