Here we are at Sunday again (March 3) – still a bit chilly but dry, and almost in sight of spring. Just back from leading the service, with Carrie preaching, sort of off the cuff but pretty good. Congregation boosted by a family of five who I’d like to say were black, if that’s not racist. Very nice people, and they seemed to enjoy the service, though they arrived very early and had to sit around for quite a while, seeing as most of our congregation arrive within a minute or two of the start. Slight exaggeration, but not much…

A week ago, the heating at home was still playing up. Had long FaceTime chat with Amy and David, spending quite a bit of time exploring Diderot. Watched a bit of rugby highlights: Italy just missed beating France. Then Death in Paradise. Tongue hurt for some reason. 

Monday was very cold but dry. Early phone call from Carrie saying she was ill and could I go up to the hall in case A turned nasty (hasn’t been taking his medication). I was waiting for the gas man, but said I’d go later. Gas man (Barry) came almost immediately and fixed the problem as well as doing a service. Valve had apparently been adjusted before but needed replacing, which he did. Nice guy. Then the scaffolders arrived for next door and put scaffold up at the front of the house, but left before finishing because they had an “emergency”.

Dot went to Morrisons and I walked up to the church hall. A had already been and was refused entry by Debbie, much to his annoyance. I stayed for lunch, which was unusual and very nice – prepared by Addy (also black and lovely) in Carrie’s absence. Tuna cooked in pepper with potato, egg, cheese, courgette and salad, followed by large fruit salad. Had long talk with Steve, as well as with other men on our table. Dot picked me up around 2pm. We did clearing up for tomorrow and then watched quite a lot of TV, including new Danish noir, Trigger Point, Call the Midwife and the end of the Shuttle documentary: usual problem – aloof management, no flexibility. 

Tuesday – Still cold but dry. Roger and Debbie came round for lunch and stayed till after 6pm – so had a really good chat. I cooked chilli con carne, and Dot did a starter and bought tiramisu for sweet. More scaffolding went up round the back early on, disrupting arrivals at NWT.  Not much effect on our garden. In the evening watched a few things, including Jack and Alice, which has improved, and the film Robin and Marion, which was OK. Mouth seems ok, which was just as well as I was going to the dentist the next day. 

Wednesday was dry and not too cold. Not a very good night, but felt better at around 5pm. Also felt Dot’s head (vertigo) was better. Dot drove me up to dentist, where I discovered from Charlie that Alison was retiring next month. Then underwent long and uncomfortable removal of crown, and preparation for new one. Walked home and took paracetamol. Bridget round to clean. Dot went to Morrisons, then I helped her to repair the big mirror, which fell down off chest of drawers. She went to orchestra in the evening, and I wrote another poem. We then watched the end of The Challenger, about the space shuttle. Very good.

Thursday – Very wet all day, but not too cold Amy arrived with Vicky and Matt, who were staying at the Ship Inn at Mundesley. They went straight on and we had lunch; then I felt very tired and had to lie down. We watched a couple of things after that, including songs, and then walked up in light rain to the Ivy through the Close. Had lovely meal. I had duck liver parfait and then sirloin, both excellent. Good service as always. Waiter took pic and we sent it to Oliver, who had been in touch. Walked home by more direct route – still raining. Watched some songs, and I went to bed. Dot and Amy stayed up a bit. Earlier a meeting at St Augustine’s about gate locks ended unexpectedly well. We weren’t there, of course. 

Friday – wet in morning; dry rest of day. Very cold throughout. After late breakfast with Amy we all walked up to the Castle, where we looked at an exhibition of old industrial paintings of Norwich which included some interesting stuff on Caley’s and some fascinating films on driving through Norwich in 1950. Could remember a lot of it, especially a short lights-governed one-way section in Rampant Horse Street, and of course Stump Cross. Walked home and had late lunch, then instead of a street meet, because it was so cold, Des, Chris and John came round for drinks. Des got fish and chips for us, and Amy had a sausage. Then watched a film – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which was pretty good. Also a couple of episodes of Schitts Creek. I went to bed while Dot watched Gilmour Girls with Amy. 

Saturday – Not a great day healthwise. Two lots of paracetamol. Very unusual. Felt shivery and heady. Weather a bit less cold and mainly dry, but severe hail mid-afternoon. Chrissy’s birthday – Amy set up FaceTime with Canada. Had sent Chrissy chocs and two books. Before breakfast drove up to chemist to get pills, but it was shut! Kettle broke; so Dot drove to Morrisons to get new one. Amy and I watched F1 Bahrain while Dot went to football. Norwich beat Sunderland 1-0. Earlier Naomi  came round for football tickets. She looked well, but isn’t. She can’t eat anything at all at the moment. Arranged to play chess with her in a couple of weeks.

I cooked evening meal – salmon. Dot was going to go to her concert at St Stephen’s Church by taxi , but it failed to turn up (Courtesy Cars), so I drove her (with Amy) and then returned to find Vicky and Matt had arrived to pick Amy up – as anticipated – and as they were all getting into the car, the taxi arrived – over half an hour late. So I got the taxi to take me up to the concert, where Kim and Kai had been saving me a seat in the front row. Also there – Bridget, David and their goddaughter; Sue and Roger and two friends;  Neville; Graham. Spoke to Ros and Mary. Good concert, full house. Dot and I walked home – part of the way with Kim and Kai – and were pretty cold and tired when we got there, carrying violin and stand. Watched football and went to bed.