Quite windy recently – especially elsewhere in the country, where people died last Saturday when trees fell. Not so cold, though. I walked up to the Rosary and put some flowers on the family graves, hoping they wouldn’t blow away. The flowers, not the graves. Walked home via Rosary Road to check signage at the bottom. Idiotically it says Rosary Road is not a through route (CCTV) and access only, but if you’re coming down from the roundabout there’s nowhere else to go! Complete idiocy.
Rewrote part of m sermon (I was still not sure about it) and caught up on e-mails, as well as sending out the final rota. Late in the afternoon Dot walked up to Morrisons, and I drove up later to bring back shopping so that she could walk home. Watched Lucky Jim, which was pretty funny, then the final two episodes of Hidden Assets, which was brilliant. Dot’s Mum’s birthday: she would have been 102. David contacted Dot to make sure she was all right – very thoughtful. I’ve finished reading the Cohen book, which was fascinating, although I’m not sure the author quite “gets” Christianity.
Sunday was cold, but there was some sun. Went to church and preached as well as playing guitar (during the latter I cut my finger, which made me feel like an old blues man, which is probably what I am). Preached a sermon on fear that had been bothering me all week (the sermon, not fear), because part of it was anti-mask, but to my astonishment no-one was wearing a mask in church today. The sermon worked out well, and everyone seemed to like it – or the ones that didn’t kept quiet.
After lunch Dot walked to Boots and bought a couple of things while I cleared up generally. We then spent some time at our computers. I wrote to one of our councillors complaining about the mess that is the roadworks on Riverside. Also wrote a piece for my website and included a fairly new poem. Unexpectedly we booked a holiday in Malt Cottage at Snape in June, partly so that we could go to a couple of concerts. Only one seat left for one (Nicola Benedetti); so Dot is going. Carrie rang to say someone who was at church for the first time really liked my sermon. Chuffed.
On Monday there was a very cold wind, but it was dry. Strong NW wind and high tides resulted in beach losses at Hemsby and Winterton; flooding at Lowestoft. Finished Graham Bradshaw’s book in bed this morning – interesting in that it reminded me of the Acton Gazette, and of a dream I had a long time ago centred on a newspaper office rather like the Gazette but situated where the old Norwich Central Library was. Bizarre. Caught up with quite a lot of stuff on the computer (again) while Dot went to Morrisons to buy food for tomorrow night, when we’re having people round. Later did some updating to my Princess story. FaceTimed with David as he drove back from the farm shop (Chrissy holding phone). Watched second episode of Trigger Point, which was so tense I went to sleep. Then a Storyville on Germans looking back at life as or with Nazis. Quite revealing.
Yesterday was warmer, but it was still windy. Drove down to the Town House, where Archant pensioners now meet, and had tea and – because of a misunderstanding – a small fried breakfast and then a bacon wrap. Bit much. Robin (now 90) and Shelagh were there, but not David, Bill or Brian and Tricia. Spoke to John Thompson, one of the printers, quite a bit. Was reminded that Archant is now for sale again, and Prospect House is a shadow of its glory days. Very sad. Dot walked up to Cary’s Meadow, where I picked her up. We skipped lunch.
David and Bridget, and Judy, came for evening meal, and Dot did an excellent repast – carrot and watercress in an orange sauce with halloumi; then salmon and spinach tart; then pavlova. I was invited to get a new DSB certificate and filled out a form by ticking “no” several times and then signing it. Rigorous stuff, and a complete waste of time IMHO, especially as I had to print off the document and deliver it to Bishop’s House (haven’t done that yet).