Still here, though at times it seems hard to register the fact. This might mean I have mental health issues, because most people seem to nowadays, but in fact I think it’s just the temporary effect of having my movements restricted. Bit like being in Moscow, post-revolution, or in East Berlin when the Wall was up. These two examples spring to mind because I’m reading an excellent book called A Gentleman in Moscow and have just started watching a very good TV series called Deutschland 1989.
At least I’m not in hospital. Our friend Harriet was in with a heart attack this last week, but is now out with a stent. Dot and I are both more or less OK, though the appalling weather yesterday didn’t help: it was raining hard most of the day, and cold and windy too. Today the sky is a little brighter, but it’s still very windy, and the rain isn’t far away. I’m still waiting for my voluntary covid test pack, and can’t log into the Boots site to fix the eye test they want me to have.
It’s no wonder I’ve taken to watching old films. This week we saw Brighton Rock, based on the Graham Greene book, and featuring Richard Attenborough as a 17-year-old who looked about 35. I guess people aged faster in those days. Good fit, if you can forgive the lack of subtlety, and an excellent ending. But then Graham Greene was a brilliant writer. Last night we watched In the Loop, a sort of sequel to the TV series The Thick of It, which was scintillating but depressing, and not just because of the continual cursing. No, I know it’s not an old film.
Last Friday was Doreen’s birthday, and the day Oliver had his vaccination. He seems to have had no side-effects. Both grandchildren are of course back at school now. Dot was busy recording music and having a Zoom meeting with one of her head teachers; otherwise we would have gone to North Walsham. Instead we went the next day. I was a bit nervous, because it was neither local nor essential, strictly speaking, but of course we posed no threat to anyone. We called at Sainsbury’s in NW and then went to the cemetery to place flowers. Beautifully sunny and calm. On the way home we had a look at the bungalow Roger and Debbie are buying in Spenser Avenue, close to the high school, and then put some flowers on Mum and Dad’s grave. Dot walked home from there.
In the afternoon we watched Norwich beat Luton 3-0 to go ten points clear at the top of the table. David and Chrissy FaceTimed to show us their new furniture – donated to them by Barbara and Roger, who are having a major refit. The next day Spurs won 4-1; so a good weekend, football-wise.
On Sunday, as well as our Zoom service, we watched The Godfather, which we had never seen. Very long film, but extremely good, and we really enjoyed it. On Monday Dot had a long Zoom with Barbara Vidion about expanding the P4C material for use online, and in the afternoon, although it was raining slightly, we fulfilled an appointment with Janet Bower, who was on one of her expeditions into the city (she lives in the wilds of Taverham). We met her at Pull’s Ferry and then walked her up to the Rosary, which she was keen to see. We gave her a kind of guided tour in less than ideal conditions, but she seemed to enjoy it. I think we got more (general) information from her than we imparted ourselves. I was very tired by the time we reached our house, and of course we couldn’t invite her in; so Dot accompanied her back to the Close, where her car was parked.
Afterwards we watched a lot of TV. I sent some poems to the Suffolk Poetry Society magazine. Don’t know if they’ll publish them. I’ve been writing a lot recently, partly because as part of Lent I’ve been trying to compose something every day after we read a Psalm together and pray. This seems to prompt other poems too.
On Tuesday the weather was still fairly spring-like, and again the milk was either not delivered or stolen from the step. I suspect the latter: it happened again today, and I think we’ll have to cancel deliveries. Pity. I did think of doubling our order and seeing if the thief would take one bottle and leave us the other, but Dot is not keen on this idea. She cleaned up the utility room while I did the charity money, and after lunch we walked to the sorting office and then round to Morrisons, mainly to buy some birthday cards. It’s Phil’s birthday tomorrow – which means that today is the day my mother died, and Saturday is the day my father died.
Dot extended her walk to King Street, buying a take-away coffee and drinking it on a seat by the Julian bridge while I walked straight home, still tired from the day before. As well as Brighton Rock, we watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a Narnia story that was very well done indeed. Highly recommended.
Yesterday, as I said, winter returned, and I did the lowest number of steps I’ve done for a long time. Obviously we didn’t leave the house. Roger and Debbie dropped in so that we could sign their wills: it was nice to see them. In the afternoon we did a Virtual Tour of Elm Hill, Tombland and the Cathedral led by a very soggy Paul Dickson. Brave of him to go ahead with it. Later David and Chrissy FaceTimed us; they seemed happy. In the evening we watched the latest episode of The Terror, based on Franklin’s expedition to find (or not find) the North-West passage. I suspect it’s not very good, really.
Dot has just taken advantage of a sunny interval to walk up to the sorting office to post a letter. I am staying in in case Des delivers our groceries, but intend to go out later, unless the weather deteriorates.