Spent most of the day on Wednesday writing four Parish Pump pieces – on Sir Walter Scott, the first ascent of Ben Nevis, the Calcutta Killing and the 1931 India floods that nobody remembers. Quite warm. Dot went to Jarrolds to have her lip wax, and I posted my poetry book to Rebecca. Then we walked to Jude’s for wine and nibbles – first in the garden and then indoors. Amazing furniture. Lovely nibbles, too, mainly fishy. Talked till about 10pm, then I watched Death in Paradise while Dot went to sleep (unintentionally).
Thursday was cooler, with spots of rain in the afternoon. Spent most of the day writing my sermon and choosing hymns, then edited some pix, did the next rota and read some newspapers that had piled up. Bridget came to clean while Dot was at the Garden Centre. Had a chat with Des and Chris while delivering EDPs to them. Decided not to go to licensing rehearsal at St Luke’s – partly because we had left supper late and partly because we weren’t sure what we would be rehearsing and didn’t fancy two hours in masks. Don’t think there many there from St Augustine’s.
Watched a bit of T20 v Sri Lanka, but it was rain affected and boring, because it was live instead of highlights. At the end we couldn’t turn it off because of a technical glitch. Earlier we watched the penultimate episode of Before We Die, which sounded appropriate. Philip Robinson is in hospital again with a severe skin disorder – they can’t quite work out what, though today (Saturday), they seem s bit nearer tracking it down. David FaceTimed – he’s had his second jab and is feeling a bit drowsy.
Earlier in the day my keyboard broke – it wouldn’t print e. I found David’s old keyboard with a USB connection, and it works fine. Still getting used to the Delete Forward key.
A damp start yesterday, and I woke early. We walked to the Maids Head through threatening skies and the occasional raindrop for CNS reunion day. It was the 60th year since we left the fifth form. Good lunch. Spoke to Fred and Sue, the Gartons, Richard and Louise Percival, Neville and Mary Thrower, Adrian and Jane, Tony and Doreen, the Houseagos and several others. Tony gave a talk on his history (too fast) and Adrian almost showed a film on retracing the steps of his father’s escape from Poland, but was thwarted by technical problems. In the end we tuned into it on YouTube, and it was excellent. I took four of my poetry books and gave one to the Houseagos, Tony, Neville and Fred (who lost it). On arriving home, we found the usual suspects drinking wine in the street, and we joined in. it was by then warm and very pleasant. Felt very tired at the end of the day.
Today has been quite warm after grey start. Dot dropped me quite near Phil’s (not near enough, but I miscalculated), while she went to the Garden Centre and supermarket, and Phil and I had a chat for over an hour: he seems much better, though he has to be tested continually to see if the bladder cancer (the least aggressive type) remains gone. The Parkinson’s is not too bad. Walked home via city centre and bought acidophilus and eye treatment, though my eyes have been OK for the last few days. After lunch I rang Ray, who can’t see out of his left eye following his operation. It might take 2-8 weeks… Cleared up the kitchen while Dot prepared prayers, and Des put some cuttings in our brown bin.