Saturday the 12th was quite a pleasant day: mild with some sun. We walked to Julian Church by 10.30 – passing Mary and Bob on the way – for a Julian meditation session led by Robert Fruewirth. Readings, talks and a bit of a response in writing. Quite good, but the church was very cold because the heating was broken. Also present were Howard, Jenny, Frances (wife of Sillars viola player) and Debbie Sands. Had a break for lunch (self-provided) up in the new Julian Centre.
At 2pm Dot and I walked to Carrow Road for the match against Middlesbrough (lost rather unluckily 2-1). Dot went in while I waited to deliver tickets to Jonathan and Naomi. The latter has just moved to 70 Ketts Hill. Then back home, cleared up etc. After evening meal we watched a couple of episodes of The Crown. I went to sleep during the second one. Then the Championship football.
The weather was quite reasonable again on Sunday. Church in the morning for Remembrance service led by Graham. Went well. Afterwards had a discussion with Anna and Sonia about Phyllis, who died yesterday. Anna and I are executors. She has left some money to the church. Sylvia Ford, David’s old head teacher, is her niece. After lunch Kim came round for tea and cake, then stayed for a meal in the evening, leaving about 9pm. Long chat about vaccinations and climate, among many other things.
Monday was fairly mild most of the day. Dot dropped me at church. Almost no one came; so Judy and I sorted out drawers. Interesting. Dot came towards the end. She took me home for a bite, then dropped me off in Sussex Street and gave Steve a lift to Bowthorpe while I went to the undertaker’s with Anna. Long discussion about funeral arrangements, fixed date, then went to Phyllis’s house to see if she had any suitable pictures for the order of service. Didn’t, but I found one at home later.
At home I rang Sylvia Ford to check on arrangements. She seemed quite happy. Still a lot to do. In the evening we watched an episode of Rogue SAS and three episodes of The Crown. Portrayal of the Queen was not very sympathetic. Oliver texted to see if we could meet for a birthday meal.
Tuesday was miserably grey and wet. Dot spent most of it preparing for the visit of Mary and Neville in the evening. I wrote up Phyllis’s biog and contacted the solicitor re probate. Also caught up on loads of e-mails. Arranged visit to Coventry to have meal with Oliver. Judy left car outside – arrived when I was in bath, and Dot didn’t hear bell; so had to get out and speak to her from the window. Put a permit in her car, then got back in bath.
Car-juggling was all in vain: Judy arrived back before the Throwers arrived, and they came in a taxi anyway. Dot did a lovely meal, featuring very interesting starter, then fish pie and pavlova. Nice evening, but Neville very edgy about taxi arrival; showed them a few pictures of Canada. Watched another episode of The Crown: Diana’s interview.
More rain on Wednesday – much of it heavy. Went to North Walsham after buying flowers at Morrisons and filling up with petrol. Dot put flowers on graves in quite heavy rain; then we went to Roger and Debbie’s for lunch, which was really nice. When we got home Amy rang to say she’d had an offer from UEA, and while we were talking to her she got another offer – from Nottingham! She was quite excited. Apparently Vicky is improving slightly too. In the evening Dot went to orchestra while I read some of Keiron’s book and put the rota together. Piece about Darsha appeared in the paper: Carrie not too happy with it because of a couple of minor inaccuracies. Watched another episode of The Crown.
Thursday – rain again. Dark sky all day. Got quite a lot done: wrote a piece for website on Surrey Chapel’s change of name, then added a poem prompted by a visit to the Rosary the other day. Completed the rota for church and chose hymns , but didn’t make an awful lot of progress on my sermon. Watched a video on world government sent to me by Kim – a curious mixture of various types of insanity; so probably true. Is Joe Biden really Joe Biden? A strange question, but interesting evidence.
An e-mail from Phil revealed that he’s not at all well and fears he may have prostate cancer: Joy is not too good either. Meanwhile Dot was having a very busy and frustrating day: she went to Tasburgh school and couldn’t get in because no one was manning reception – then found the head was actually at Saxlingham. Went for cup of tea before her next appointment and dropped cream on her (black) trousers – had to wash it off in loo. Then went to Cringleford for Ofsted feedback and had to wait a fair time.
On the way home she was delayed by traffic entering city for Christmas lights switch-on. After supper i drove her to the Greens’ for handbell ringing. David FTd just before she went, then again after he’d read my website stuff. Had very interesting chat about times past and how we thought about them, the interlinking of time and space and so on. Finished just as Dot got home. We watched University Challenge before going to bed.