Sunday – quite bright; cool wind. Dry. Dot and I both went to Alternative Carol Service, which felt odd because I wasn’t in charge: I’d been organising it all this century! This time Graham had taken it over because I had been expecting to be recovering from an operation. I did one or two bits – introduction and final prayers and one other “angel” section, as well as playing guitar. Went quite well, though in a different style. Nibbles afterwards: spoke to several people, including Jim, who came up from Halesworth. Took Ray home afterwards. Spent rest of day catching up with various things, sorting out presents and writing blog, sending quotes to grandchildren, etc. Watched a bit of TV, including a couple of episodes of The Crown. Des came over and borrowed my air rifle.
Monday was quite pleasant. Up earlyish to greet the gas man, who was due any time after 10 and before 2. Needless to say he didn’t arrive at 10; so I got on with some cards. Dot went to post parcels. Gas man arrived about 12.15, roughly at the same time as Linda came to cut our hair. By this time I had just about finished ironing out all the wrinkles in our electronic Christmas letter, and had had a phone call from Dr Hampsheir, responding to my e-consult on Saturday. Let him know what was happening, and he said he would leave a “token” at reception in case I have to use it to get my medicine from elsewhere if the chemist fails again.
What actually happened: I went to the chemist at about 2.20pm and after waiting for about a quarter of an hour at the end of a seven-person queue while nothing perceptible happened, I drove to the surgery. The receptionist couldn’t find the token, but went away for about five minutes, then returned and said her colleague was sorting it out. Her colleague came back a few minutes later with a prescription, which I took to the chemist next door. They said they couldn’t handle it unless I contacted the other chemist, so that it could be returned to the “spine” first. That was clearly absurd so I went back to the surgery, where the receptionist disappeared again. Eventually Dr Hampsheir came out and took me with him to the chemist, who said the same thing. So Dr H left me there and went away, returning a short time later with a new prescription naming the chemist next door as my pharmacist. I said that suited me fine. Eventually they let me have the pills.
I now have a new pharmacist. I think. I definitely have the pills, I have my hair cut, and the radiators seem to be working. Result. Later got some cards written, including some electronic ones. David, Amy and Oliver FaceTimed, and Amy said her uni course had been discontinued. This could turn out well, though, as she might get a course that suits her better. Bit worrying for her for a while. Ended evening by watching. No Direction Home – Scorsese’s film about Bob Dylan. Really good.
Tuesday was very damp and unpleasant. Frustrating time trying to sort out cards, e-cards etc. For some reason my Word document didn’t work properly (on a phone) and I had to create and send a different version. In the afternoon we drove to see my aunt Thelma: she seemed quite perky, though still deaf. Nice to have Dot there. Afterwards drove to Morrisons and got lots of stuff, but when unloading I started sneezing etc. Aargh! Felt very tired. Dot got Christmas stuff out of loft and put up tree. Organised some e-cards. Watched penultimate Vigil.
Wednesday – Started quite pleasant, but became overcast and then rained quite a bit. Not good. Very busy day. Wrote two pieces for Parish Pump, one in morning, one later. Paul arrived just as we were about to leave for N Walsham; had tea/coffee with him, then drove to Paston, where we dropped off Jonathan’s present and proceeded to N Walsham, where we bought flowers (Sainsbury’s very busy) and put them on the graves. Dot drove back to Norwich and dropped me off at Anna’s to discuss solicitor’s letter. Drove home before she discovered I had car key; so the car wouldn’t start and I had to walk home in the rain – dropping off documents at Leathes Prior before getting last-ditch cards from Revelation. Half-price! At home had late lunch, then caught up a bit. Wrote cards to be sent by mail (ridiculously late) and cleared up a bit. Dot had been working hard on getting the house decorated. She got a nice e-mail from her ex-boss. Very proud. Watched last episode of Vigil – not bad.
Thursday – shortest day; overcast but mainly dry. Very windy. Managed to get my four pieces for Parish Pump completed. Drove to see Kim for lunch. Kai and Kavana were there: Kai helped us put car in the garage. Very nice food. Helped Kim plan a celebration for her son. Dot had to go before the end of lunch because Marion was supposed to be arriving with our Christmas cake, but in the event she was late, and by the time she got there, Bridget was in situ and Dot was back at Kim’s. So Bridget took the cake. Meanwhile Dot had been arranging with Mary to take the cake… and Roger rang to say he was about to bring present round… Bit chaotic, but eventually Dot got back for the last course of cake. Kim’s cake, that is. When we got back, around 5pm, Bridget had gone and I walked up to the sorting office with some cards. Everything late… Very tired; so watched a bit of TV – Profile of Mike Yarwood and a Christmas special of Detectorists.
Friday was very tiring, not helped by high winds and soggy atmosphere later. The woman – Helen Watson, former head at Lynn – who is taking over from Dot as a DSSO came round for a chat with her while I (a) went up to the Rosary with flowers for three graves (b) wrote Christmas e-mails. After lunch we drove to Phil and Joy’s with presents and had tea and chat. They are really not at all well. Then on to Angela and Rodney’s for more tea and further chat about Vicki and Anthony and the likely criminal proceedings around Rosemary’s estate : even, unbelievably, a suggestion that she was murdered. Bit late leaving: got back home late for street meet, which turned out to be enjoyable chat at Des’s with Chris’s brother. Would have included Sarah, but her mum is ill in hospital. Des got us fish and chips. Sent final e-cards. Watched end of The Crown and an interview with the guy who plays Jesus in The Chosen, which was very interesting. Felt exhausted at end of day, and my jaw was hurting a bit. Graham has Covid, as have several other people, many of them organists.