Last Monday was still quite cold but mainly dry. Walked up to church, but largely inconsequential talk. Dot picked me up at lunchtime, but we returned to hear Stuart talk about the history of Gildencroft, which was really interesting. Took Ray home – his leg is really bad – then did shopping at Morrisons. Dot did work in garden, then Kim called in on way home from station. She took my sermon away and raved about it later. Very encouraging. Spoke to Phil and changed arrangements for tomorrow. Watched Hotel Portofino and Harry Wild Investigates – the latter surprisingly good.
Tuesday was a grey day with occasional light rain. Very busy. Caught up with computer stuff on the morning. In the afternoon went to the chemist, who yet again failed to come up with my pills. Then on to pick up Phil, who had early supper with us (salmon) before a taxi took us up to the Theatre Royal for a performance of Girl from the North Country, an excellent production featuring many Bob Dylan songs. Sort of a birthday present for Phil. Afterwards I walked home to fetch car, then picked Dot and Phil up and took him home to Dereham. Then drove home, arriving just after 11.20pm. Believe we saw Northern Lights on way home.
Wednesday was another rather drab day, weatherwise. Dot spent much of day making food for tomorrow – she also went to Taize at church. I put Last Princess story on my website, played through some En Passant games, corrected some Paston letters and listened to a couple of videos on Covid vaccine. Also caught up with e-mails.
Thursday was chilly but dry. Overcast. Up fairly early to prepare for visit of Julia and Allan. I managed to put rota on diary and website. Very pleasant lunch created by Dot. Intended to go to buy her a new jacket when they left (3pm) but we’d both had a couple of glasses of wine without thinking; so cleared up instead and did packing. I went through another month of En Passant games as well as ordering some wine for next week. Earlier I went up to chemist’s to get my pills: again very slow. Don’t know what’s wrong with them. Watched end of 14 peaks documentary – very good – and two episodes of new series of Clarkson’s Farm.
Friday – cold with occasional light rain. Left home at about 9.30 and bought Dot a new jacket in Go Outdoors. The girl who advised her asked her if her name was Mrs Lenton: she had taught her at Tuckswood! Drove down Watton road then cut over to Thetford and the A11. Stopped briefly at Cambridge services for Dot to take over – she then drove as far as Leicester services on The M1, where we bought a sandwich each from Waitrose. I drove the rest of the way. Usual route via Ashbourne. Tired out when we arrived. Brief chat with Dave and Julia when they got back from town, then I slept briefly and had a bath. Drink in the bar and then supper – enjoyed it, but possibly not as good as it used to be. Fish and chips fine. All staff seemed to be new, and lots of people – mainly American – in the bar.
Saturday – Pretty cold, but dry and no wind. After a hearty breakfast we embarked for a visit to an old water mill at Styal in Cheshire. Some dispute between our hosts on how to get there, but we eventually made it, by a rather circuitous route, passing only about five miles from Anne Coomes’ house. After a coffee, we did a tour of the Apprentices’ House, which was superb, catching the right balance between modern horror at the conditions and the benefits for the workers at the time. Still, all based on slavery… Then went down for a look round the mill, which was again fascinating. Had something to eat and waited ages for tea/coffee, then the toilets were being cleaned… Still, just about time for a look at the water wheel, at the steam engines and straight up the huge chimney. We were given directions back to the car park by a woman with a dog; if only she had given us directions back to Buxton. After a further inter-Evetts dispute, I guided Dave back on to the route he wanted to take, which wasn’t the quickest. But we eventually got back to the hotel. Good ribeye but too much to drink afterwards. In bed too late.
Yesterday was cold but dry. No wind. Spent the day in Buxton. Various shops, cafes. Ended at antiques fair and another cup of tea, this time following chat with local. Walked home, very tired. Meal not great. Long chat afterwards, fixing dates for future meetings.
Today we had a wet start, still cold. Left first after breakfast and bought petrol at Morrisons, then found ourselves behind the Evetts. Followed them a while before they noticed / Dot texted them (not sure which came first). Eventually decided to follow them to this outlet village at junction 28 on the M1. Started on Marks & Spencer which raised boredom to new levels, but the drink and croissant at Costa was fine. Afterwards we split up (again) but kept running into each other. I bought a shirt in Barbours, and Dot got a Goodmove sweater at M & S and a top on my recommendation at Next. Liked Tommy Hilfinger, but didn’t buy anything. Hundred of young police officers floating around on a training exercise (I asked). They all looked school age.
Drove down to Coventry through rain, and I parked near Minster Lodge and walked over to hand them the picture back. Very odd situation. Old manager had been fired (apparently nothing to do with Andrew) and it was all pretty tense. Green-haired Chantelle was there and assured me that it was all to do with reorganisation (they had a new security door fitted). They had been very, very busy, which was why they hadn’t responded to my e-mails. Didn’t see any residents. Ah well. Drove to Old Mill at Baginton and booked in. Nice room.