Up fairly early last Tuesday (13th) to turn boiler on. Gas man came about 10am and didn’t seem sure what the problem was. Reset the power switch on the utility room and by the end of the day it all seemed to be working normally, though Dot, in contrast, wasn’t: she had a problem with her ankle, especially when going downstairs.
Nevertheless, and in spite of very wet weather, we went to Carrow Road with Des and saw Norwich beat Watford 4-2. An odd game – very easy for City during first half hour, reaching 2-0, then losing confidence both sides of half time (2-2), then came back to win 4-2. Not sure why. Some kind of problem at Carrow Bridge afterwards – apparently woman on wrong side of safety fence. Earlier we had pancakes (it was Shrove Tuesday) and soup, but not in that order. Very tasty. Got an F F Bruce book on Kindle because I couldn’t find my copy, and researched NT documents, then started work on sermon. Sent quotes to Oliver and Amy. Feeling better on the whole.
Wednesday’s weather was not bad: fairly mild and mostly dry. Jude came round in the morning, and we watched another episode of The Chosen with her: brilliant as usual – neither Dot nor I intended to watch it, but we couldn’t tear ourselves away. As a result we had to rush a bit to get to church: Jude gave me a lift again. Discussed the New Testament documents – how reliable they are and when they were written. Couldn’t find my copy of The New Testament Documents by F F Bruce; so downloaded it on Kindle. It was very helpful. Debbie didn’t make it, but Ellie, Steven, Jude and Dot did. Leanne apologised – she had an appointment. As usual I drove home and Dot stayed for Taizé and then walked, despite her painful foot. Apparently it was OK while she was walking.
Amy FaceTimed while we were watching The Chosen; so we FTd her back later, while she was cooking some Valentine’s Day sweet thing. She has got the job she wanted at Whipsnade and was clearly feeling very perky. We were really pleased but not surprised. Had quite a chat with her. Dot did some more practising, then we had a Valentine’s Day meal – steak followed by strawberries. Not bad. Then she went to orchestra rehearsal, which was switched to Nolan school because St Mary Magdalene was being used; so she drove herself, and gave a lift to Nova (from Hong Kong), who turned up on time against the odds. Dot had quite an interesting conversation with her. I read some of LeGuin and a piece by Keiron Pim in the London Review of Books, which was excellent. Before going to bed we watched an episode of Silent Witness.
Thursday’s mild and dry, but we didn’t really take advantage of it. Finished sermon, based on one from 2015. Mike Read came round to look up some old chess games, and eventually I took him home with a crate full of all my old stuff – cuttings and games. Bit risky, but better he has them than they just get thrown out. He says he’ll return them. Dot spent a little time in the garden, but her foot is still giving her a bit of trouble. Nevertheless while Bridget was here she walked to the shop. Offered to pick her up, but she walked back. Decided to have a go at sorting out my urinary tract naturally. Dot bought some cranberries and I started using probiotics. Already take loads of Vitamin C. On the evening finished watching After the Flood, which was excellent except for the cop-out ending, And Trigger Point, which is just tension on tension.
Friday was overcast but dry; not too cold. Linda did our hair: Dot had highlights. I then had a bath and finished The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin. Quite a clever book focussing on different kinds of communities. After lunch we visited my aunt and took some flowers: She was pleased but clearly uncomfortable (physically) and we had to get someone to take her to the loo. This involved a hoist; so we left. Gave her a couple of our photo books, one of Switzerland; one of Orkney. Then went to the Robinsons with more flowers. Philip was coherent but a little hard to follow. Had tea and biscuits. Later we had street meet with Des, Chris, Matt and John, followed by fish and chips. Watched Two Way Stretch, an old film that was very funny.
Saturday was fairly mild and dry most of day, but very wet in the evening. Got a call from Carrie early on explaining why she hadn’t replied to my emails. She’s been very busy as usual. After lunch Dot, Des and I went to the football (Jonathan was ill) and enjoyed Norwich beating Cardiff 4-1 after going 1-0 down. Felt pretty well apart from some soreness in urethra. Don’t think I have UTI.
Sunday’s weather was a bit mixed. Started off very wet after overnight rain, but some dry periods later. Went to church and played in music group, then gave sermon which most people seemed to like, although Matt and Phil didn’t seem keen on the supernatural elements. Ellie asked me to send a copy! Carrie gave me a book on the saints from Phyllis’s house. After lunch Dot and I drove to Lessingham via very flooded roads to see exhibition on Happisburgh. Lots of old photographs – many of them illustrating increasing erosion.
Had cake and tea, then drove on to Happisburgh, where we had a short walk to edge of cliff and I fell over – not over the cliff, fortunately, but over a gate that was lying on the ground. Not hurt, just made trousers muddy. Drove home and watched a bit of TV. Later David FaceTimed us and we had a long talk about football and government, among other things. Dot’s foot seems a lot better.