It’s Monday, reasonably warm, and less than a week to go to my operation, assuming I don’t get another phone call… It’s slightly cloudy, and I’m trying to catch up. Just had a good session at church with a slightly reduced number, but Nikki and Leanne were both there, as was Phil; so all went well until Phil’s dog picked up ticks and he had to rush off. (The dog was with his wife at the time.) Carrie is in Leeds, and Graham may or may not be at the General Synod.

Last Wednesday was warm but overcast, with rain in the evening when I went to meet Dot from orchestra: Janet dropped her on Rosary Road as usual. In the morning Dot went to see Anne, who was worried about her husband, while I did quite a lot of preparation on the retreat I’m leading in three weeks’ time. In the afternoon Dot went into the city to have her feet done and bought a new top. Kim had been hoping to come over but has had a migraine for two days. Watched some Wimbledon: Radicanu  and Murray both lost. 

Thursday was mainly overcast, with some heavy rain in early evening. Quite mild. Left for Blakeney just after 2pm and after an amazingly trouble-free journey arrived at the Manor Hotel just before 3pm. Unpacked and met Julia and Dave, then went to the Two Magpies for tea and donut. Afterwards checked in at Blakeney Cottages about accommodation at the end of August. Good meal – steak and kidney pie ++ – then Dot and I walked out by quayside and got some quite reasonable photos. 

Mixed weather on Friday – warm sunshine with some dark clouds and occasional light showers. Drove to Wells, originally intending to get the bus to Holkham and walk back. But it started raining as we waited and so we decided to start with coffee in the Maltings, then walk up to the beach (over a mile), where we had lunch. Walked over by the new lifeboat station (still under construction) to view the beach – tide on the way out. Saw a couple of oystercatchers and a curlew.

Walked back to the town, stopping a couple of times for a rest, then drove back to Blakeney. (We’d parked in a new car park at Wells). Dot and I walked up to try to find a cottage which we’d talked to Blakeney Cottages about, but couldn’t track it down. On the way back caught the BC woman as she was leaving, and she told us how to find it. However, we later decided to go for the other option, in the centre of the village. Nice meal again – I had fish and chips and was so full I couldn’t eat a sweet. Exhausted.

For the second night in succession I woke around dawn (and several other times – previous night was worse). But Saturday was bright sunshine as we got up and packed. Later windy but quite warm: cloudy. Rain in late evening. Did nearly all the packing before breakfast, then went up to Blakeney Cottages and booked High Tides for the end of August, when the grandchildren are coming up. This is an apartment over the BC office, with great views and a price tag to match.

Back to the hotel to meet Dave and Julia, and we all walked to Morston – hard going; I don’t think its an exaggeration to say I could have done it in half the time. On arrival found the Anchor was shut “for a few weeks”, so decided to go back to the Two Magpies in Blakeney  for lunch. Coasthopper bus happened along at just the right time. After alighting we looked at old cars in the bright new Blakeney Garage, and then Dot and I went and looked at the other cottage we’d considered. We made the right choice.

Met D & E back in the Two Magpies and had lunch – too soon after breakfast really. Afterwards sat on the bench outside for a while. A group of runners arrived by coach. One of them told me they were running from Blakeney to Snettisham, which is about marathon distance. Decided not to join them and drove home, arriving about 2.15pm. Unpacked and tidied up, practised hymns. Then drove to Attleborough for concert in the church, which was excellent. Sillars orchestra and the church choir. Bridget and David were there; also Neville (and Mary with a new clarinet); and Angela and Rodney. Afterwards it was raining. I drove home without lights (until we reached Norwich). A11 not too bad really. Watched a bit of Tour de France.    

Sunday was another long day. Dry, but plenty of cloud. A few drops of rain in the evening. Led church service, which seemed to go well. New woman called Hilary joined us, but she didn’t hang around afterwards. Perhaps she was a diocesan spy? Howard absent because of chaotic church accounts, by which he is slowly being driven to distraction. Carrie preached – good but a bit long. After lunch we walked up to Cow Tower to watch a Crude Apache play on the fisher girls of Lowestoft: excellent except for unnecessary  dismissive comments about prayer.  One or two idiots brought dogs, one of which barked at every passing mongrel, of which there were plenty.

Watched a little bit of Wimbledon, some cricket, then prepared poems for the evening and made supper – duck a l’orange – during which David FTd. Then rushed off to Lowestoft for a Seagull poetry session. Read five poems – three from my new book – and sold four copies! Spoke to Lynne, who had some esoteric advice on whether to have the operation or not – plus Sue, Kaaren, Pat, Ivor, Peter Charmian and of course Ian. Easy journey back. Had several messages from people who thought I was having the operation that day.