Wednesday (2 Feb) was dry and coldish. Anne came round and Dot went for a walk with her while I translated a rather complicated Paston letter from Peter’s version of modern English into mine. Hard going. Philip R is in a bad way, and Anne is wilting a bit under the strain – unsurprisingly. In the afternoon we went to the cinema to see Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast. Very well done in black and white, with great performances by everyone, but the boy and his mother in particular. Cinema was very cold: they apologised, but we endured.
Des’s reiteration of my letter about the unnecessarily closed lanes of traffic got a response: they reopened them. Amazing. in the evening Dot went to orchestra, and I put together some stuff about my experience as an AWA so that I can do it for another three years. Typical C of E bureaucracy. Watched another episode of The Responder, but have to admit I find the consistent blasphemy offensive. And I’m not easily offended.
Thursday was a bit milder, but with a chilly wind. Had blood test in the morning from a very chatty and likeable nurse. Apparently they’re testing for just about everything. Did all the charity giving, and after lunch we walked to the Bishop’s House, where I posted my DNS form through the office letterbox. Walked home along the riverside path. In the evening Paul came for meal. I cooked chilli, and Dot did rhubarb soufflé. Had a good relaxing chat, and after he left we watched Screw, which continues to be excellent. Earlier watched the last episode of The Responder, which was very good. Pity about the language….
Friday was very wet at first, but by the time we went up to the church hall to practise with Matt and Phil, it had stopped, though there was still a chilly wind. Played the hymns for Sunday and some ceilidhs. Put together some more retailed stuff for AWA renewal on my iPad, then lost it – spent ages trying to find it, then it popped up from somewhere; so I copied it and put it in my Notes. Wish I could work out how Word works on iPad. Watched an old film, The Big Steal, which was good, then The Bay and Death in Paradise, two very good series.
Saturday was cool and windy. Went food shopping at Morrisons in the morning, after which Dot did a roundabout walk home, and I picked up my cold-weather jacket with a mended zip from Dickson’s at Hellesdon, an excellent shop. Dot and I arrived home at the same time! Half-prepared hymns for tomorrow. Norwich beat Wolves 1-0 away in the Cup – bit of a surprise. Watched a programme about the Dordogne river and two episodes of The Teacher. Bed late. Hymn books bought from ebay with £20 gift from Chris Denton have all arrived.
Yesterday started off windy with heavy rain, but the latter relented by the time we went to church. Had to park down Chatham Street. Congregation of 21 – two new people. Liz led and Carrie “preached”: I did the prayers. Spent a bit of time afterwards talking to Graham’s mother Sian, who has a lovely Welsh accent. Later watched some winter Olympics, interrupted by FaceTime with Andrew, assisted by Jade. He had just woken up at 3pm! Later watched some football and rugby and the two final episodes of The Teacher, starring Sheridan Smith. Quite tense, but some of the motivation didn’t really work and the ending was poor. David FaceTimed – had long conversation about government, political decisions etc. Trying to persuade him to write a book.