It’s Thursday, December 28, just after lunch. Dot is in the city. She has just had a late Christmas present – an appointment with a chiropodist because her toe was hurting. The chiropodist – a young Indian woman who was quite impressive foot-wise – gave her toes a thorough going-over and let me watch! The clinic is on the corner of Old Palace Road and Dereham Road. The traffic in the city was fascinating: we got there with no problem, but cars coming up Grapes Hill were at a standstill. I drove through Westwick Street and down Prince of Wales Road expecting a big hold–up there too, but there was practically nothing. Lots of pedestrians, though, because it’s pleasant – bright and not too cold, despite the rest of the country suffering under the latest Storm. Snow and stranded cars in Scotland.
Back to last Saturday (23rd), when there was a chilly wind, but it was dry. Wrote up blog, checked account and edited pix. Felt a bit strange – extremely tired, of course. Posted rest of cards through local doors and had long phone conversations with Mary and Neville Thrower and Anne Coomes. Later took paracetamol and felt much better, especially when Norwich won 2-0 and Spurs won too. Cooked meal while Dot did hair, after we’d both put fresh sheets on bed. Then drove to Mount Pleasant for Paul’s housewarming. Very nice evening: house is very pleasant (get it?) and we spoke briefly to the Browns and more lengthily to Holly and her boyfriend Rich, and to Jozef, then to Philip and Heather Butcher and someone from Waitrose. Dot had a chat with Heather about the Rosie mystery. After we got home it started raining hard.
Sunday – Christmas Eve – was dry but with a chilly wind. Took morning worship – slightly shorter than usual. Dot did prayers and Anna the Lectio. Took Ray home. Spent much of afternoon preparing our Christmas meal, which we ate about 7pm. Quite nice, actually. Dot bought me a new knife to cut the turkey: worked very well but then cut my finger. Ho, hum. Posted cards for Maureen and Jude Sayer and filled up with petrol. Watched Beyond Paradise – bit neat but ok. Drove to Midnight Communion – Graham had Covid, and so Rev Tim stood in: bit jolly for me, but nice service on the whole: good congregation. Had sherry when we got home. Was writing this at 1.15am.
Monday – Christmas Day – started quite pleasant but became wet. Coldish. Had bath and then drove to church for the Christmas dinner. Not particularly well. Felt as if I was getting a cold. Nasal irritation. Took a long time for the dinner to be ready. Helped a bit in various areas but the hall got cold, which didn’t help. Meal was quite good, though sprouts weren’t done. Sat with Jenny and Jude and Harriet, while Dot was helping a guy who had been feeling bad: his wife had left him a year ago and he had contemplated suicide. Drove home and opened presents: David FaceTimed – also Amy, Oliver, Barbara and Roger, with a cameo from Chrissy, who was preparing food. Afterwards Dot and I cleared up, watched assorted TV and ate a bit of tea. I gradually felt better. In bed finished reading Tunnel 29, a really fascinating book about the Wall and East Berlin, with special and detailed reference to one particular escape of 29 people.
Tuesday was dry, with some sunny spells. Cool. After breakfast Dot and I walked up to the Rosary and bought some bread at the convenience store on the way back. Saw Mary and Bob, and they invited us for drinks the next day. After lunch did a lot of clearing up while Dot listened to Norwich lose 1-0 at West Brom, largely because Sainz got himself sent off. Felt pretty tired at end of the afternoon. Watched Not Going Out Christmas special – quite funny. Then cooked another Christmas meal – too much to eat, really. Still, nice food. Afterwards watched a bit of programme on preparations for the Coronation, then David & Co rang and we had a long chat about presents and other things. Ended evening by watching a new Vera, which was excellent.
Wednesday was overcast and damp, with dry spells. Drove up to Woodside pharmacy and collected pills, which were ready!!! At home, cleared up some leaves and put bins out. After lunch watched Christmas special of Death in Paradise, which kept up its usual high standard. In the evening we went round Mary and Bob’s for drink and nibbles, which turned out to be a buffet meal, and we stayed till 10pm. All very civilised. Covid, or whatever passes for Covid, seems rife. Des and Chris’s brother started it on Boxing Day, David Archer has had it, as has vicar Graham, Martin Wyatt and one or two others.