It’s Sunday, May 12, sunny and warm, as it has been for a few days. There have also been some Northern Lights in the vicinity, and a rather large geomagnetic storm originating on the sun is about to hit us, though with what effect no-one really knows. Musk is worried about his satellites. We have just been to church, where Howard continued his sermon series on Ecclesiastes, and after the service we had a rehearsal of the ceilidh band for next week: I was a bit late for that, as I had to take Ray home. I’m not particularly good at ceilidh music anyway, but I disguise the fact quite well. Present: Dot, who is now much better vertiginously speaking, Anna, Phil, Alison, Jaya and Matt. So three violins, a cello, two guitars and a piano.
When we got home, we discovered that Jonathan had power-washed our front wall. The wall looked good, but the surroundings were a bit messy. Still, nice of him. While we were out, Norwich drew 0-0 with Leeds in the home leg of the Championship play-offs.
Going back to Monday May 6 , it was mild with some sun. Dry. The Bank holiday weather forecast was completely wrong. Dot was feeling quite a lot better, but I felt very tired with pains in lower body and upper thighs. Hard to get up from a sitting position on sofa. Caught up with lots of stuff in the afternoon. Dot drove up to Homebase and Garden Centre, and I walked up to meet her at Ketts Hill roundabout. We then called in briefly at the Rosary. Longish phone call with Paul, partly about his June 3 party, which we had failed to tell him we can’t to go to because we’ll be in Scotland. Watched a bit of snooker world championship, won by Wilson. Also Blue Lights, still brilliant. Cooked duck again. Pretty good.
Tuesday – Sunny and mild. Dot much better: I felt really tired halfway through the day, but not too bad generally. We both went to the Archant pensioners’ breakfast, which was sparsely attended. Most of the time sat with Richard Batson, then David Wakefield turned up, but no-one else from editorial. Robin and Shelagh at home with suspected Covid/flu. Afterwards went up to fetch my pills – Heartsease roundabout open after many months. Then drove down Thunder Lane to buy stamps – all post offices near us are shut – and on to Morrisons, where Dot bought a few things and I went to Boots to make sure my loyalty card remained activated. Bought water, Coke and some eye-soothing stuff.
Dot did quite a lot in the garden, having bought a new plastic greenhouse which she erected. I cleared up in the house, booked the Lindisfarne Inn and applied for my next driving licence (every three years after you’re 70). In the evening we drove to Sussex Street, parked and walked to DCC meeting at Howard’s. On time for 7.30 – unfortunately it was 7pm. There you go. Judy was late too. Longish meeting but all went well. Walked back to car and drove home to watch pigs dying on Clarkson’s Farm. Very sad.
Wednesday was another mild and dry day, with plenty of sun. Dot was feeling quite a bit better, and so was I. Went to church together, and I led Bible study. She had a bit of a turn during it, but not too bad. (Debbie, Judy, Ellie, Phoebe, Steve: finished Philemon and switched to Colossians.) In the afternoon she spent quite a time in the garden, creating a new seating area. I cleared up indoors. We watched another episode of Red Eye, a rather good thriller that takes place in an aircraft. In the evening I went to Halesworth for poetry. Nice to see Lynn, Elizabeth, Sue F and Sue M, Kaaren, Marianne and others, but it’s a long way to go to read two poems, one of them without an introduction (because of time constraints). Good journey both ways, though, and home well before 10pm. Dot now has a very sore finger – something else to worry about. However she put something on Diderot and spoke to David about it.
Thursday dawned mainly sunny, mild and dry. Just right, really. Drove over to a Poringland to see Anne and Philip and deliver Anne’s birthday presents. Had tea/coffee, then went to visit Thelma, who is now bedbound but still fairly cheerful. Very hard to communicate because of her deafness. Showed her a couple of pics of Joanne, Eddie, Sandra, Phil and Joy, but she didn’t really recognise anyone. Also showed her some old family pix (on my phone), in which she was more interested. Bridget was cleaning when we got home; had a chat with her in the garden. Had quite a late meal (yellow haddock), then tidied room up, including updating Cornerstone sheets and cutting driving licence in half as requested – part of the process of getting a new one. Watched a bit of TV – on coastguard rescues, which I find strangely fascinating, and Vegas/Gibson comedy. Dot not feeling too bad: same with me, given moments of fatigue.
Friday – you guessed it: sunny and warm. Took Dot up to Spire Hospital for appointment with Mr Princely about her vertigo. Half an hour – pretty thorough. He felt her balance was a bit off, but no BPPV at the moment. As it seemed to be improving he suggested leaving it for a couple of months, with the option to come back if it got worse. She had a walking on the spot test, in which she veered markedly to the right, to her astonishment. Nice surroundings. In the afternoon I posted my driving licence (cut in two) back to DVLA. The new one had already arrived. Watched quite a bit of TV and went out for street meet – big gathering (Des, Chris, John, Jonathan, Sean, Ciara, Phoebe, Matt, Angela, Sarah – and Mary for a moment). Fish and chips. More TV. Very tired.
Yesterday was – yes – warm and dry, but failed to go out because I was writing Parish Pump pieces on Tolkien, Gideons and York Minster. Also practised ceilidh songs and hymns for tomorrow with Dot and watched a fair bit of TV, including more of Clarkson’s Farm. Spurs won for a change. Had four-way FaceTime with David, Oliver and Amy. Everyone seemed pretty jolly. Dot did quite a lot in the garden after buying some clematis from the garden centre (Highways). She also had very long phone call with Angela.