Another weekend, and the weather is a slight improvement on yesterday, which was unremittingly awful: continuous rain, high winds, very dark skies. Happily we didn’t have to go out. I spent most of day writing five Parish Pump pieces and battling with tech problems. Word went haywire on my iMac and kept highlighting bits for no reason, then sticking on CAPS. I managed to switch to Dot’s old laptop, but for some reason Mail fell out as soon as it loaded and was unusable.
However, I managed to finish writing the Pump pieces there, and then sent them by text message to my iMac. Almost lost the document again there when it failed to save, but happily I had had the foresight to copy it first and was able to get it back. It has now gone to Anne. I hope it arrived. Parish Pump will probably end within a year, if not six months – so many churches cancelled their subscription during lockdown. Anne has done about 25 years; so she probably needs a break.
Meanwhile Dot was doing a meditation day with Jess online, which she really enjoyed. Afterwards we saw the end of Innocent, a four-day thriller on ITV which turned out to be very good indeed. Also listened to the end of a five-episode Radio 4 series on Bob Dylan, It ain’t me you’re looking for, which was pretty good, and another Radio 4 programme on his Christian period, which was even better.
Back to Tuesday. David FaceTimed us at lunchtime and unwrapped his wine table and one of the books. I transferred money to pay for some wine. Other things still on the way. We watched Motherland, and it started raining. Watched part of Jurnets poetry on Zoom, but the featured poet wasn’t particularly good.
Wednesday was mainly dry and sunny, but with occasional rain. Antibiotics failed to make an impact, which is quite annoying. I finished off a rough version of my next poetry book, which Dot has found a few problems with; so I shall be revising it. I went for a walk after lunch – posted my driving licence renewal application and wandered round the Rosary. Saw a deer, which took fright as I reached for my camera. Dot was writing up reports and letters to her heads; she got a really lovely response from Yarmouth yesterday.
Later Bridget came to clean, Dot went out for a walk and I watched a Paul Dickson tour on Heygo – from Pull’s Ferry to the Adam and Eve. Had Bridget’s fish cakes for supper. Dot went for a strings rehearsal at St Cuthbert’s, and I took grocery lists to Des, who would like to be prime minister. Promised him my backing. Depressingly, Liverpool won again, and Spurs lost, due entirely to two incredibly bad mistakes by their left back – one bizarre own goal and one giving the ball away.
On Thursday Dot Zoomed with Barbara: apparently they’re nearing the end of their p4c pack restructuring. Not a very pleasant day – frequent showers and becoming windy and cool. Walked up to Boots around 3pm, just after David FaceTimed to say another book had arrived, and picked up my new glasses. Walked back over Julian Bridge. In the evening Dot was picked up by Anne and they went up to Jarrolds for a special evening, including a meal. I cooked myself kipper, courgette and potato. Feeling very tired for some reason. But then I often am. Perhaps it’s my age.