Forgot to mention last time that I’ve just read Matthew Williams’ book on The Masterful Mr Collins – a former city engineer who transformed Norwich between 1890 and 1920. Very short but interesting – at least to someone who lives in Norwich. Last Monday (19th) was a bit cooler but dry. Spent most of the day writing four Parish Pump articles – on Bach, Byron, ABBA and Boko Haram.
Also went to Morrisons with Dot. Minor car crash at junction into shops complex, and police showed great restraint in not closing the road. Watched football and the second episode of Jack and Alice, a TV drama which is a bit strange. Thought it had finished today, but apparently not. Also watched a Panorama documentary on where Hamas gets its money, which was surprisingly balanced.
Tuesday was a bit windy but dry, and not too cold. Wrote piece for website on flooding in Norfolk and used ten-year- old flood poem linked loosely to an owl and Godfrey Sayers. Anna came to give Dot a violin lesson. In the evening we walked to the Greens’ for a DCC meeting: Graham, Howard, Jude, Debbie and Carrie there, but not Phil, who forgot. Wine from Howard. Quite a long meeting, mainly about safeguarding and community issues, plus finance. Carrie’s last DCC meeting, and she made the most of it… Jude gave us a lift home and we watched a programme about walking in the Peak District, with Bill Bailey and Alan Davies. Radiators very warm again, but everything off. Suspect erratic thermostat.
Bad night. Had to get up in night to turn central heating off – again. Seemed OK on Wednesday , though. Bit of a miserable day, weather wise: very damp. Jude came round to watch an episode of The Chosen, and Dot and I then drove to church for Bible Study. Went reasonably well, but Dot had to leave halfway through to go to chiropodist – more work on her ingrowing toenail, which was a bit painful. Jude, Debbie, Stephen and Ellie present. When we finished I walked home; didn’t seem too bad at first but got wetter and wetter.
Called in on Mary to see how they were, following a roof collapse in one of their bedrooms. They’re OK, but apparently they have to have the whole roof replaced, which might impact on us through scaffolding in our garden. Not quite sure how that’s going to work. After Dot arrived I had a bath because I was so wet and obviously having a bath would help. We did some puzzles afterwards, and in the evening I drove her up to orchestra rehearsal because her usual lift couldn’t get her there in time. Wrote a couple of poems, and she got a lift home. Watched first part of a documentary on the Columbia shuttle disaster.
Thursday – Very wet, though it was fairly dry to start with, and Dot went up to Jarrold’s for a chin wax, having initially had doubts because her head was a bit dodgy. Went all right, though. However, she got very wet walking home (I had driven her up there), having bought cheese and lingered in the White Company. Watched episode two of the Shuttle documentary and later rang up my cousin Barbara, who seems OK. Said I would go and see her soon. Monday? Bridget came and did cleaning. Watched How to Marry a Millionaire, which was brilliant except for a totally pointless, prolonged and tedious piece of orchestral music at the outset. Dot washed her foot and then did an exercise to put right her dizziness.
Much better night, and Friday was pleasant, weatherise, with some blue sky. Quite chilly, though. Wrote another poem and fiddled about with the study, tidying things up and looking for talks I’ve done, so that I can make an offer to Bridget, who wants someone to talk to her church group. Found a couple of plays I’d written and can hardly remember. In the evening we met outside with Des, Chris, Jonathan and Matthew and talked with Mary for a few minutes after she got out of a taxi, Des suggesting that she ought to get a few quotes for her roof work. Very cold weather; mashed potatoes were terrible, and the TV went wrong again.
Saturday was coldish but not too cloudy. In the afternoon we went out and pruned the roses: earlier Dot had cleaned the front path and the patio while I did the prayers for tomorrow. The TV seems to have put itself right – watched quite a bit of rugby (Scotland beat England, and Ireland beat Wales). Dot listened to City drawing with Blackburn 1-1 away. Meanwhile the heating, which had been ok for several days, seems to have gone wrong again: think it’s the thermostat. Green Party want to hire church hall to talk about climate change. We voted against it, but I think everyone else is in favour.
Today has been busy, and I haven’t been feeling that great. It’s been cold, too. Had to turn the heating off last night, which meant I had to get up early this morning and turn the boiler on. Now I’ve booked a service for tomorrow morning, when I hope the system will be put right. Had a bath, turned the heating off and drove to church. Not the smoothest music ever, but I think the prayers went OK. Afterwards moved the car to the end of Sussex Street and walked to Kim’s, where we had lunch. Felt very tired. Kai was also there and talked an awful lot, though he was quite entertaining and we had a good time, despite my feeling as if I was slipping downwards. After we got home I turned the heating on again, and now I feel better.