Quite a grey week. I posted about part of Saturday 26th last time, and that was a dull and damp day, but only a few drops of rain. Took Dot to church after lunch for meeting led by June – this one on domination of one group by another (first of a series). Then walked up to meet her as she walked home – met at top of the Close after I was delayed by an encounter with woman who parked across our drive. Turned out she was only dropping something off. Wrote first of my December Parish Pump pieces – on the origin of Dec 25 as Christmas Day. In the evening watched a couple of episodes of D I Ray – quite good really.
Sunday was calm, with blue sky, mild until evening. Went to church as usual after waking early because of extra hour. Communion with Graham, who did a good sermon on the Bible (it was Bible Sunday, apparently). Played guitar. Left fairly soon after because I was a bit worried about football traffic – but there wasn’t any. Graham gave Ray a lift home.
Paul came round to use Jonathan’s ticket, and I used the other spare one. Pretty exciting game against Middlesbrough. We scored first, then conceded three, and were down 3-1 at half time and looking beaten. Then gave away dubious penalty, but it was saved by Long. Later scored two more, and despite McLean being red-carded (rightly) held on to draw 3-3. Dark by the end, of course, and quite cool on the way home. Paul came in for cuppa, then got bus home. I cooked chicken in port – very nice. Dot did parsnips. Watched some TV – including another episode of So Long Marianne, one of DI Ray and England losing at cricket.
Monday was a very grey day with a little rain in the afternoon. Morning had a few bright periods, notably when we were putting flowers on Rosemary’s grave at Erpingham with Angela and Rodney. Met them there after buying flowers at Morrisons. Later we all went to the Gunton Arms for lunch. Brief walk there, then home as rain began to fall lightly. Had light evening meal and watched another DI Ray.
Tuesday – Another very grey day. I only went out to get the bins in, though Dot went to surgery for a blood test. Spent almost all day writing then other three pieces for Parish Pump – on Noël Coward; D L Moody; and the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, which killed about 230,000 people. Also watched the end of DI Ray, which was very satisfying, and another episode of So Long Marianne. Many good points, but I don’t like the way Leonard Cohen is portrayed. I can’t imagine him being petty.
Wednesday – Still grey for the most part, but not too cold, except in the evening. Woke late, but got up fairly soon, and as usual Jude came round and watched The Chosen with us. We are now in uncharted territory – Series 4, Episode 3. Found it very moving, although we had previewed it the night before. All very well done as always. Have a look! Left a bit early to get to church in time for Bible study: we are now up to Acts 8. Usual crew: Dot and me, Debbie, Judy and Steven. Had quite a good discussion.
Afterwards I drove home and later, after Taizé ,Dot walked home (steps). By then Bridget had arrived to do the cleaning, and I’d had a cup of tea with her. Dot and I later had a discussion about the possibility of doing the Bible study in the evening so that more people could come. We’ll see where that goes. Had a call from Jenny Downing, to see if I’d pick her up next Tuesday for the Archant coffee morning, and we agreed that would be OK. In the evening I drove Dot to orchestra, because Janet was away, then picked her (and Nova) up after writing a piece for my website. Watched last episode of Ludwig. Brilliant.
Thursday – Bit of a change: sunny with a bit of a chill in the air. Got up early for a bath, then after a brief chat to Mark we drove to UnCafé to meet Brian and Tricia. Had a nice breakfast and chat then bought some fresh fish from a van. Back at home I cleared up acres of leaves and helped Dot with some other stuff in the garden, as well as checking the tyres (which were fine) and turning off the tyre pressure warning (which wasn’t). Felt exhausted afterwards, but after watching a programme on the dark worlds in the solar system Dot went out for more in the garden, where I collapsed and slept a bit before making the bed. Then cooked salmon we’d bought from a van earlier – very tasty. I chose hymns for Sunday, then we watched another solar system episode and the final two parts of So Long Marianne. Quite good on the whole.