This seems a long time ago, but late last Thursday (19th) I picked up Dot and Jaya from Greens, where they had been handbell-ringing – and drove Jaya home. Watched Marie Antoinette, which is pretty good. The Greens leave today (27th) for India. I do not envy them, except that it should be warmer.
Last Friday was still very cold, with some rain. Quite unpleasant, really. Dot’s DSSO school interview was cancelled via phone at 7.45; so Linda came earlier to do our hair. Had time for a bath afterwards before Phil arrived to take me to the funeral director’s, where I paid £4000 deposit for the funeral and saw Andrew’s body. Strange experience. Long time since the three of us had been together. Wrote a poem about it later.
Phil came back for cup of tea just as the plumber (Evan) arrived to fit a new shower pump. This one seemed to work ok – and no extra charge! Message from Joy that meeting had been arranged at Eckling Grange next Tuesday with Surrey Chapel reps re funeral service. Managed to write a Parish Pump article on Christopher Wren, then went to Cake and Compline at Claire’s. Got a lift from Phil Kerrison: Jude and Eleanor went with Dot. Afterwards watched Death in Paradise.
Saturday was cold. What’s new? Up fairly late – watched Norwich beat Coventry 4-2 away on NOW Tv, on my iPad – couldn’t get it on television.(Oliver was there, but we didn’t see him.) I felt very tired afterwards and lay down for a while. Dot wrote prayers for tomorrow after having a long conversation with Carrie on the phone. Practised hymns. Watched walking programmes. Des and Chris came over for drinks for a couple of hours, which was very nice. Then started watching Bank of Dave on Netflix. David FTd us and we had quite a long chat, partly about the funeral. He said he might come over!
Sunday was bright but very cold. Windscreens bad. Drove to church and played guitar. Pretty cold in church. Good sermon from Graham on unity as opposed to uniformity. Played one of my songs in Communion (All will be well) and got some good response. Also to Dot’s prayers. I felt pretty cold all day. Dot reorganised the airing cupboard and her room – great job. Watched a bit of football but not much else.
In the evening drove on my own to Lowestoft for Seagull poetry. About a dozen of us. Got complements from Sue and others about my poetry book: Lynne said she had a copy by her bed! Read two new poems – Unfinished and Last Men Standing, plus four from my book: the fish dock one, Anne Boleyn’s Window (which Sue said made her cry), Liturgy and Failing Fire. Late finish: got home about 10.40pm despite clear run.
Monday was busy. Cold night, but up a few degrees during the day. Dot dropped me at church. Had interesting Bible study /conversation with Judy and Steve. When Dot picked me up we dropped stuff at dry cleaners, then did a massive shop at Morrisons – £150. Still, we were about to run out of just about everything. Dot also picked up pills – went to chemists twice because they “didn’t have time” to check them first time. Also got eye drops from pharmacist for her red eyes. I cleared up leaves – pretty tiring – and we watched the first episode of Silent Witness, which is getting a bit obsessed with a side character who does sign language. Other than that, good as usual. After supper I finished off my address for Andrew’s funeral, then watched an early Transatlantic Sessions. Amusing how young they all look – some almost unrecognisable. Guest appearance by Rufus Wainwright, who looked about 12, if that.
Tuesday was slightly less cold; quite pleasant in fact, but still a bit icy between Lenwade and North Tuddenham. Drove to Dereham to meet Andy Rees, pastor of ex-Surrey Chapel, and discuss forthcoming funeral. Nice bloke, but he left his coat behind. We took it with us and I returned it to his house in the evening. Spent quite a long time with Dot looking at pictures and discussing frames. Later watched Silent Witness and Call the Midwife, which was a bit mawkish. Ended the evening with Detectorists, which is brilliant. Wrote second one of three Parish Pump pieces.
Miserable weather again on Wednesday. Misty, damp and cold, with the bonus of actual rain in the late afternoon and early evening. Have managed to put together an order of service for Andrew’s funeral, and finished Parish Pump articles. Dot went to Taize at church, and I picked her up and we took several pictures to get framed. Quite expensive, but they’ll be well done. David FTd while Dot was at orchestra, partly to discuss his bank card. Lots of snow and wind in Waterloo, but everyone is well. Geoff Jary has died, and so have Jane Flatt and Linda Brady, commonly known as Brady. Both the latter worked at Prospect House. Watched Happy Valley, which is tense. Me too.
Yesterday we both woke up very late. I was still in the bath when Dot went into the city, partly to check about funeral food at M&S and partly to buy some boots. I had a phone call from the funeral director about order of service and established that Phil and Joy wouldn’t need a limousine. Later spoke to Jenny Baxi on the phone about the funeral – they hadn’t seen a text message I’d sent a few days ago. Death notice in Coventry Telegraph yesterday (can be viewed online).
Finished Phantastes, an amazing book like nothing I’ve read before. Really deep fairy tale, praised by C S Lewis. Dot arrived home with Nikki, who she’d bumped into, and we/they spend a long time talking about how she was feeling about the future. During this Bridget arrived and did the cleaning. Posted a letter to Jenny Baxi and a card to Debbie Sands from Dot (Debbie’s husband Neil died recently). Felt very tired for some reason and went to bed early, but not before watching a couple of episodes of Bad Sisters on Apple TV, and Marie Antoinette on BBC. Former outshone the latter, despite what I said at the beginning.