It was very warm on Monday. I had a headache, and Dot was still coughing a lot. Nevertheless, life continued. Kim sent us a book via Amazon about Christianity and Covid. Had a reasonable night’s sleep. Tried to send pictures to Fred by text, but the technology didn’t work. Had lunch, then did a bit more gardening and put the bins out. Felt very tired and dozed on the couch while Dot did puzzles, then I walked to Morrisons via the track by the railway and met Dot, who came by car. Did a fair bit of shopping. Later we watched Vera and then England losing the fourth test to India – not very good, as we had won the toss and put them in to bat.
The Evetts rang halfway through Vera, and we updated each other medically. Dave seemed to be quite a bit better, but they have booked a January holiday in Barbados. They are mad. I mislaid the blood pressure monitor, which Dot needed as she has discontinued her blood pressure pills, suspecting it of causing her cough.
Tuesday was probably even warmer. Sunny too. Dot seemed quite a lot better. She found the blood pressure machine and has made several tests: marginally high, but nothing to speak of. We went for walk before lunch up to the cemetery, and I pretended to take a picture of a woman with dog (dogs are strictly forbidden in the Rosary), which to make it worse was chasing birds. She disappeared when workmen arrived.
I have read (partially skip-read) a book on Covid 19 that Kim lent us. It’s like the Great Pumpkin: I believe it! Had a rest while Dot went up to Dunelm to buy bath mats like the one Clarissa had and which impressed her by its quick-drying. Watched the first two episodes of The Chosen – very good indeed. David recommended Lupin when he FTd later, but we’re having problems with anything that needs Broadband. Had a long chat about his work. Watched the second episode of Silent Witness – quite good. Changed our hair appointment to fit in with going to Suffolk.
Wednesday was warm again. Spent quite a bit of time catching up on e-mails and fallout from them. Drove Dot up to garden centre, we bought a couple of things and then we we went for a walk in Harrison’s Wood.
Thursday was also warm. Entered some poems for a magazine and filmed myself in a hat reading two for a website (if accepted). Caught up on many e-mails again. Wrote a letter to Oliver and sent it with a card for his birthday. Then walked in the Rosary and a little way out the back. Meanwhile (in the morning) Dot went to see Anne and had quite a long walk. Des came round to ask about Dot’s hospital appointment and stayed for a chat. Also a few words with Mark. Watched two more episodes of The Chosen – brilliant. Then completed Deceit – about the Rachel Nickells murder at Wimbledon where police targeted the wrong man – Colin Stagg – and tried to trap him. Devastating for Stagg, who was cleared, but everyone thought he was guilty until another man confessed years later. Meanwhile the guilty man had been killing other women. Don’t you love the police? Had some twinges that I thought might be gall bladder, but in the end I decided it was gas. Oliver and Amy have said they will come up next weekend.
Yesterday was pleasantly warm in the morning – but there was some heavy rain and thunder in afternoon. Have managed to edit most of my photographs today. Dot and I walked up to the Bridewell Museum for noon, intending to look at the Nick Stone/Crome exhibition, but we also looked at a lot of other things in the museum – some of it very interesting. Had to wear masks and do Track and Trace – seemed archaic. Afterwards I went to the Exchange Street health shop, where no-one at all (staff or customers) were wearing masks. Ditto at the market, of course: we picked up some Victoria plums and some other things. The Rainbow whole food store, surprisingly, was all masked.
After a quick lunch Mike Read came round to look through my EEN chess columns and picked out a couple of games that he could use for En Passant. He also brought me an annotated Cubitt game that I had given him the bare score of. He had barely gone than Bridget arrived to do cleaning – after we gave her an extensive rundown on our Welsh holiday. While we were doing so there was a thunderstorm, but it had stopped by our scheduled Friday drinks time, though we were half an hour late after talking to Bridget. We were joined later by Tara, John’s girlfriend, who is Canadian, from Nova Scotia. We discussed residency / citizenship difficulties. After supper we watched a very interesting documentary on 9/11 – despite frequent buffering on iPlayer – and then a fifth episode of The Chosen, which continues to be brilliant.
Saturday was warm and dry. Colin and his son Jordan came to cut the hedge this morning – £150. While he was here, Paul came round for a cup of tea and stayed till after Colin went. The blind in the downstairs toilet broke, but I eventually fixed it with the aid of a video. Meanwhile both Spurs and Norwich lost (City losing 1-0 to Arsenal), and the Canaries are now firmly bottom of the table. They can’t create goals and can’t shoot.