On Thursday Dot spent all morning preparing for the visit of Sue and Roger, who arrived about noon. Weather wasn’t cold, but not very exciting either. Dot did quite a complicated but very nice meal – fish curry, among other things – and we had excellent conversation. After we told them about Maryta, we found they had been told the same things by someone completely different – we think the GP that the Hendersons know. Small world!
Bridget came to clean before the Eagles went and did the washing up! Great planning, or it would have been if we’d planned it. The TV went wrong in the evening: we could watch things like Netflix but not regular terrestrial TV, except on the direct channel which ignores the BT box. Means we couldn’t arrange recording of anything, but it seemed the box was recording, because the red light came on. We managed to catch Dalgleish live.
Next day I fixed the TV box after going online and doing a factory reset. All seems to be well. Mixed weather – quite a bit of rain, but I managed to get in a walk to the Rosary while Dot was visiting a school at Long Stratton in the afternoon. I’ve also got the outline of the Alternative Carol Service prepared. Had our 5.30 drinks with Mark, Des and Chris. Lot of political talk but no blows struck. After HF meal watched England beat Albania 5-0 and then the second episode of Dalgleish. Excellent.
Saturday was very grey at first with drizzle, becoming lighter and drier as we drove to Aylesbury. Stopped at Caxton GIbbet (tight parking) for tea/coffee, and swapped drivers. I drove the rest of the way. Arrived slightly early and had lunch with Amy and Oliver, who has finished his quarantine and is returning to Warwick tomorrow. (He didn’t get Covid). Vicky and Matt arrived afterwards, and we had a chat. Left about 4.20pm and drove pretty much in the dark to our hotel in Baginton, arriving around 5.45. Checked in and had pre-booked meal at 6.30pm. Very slow service but friendly. Food quite good. Watched film – Fallen Angel – an action thriller that was pretty good of its kind.
Sunday was Remembrance Sunday. Had a rather too large breakfast, including scrambled eggs. After breakfast (extra £15.98) we drove to Minster Lodge after avoiding traffic/parking jam outside Memorial Park, where there was clearly going to be a memorial service, as I should have realised. Andrew seemed pretty good: we showed him how to use his DVD player, but I doubt the information stuck. We had to take a lateral flow test, but it wasn’t very rigorous. Drove home, stopping at Cambridge Services Costa for snack. Arrived home about 3.30, feeling very tired. Watched last episode of Angela Black – not bad, but could have been better. David FTd: he has had confirmation of his residency and is now planning to get other things, like library card, driving licence etc. Another greyish day.
Yesterday saw more pretty nondescript weather. Dot went to a couple of schools in the morning – Tasburgh and Saxlingham – and got back late for lunch. I cleared up quite a lot of leaves, but there are still a lot on the ground. I rearranged the Christmas Cake and Compline because Claire, rather predictably, couldn’t make the arranged date. In the evening we watched England beat San Marino 10-0 and earlier watched Lewis Hamilton drive superbly to win the São Paulo Grand Prix.