Last Tuesday (Sep 24) was showery, but mainly dry. We drove to Beeston Garden Centre café first thing and met Brian and Tricia. Had breakfast with them. Brian seemed quite a bit better than last time I saw him, and Tricia was OK too. Had bacon and egg sandwich. After about 80 minutes drove home, and Ellie arrived a few minutes later for long talk about life, the universe and everything. She is probably moving to Wales, but there are lots of imponderables. She wanted advice. Became a Christian fairly recently (she is about 60, I guess) and is keen to do the right things. We reassured her!
After a light lunch I walked into the city to test the C & C city trail we’re doing in less than a fortnight. Made a few adjustments. It now has 39 questions, which is a multiple of 13; so that’s all right. When I got home we watched an episode of The Chosen and then I finished editing my photographs. Wrote up blog. After meal (duck) watched What We Did on our Holidays, which is a brilliant film in the style and by the authors of Outnumbered. Also watched the second episode of Zelensky documentary.
Wednesday was cooler, showery with more persistent rain later. Chose hymns. Wrote card for Cresta Care Home. Discovered where Kim was – on train to Bath. Judy came round to see The Chosen – the episode we’d seen the day before – and we watched most of it with her. It’s pretty. compelling! Then I drove to church for Bible study, and Dot and Jude followed. Quite cold in church. Afterwards Dot stayed for Taizé.
I wrote to Oliver and Amy sending quotes: O was still in Vienna and Amy is no doubt immersing herself in student culture. I drove Dot to orchestra in evening: she found rehearsal hard because quite a few people were away, including her section leader, Janet. I picked her up with Nova in the rain. Dot and I watched Ludwig – new series with David Mitchell as puzzle-solver impersonating detective brother. Good stuff.
Thursday was overcast at first, then very wet. Spent quite a long time sorting out charity money! Then walked up to sorting office (before the rain) to post cheques and the card to Cresta Lodge, thanking them for looking after Thelma. Later on watched the final episode of Zelezny: he comes over very well. Bridget came to clean. In the evening we watched the first episode of Nightsleeper, which is much better than I thought it would be. Also the latest episode of Slow Horses.
Friday – Sorted out Mail file. Oliver was home from Vienna. Windy with rain at first, then showers. Bridget left her car in our drive about 9.30 and went by train to Ely to see her sister. We drove to St Luke’s around 11.30 for Andrew Partridge’s funeral. Parked but left car window open, and seats got pretty wet. It was pointed out to us after the service, which was pretty big. Lots of people from the post office, where he worked. He was 57 – died of sepsis brought on by cellulitis, brought on by diabetes. Lots of nice things said about him. We sat near the music group: Nicky, Steve and a couple of women whose names I ought to know. A guy named Graham (Irish) sat next to us. Couldn’t place him in my mind, but apparently he used to worship at St Luke’s. No-one from St Augustine’s apart from us.
Food and drink afterwards. Spoke to lots of people: Val Kibble, who is in a bad way; John and Jean; Elizabeth, who I sort of recognised – very nice; Karen Wimhurst; Sam Pittam-Smith; and a guy called Steve from Evesham, who was in a wheelchair but amazingly self-contained – has his own van, which he drives and where he can sleep and look after himself. He had driven down from Worcester and is married (though his wife can’t drive because she’s visually impaired). He knew Andrew from Norwich (Witard Road Baptist) and is very positive about life. Now worships at Evesham Salvation Army, and it is growing – he feels that churches generally are growing. Uplifting sort of time: Graham K-S led very well.
Later Bridget called in as I was cooking supper and had a cup of tea. Stayed while we ate it. Always good to see her. After she’d gone we watched Nightsleeper – have now seen two thirds of it – plus Death in Paradise.
Yesterday was quite chilly – summer seems to be over – but dry. Watched England win at cricket, then Dot did a lot of meal preparation, with a bit of help from me, and Kristine arrived on the 12.44 train. I met her and took her the ”pretty way” so that Dot had time to change. Had a cup of tea, then a lovely meal – salmon tart and pavlova, plus a very tasty avocado starter prepared by Dot. Talked a lot during afternoon, and I showed some of our pictures on screen. Meanwhile Norwich beat Derby 3-2 away, with the help of a dodgy goal (ball out of play). About time we had a bit of luck. Kristine missed the train she meant to catch because of a phone glitch – it ran out of charge after she showed the ticket on arrival – so had to buy a new ticket and left on the 18.32. We cleared up before she reached Ipswich, and I wrote the prayers.
Today it is still chilly but the wind has gone. Bit cloudy. Drove to church – it was a joint service led by Graham (Michaelmas). I did the prayers, and as music group we had Matt, Dot, Steve Fiske and me. Felt good. Apparently Anna has migraine, and Howard is in London. About five people from St Luke’s. Had quite a good chat afterwards, while eating food left over from the funeral. Gave Ray a lift home as usual. Angel Road shut as usual.