Cold on Monday. I walked down Bishopgate and round by the Cathedral while Dot was out walking with Anne at Poringland. On my way home, on Thorpe Road while adding a few unnecessary steps, bumped into Jude again – this time she was with Mrs Edwards, wife or widow of the former chief education officer for Norfolk. Jude said I had almost certainly written about him, but I denied it (though I almost certainly did, during my very brief stint as education correspondent in the mid-1990s).
Tuesday was even colder – very crisp, but much more appealing, with a mainly blue sky. Dot had a DSSO Zoom meeting in the morning, and in the afternoon we posted a couple more Canada parcels and one to the Coomes family. Longish queue in the post office, dutifully social distancing. Later while Dot went to Boots I posted her head teachers’ cards and then walked up to the Rosary. At just after 3pm, the sun in a clear sky wasn’t reaching the top of the hill. As I write Dot is watching the end of A Star is Born – the James Mason and Judy Garland version. Pretty poor film. Neither of the two lead actors can act, I don’t like Judy Garland’s voice, the songs are worse than mediocre and there is really no atmosphere. Hollywood at its worst. (Dot said it got better towards the end.) I had been thinking of watching the updated version, but certainly won’t now. Later we watched It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which was wildly funny.
It was not quite so cold on Wednesday: it started foggy and continued very, very damp, though not developing into rain (had some overnight, I think). Spent much of the day transporting sugar: started at Brooke School, where we collected two crates, then in the afternoon we called at Worstead again and picked up a couple more bags, then took it all to the barn at Swafield, where we encountered a pleasant farmer. Then dropped a present off at Rob’s and on to Sheila’s, where we chatted to Bridgett and dropped off cards and presents. Back home via Wroxham, and I walked some cards up to the post office while Dot vacuumed up surplus sugar from the boot. Norwich beat Notts Forest 2-1.
On Thursday the temperature was 6C, with a lighter sky but still overcast. Mainly dry. Dot went to the shops on her own but was back by the time I tuned in to the Norfolk Record Office family history (advanced) event, which was interesting, but not as interesting as the first one. I turned off my camera and ate lunch while it was on.
A number of parcels were delivered, including one which had me mystified until David texted me to say it was for Chrissy. I have now forwarded it to Canada, but I’m not sure any of the parcels I’ve sent to Canada have arrived yet. Also posted three UK parcels. Another long queue at post office. Afterwards I walked round and over the Julian bridge to get my steps up. Judy came round with presents for Compline group. We may have to be postmen for some of them. Des came round with groceries: he had been on Look East briefly the previous night, complaining about an anti-vac poster that had been put through our doors.
In the evening we watched a live streamed concert from St Albans Cathedral, which turned out to be very well done. Put on by an organisation called FANE. John Rutter conducting, about ten excellent singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – plus the chorister of the year. Afterwards we spoke to David on FaceTime about presents for Oliver.
Yesterday was warmer but quite wet for most of the day, though it desisted for our evening walk up to Delia’s Restaurant at Carrow Road. We posted cards on the way, and came back along the river, by which time it had started raining again. But we had had a lovely meal – Dot’s belated birthday meal – and so it didn’t seem to matter. The food was excellent (we both had sea bass, and I started with pate and ended with cheese. It was a bit of a risk, because I couldn’t avoid a fair amount of fat, but I risked it and am being careful the rest of the weekend.) When we got back we watched The Bourne Legacy, which was excellent of its kind. Earlier Eleanor had popped round to leave/pick up presents for/from the Compline group.
Also this week Dot has been making angels for church windows, I have finished the script for the Alternative Carol Service, and (most importantly) Oliver has had his Cambridge interview, which he says went well. They would be mad not to take him.