Today (Monday 21st) is a little better than yesterday, in that it’s dry, though very overcast, a little windy and not too cold. I have just taken the car in for servicing and MOT, and had a chat with Ingress, the receptionist, who we’ve known for a long time. She’s aways very helpful. Walked back past the Boundary and then caught a 38 to Tombland. Dot saw me walking down Prince of Wales Road, and got up before I arrived.
Back to last Tuesday, when it was dry and mild. Up quite early to have breakfast with Brian and Tricia at Un Café on N Walsham Road. Good food and service and had quite a long chat: Brian on good form. Dot bought steak pie from farm shop, and we had it for supper. In the afternoon she went to take Joyce’s watch back and had another longish chat with her. I was feeling a bit shivery; so had a bath. Felt a bit better afterwards.
Had paracetamol before going to Theatre Royal in evening to see Come from Away, a brilliant musical based on the people stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, when planes were diverted after 9/11. Beautifully done by a cast that sounded largely Irish. Standing ovation. Highly recommended. We took the bus up there and walked home. Before going to bed we watched the rather disappointing ending of Joan. Could have been carried off better.
Wednesday was sunny, dry and even milder. Judy came round to see the first episode of the fourth series of The Chosen, which is still excellent. As usual I left early for church and met up with Steven on his way. Eventually we had Dot, Jude, Debbie, Steven and Ellie for Bible Study, which went very well. Afterwards Dot and I left for Fakenham, which should have been an easy journey, but encountered loads of slow traffic on the Fakenham road, and arrived on the dot for James Knox Whittet’s book launch at the Library, after working out how to use the parking machine.
James did an interesting talk on how he had written his memoir, and Dot and I both asked questions. This followed some beautiful Gaelic singing by Anna McCrae, who I had heard before: couldn’t remember where, but she remembered me, as did a couple of other people, including Kay Hathway. I wish I could remember names – I got them off the programme. Also there was Mike Bannister, now 88 and suffering from heart problems. Had interesting chat with him: we get on very well. He’s a good poet and read three of his poems. I read one of my Orkney poems – Westray – and I think it went down all right. Three or four people said they liked it.
Forty or fifty there altogether, I should think, but not James’ wife, Ann, who had an appointment with the Bishop. Drove home after an encounter with Fakenham town centre, from which I began to think I would never emerge. Road home was slow again, with long queues, until we reached the NDR. Discovered (via text) – that Bridget had come and cleaned – thought she was coming the next day as usual.
Des and Chris are in Suffolk for a few days. Had a fairly “easy” tea of eggs and mushrooms before Dot left with Janet for orchestra: we’d discovered on the way home that Silver Road was partially closed, but thought we’d worked out a way of them getting there. In fact it did work, but they had to come back via Mousehold Avenue and Gurney Road. Watched Ludwig, which continues to be excellent.
Thursday was again dry and mild. Wrote my sermon for Sunday while Dot went into the city to buy a present for Bridget and David’s 20th wedding anniversary. Got a call from her some time later to ask whether she should buy a coat. She tried FaceTime so that I could see it, but it didn’t work – signal not strong enough. So I went into the city by bus to have a look. Didn’t like it at first, but it looked so much better on that we eventually decided to buy it. Also bought a heart-shaped dish for B&D and some fruit from the market, then walked home together. Was quite tired afterwards and lay down after I’d finished the sermon. Felt a bit cold and discovered the window was open. Contacted Oliver earlier to get Amy’s address, and have sent her a birthday card. After supper watched a fascinating documentary called Helljumper about individuals evacuating people from the front line areas of Ukraine, and one in particular who died doing it.
Friday – Bit cooler, but still dry and quite pleasant. Sue and Roger Eagle came with us for lunch at Gem. We met them in the station, because Sue’s legs are a bit dodgy – she’s waiting for an operation in a couple of weeks. Dot walked to Gem with her, and I went with Roger in car to park at ours. Very nice lunch – we all had cocktails, then I had battered prawns followed by pork belly. Turkish tea to finish. Restaurant pretty full. Had quite a long chat at home about books and other things.
After they had gone we had street meet – Des and Chris back from their Suffolk break, Jonathan, Mark, John and Mary. Lot of talk about solar panels and such things, which wasn’t very interesting. Later had cheese on toast and watched quite a bit of TV, including first two episodes of The Tower and a good Sounds piece on the song Diamonds and Rust. Also end of cricket, losing to Pakistan.
On Saturday it rained at first, but was dry by the time we went out – caught the bus and then walked to Salvation Army Citadel on St Giles to hear St Gregory’s Orchestra play to raise cash for Ukraine. Dylan Latham (again) played violin – this time Beethoven’s Concerto in D. Saw Graham and Janet, Neville and Mary, Matt and Amanda and Les Pye and his wife, as well as Mary Cozens and the dreaded Georgina. Nice venue: good view from upstairs.
Walked home and bought a sandwich (among other things) from Tesco Express. Dot walked down Prince of Wales Road and I walked through the Close. Needless to say, she got home way before I did. In the evening we gave Eleanor a lift to the RC Cathedral narthex for Bridget and David’s 20th wedding anniversary. It was a ceilidh with buffet food. Sat with Claire and spoke to one or two other people , including Ros, the woman training to be a priest at Christ Church, who seemed pretty anxious. Watched a bit of Match of the Day, including Spurs’ 4-1 win over West Ham. Earlier City drew 1-1 away to Stoke after being all over them in the first half. I rewrote the end of my sermon. Sent Amy an electronic card and transferred her some money.
Sunday was Amy’s 20th birthday. She is at Southampton and very quiet, though she sent a message thanking us for her card and gift. Pretty miserable day in Norwich, weatherwise. Very grey, with rain showers, which we largely avoided. Drove to church as usual. Bit of a panic when Carrie, who was leading, arrived very late. Was about to take over… anyway, did a sermon which got a lot of favourable comments. Took Ray home as usual. watched a fair bit of TV including last two episodes of The Tower, which were very good. Later some football and the first episode of Leonard Cohen drama, So Long Marianne, on ITVx, which was ok but spoiled by too many adverts. Also another documentary on the Yorkshire coast which had quite a lot on Scarborough and Whitby.
In the evening went to Taizé service at St Luke’s which was a bit disappointing in terms of the music, which was too complicated. But that’s just my opinion. Had long chat with Debbie Sands, whose husband died not long ago. Also Vicky and her mother. They didn’t die; they were just there. Also Ros from Christ Church, who I keep running into.