Dot has just departed for Hickling school, and I’m waiting for Andrew, the cooker repair man. Bit annoying, as otherwise I would have gone to Hickling with Dot, but it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Cookers are important.
Looking back, last Friday, March 4, was good for Norfolk. We were dry till quite late, while the rest of the country was wet. Dot went to Taverham school in the morning. Then she was busy on the computer, trying to fix up a knee appointment with a physio, and changing the date for meal with the Throwers, among other things. I got a call from Tracy at the hospital offering appointments for my gall bladder operation, but I asked about a scan first, and she said she’d get a clinician to ring me. So that’s probably gone for a burton. A clinician hasn’t rung, of course.
Out for our usual drink in the evening: Mary, Bob and Ciara came out; Des and Chris off to Madeira on Sunday. I scanned a covid pass for them. We think we saw the end of The Holiday, but if so it was an appalling ending: but then the rest of it was pretty bad too. Everybody was so bad-tempered and melodramatic that you wanted to punch them all in the mouth. Dot and I both signed up for cancer research.
Saturday was a messy day. Drizzle/light rain throughout and becoming very cold towards evening. Started feeling very down because of the operation issue, but got over it. Dot’s knee is still bad; so I drove her to Carrow Road through a fair amount of traffic, just in time for her to meet Jonathan and Naomi. Then I drove home and walked back, managing to arrive before the game started. Pretty awful game, with City on the wrong end of all the decisions, conceding two penalties, both of which were iffy, and in the end they lost 3-1. Loads of people left early, when we were 3-0 down, including Jonathan and Naomi.
Apparently Lucy is quite ill, and Naomi has to give her internal antibiotics three times a day. She should really be in the hospital but won’t stay there, sadly for N. Walked slowly home with Dot and got really cold. Then the cooker broke halfway through cooking a guinea fowl. Switched it to the other oven, and it was delicious. In the middle of all that Amy FaceTimed us. We had to get back to her – she asked if she could come to see us on April 6, and of course we said yes. Her mum will drop her off.
Sunday’s weather was mixed, but mainly OK, though there were a couple of very wintry showers. Went to church in the morning. Service rather spoilt by reversion to Covid fears, spacing chairs out and opening window. Got a bit angry about it. Cheered by newcomers Nicky and Alison. Also Nic Golding came, which was nice. Had our main meal at lunchtime, a few stomach twinges (too much fat?) but improved. Amazon parcel arrived, and Des left his key: they were staying at Stansted for the night. I went to Lowestoft for a revived Seagull session: Dot stayed at home to rest her leg. Carrie came round while I was out and had a talk with her. The Seagull went very well. About 15 there, including Lynne, Kaaren and Sue. Ivor did a very good funny song on accordion: Ethel from the Bethel. I did five poems including one I wrote that morning (Dream). Drove through Loddon on the way home to avoid road works.
On Monday there was quite a bit of sun, but it was chilly in the shadows. Finished rota and sent it out. Went to Morrisons and spent well over £100 stocking up. Also filled up with petrol. Kim came round at 2.30pm and stayed till nearly 7pm. Brought cakes and sweets. Dot made scones (yesterday) – delicious. Good conversation with Kim, who is very encouraging until she gets on to the subject of the new world order. After evening meal we read the Lent psalm etc and watched another episode of No Return, which is rather depressing. But if you will go on holiday to Turkey, what do you expect?
Yesterday was sunny, but with a very cold wind Dot went to Alpington in the morning: traffic was very bad because of road works in King Street combined with everything else. Planners sadly have only half a brain and don’t connect how one restriction could affect others. I managed to edit Margaret Paston’s will, which was not as bad as I thought it might be. In the afternoon walked to the Rosary in an icy wind. Rearranged flowers. Then booked Andrew to do the cooker tomorrow after stumbling across his last visit in this blog. Finished watching No Return, which wasn’t too bad. Also saw most of a film called Misbehaviour, about Women’s Lib and Miss World, which was pretty well done.