Sunday Nov 17 – part two – Heavy rain in afternoon and evening. Marie-Lyse asked me to print a letter off for an asylum seeker and then came round to get it: she stayed for a cup of tea, which was nice but meant I was a bit rushed getting to Lowestoft for the Seagull poetry evening. Lots of people there. I read four poems: Pieces of Darkness, Bugsworth, Falcon on the Spire and A Friend from the Past. Sat with Sue, Joan and her friend Bridget. Lynne and Kaaren also there, as were several of the usual suspects. Finished late but had a remarkably clear drive home. Saw highlights of England’s 5-0 win over Ireland. In bed after midnight. David at Gatwick.
Monday – Sunny and cold till late afternoon; then heavy rain. David is back in Waterloo. Up a bit late. Dot had call from surgery about her blood test: all ok. Later I had a blood test. Drove up early and walked half a mile, then in and out in less than five minutes. On the way home I walked out to St James Hill and took a couple of pictures. Beautiful day at that stage. After lunch Graham came round and discussed the alternative carol service with me: he is going to do a funny Gabriel but wants me to do a structure first. Ho hum. Started planning for Evetts visit with Dot – meals, visits etc. Watched documentary on 2004 tsunami and next episode of Wolf Hall sequel – really good. Also next episode of Mayflower Murders – good but convoluted.
Tuesday – Very wet at first, but dry in the evening. Cold. Braemar -11 today. Snow quite widespread, including Aberdeenshire and Buxton, but not here. Anne and Philip came round for tea/coffee. Lovely to see them, but Philip’s conversation very strange, leaping from one thing to another. Anne keen to go on holiday with Dot next year. After lunch watched second half of tsunami documentary then adapted a compline Graham did at DCC for use at Cake & Compline tonight. Had an unusually complex meal – sausages, mashed potatoes, parsnips and Yorkshire pudding with gravy, largely thanks to Dot. Really nice. Walked to the Great Hospital for C&C. Bridget, David, Phil and Vicky absent, Bridget recovering from tooth extraction. Amazing cake by Claire. Watched news at home: big farmers’ demo against inheritance tax.
Wednesday – Bright at first, then snow and sleet from lunchtime until teatime, then dry but very cold. Dot drove me up to church for Bible study, then went to Morrisons to get food for the next few days. I walked soggily home. In the afternoon we did some preparation – I caught up on the computer and tried to contact Anna about Phyllis’s will (again), but she didn’t answer. Janet rang after supper to say her car wouldn’t start. I’d had a drink; so I couldn’t drive Dot to orchestra rehearsal. Instead I went with her to make sure she could park and then walked back. Pretty chilly but dry, and no real problem until I got home, when my legs started aching a bit. Wrote some more e-mails and cleared up in kitchen, though not in that order. Dot drove home with Nova and we watched a bit of Shetland; then Oliver FaceTimed and showed us pictures of his new flat. Looks very nice.
Thursday – Very cold but dry. Bridget came to clean, suffering from after-effects of having a tooth out – no hot drinks for two weeks! Sounds horrific. Put together new rota, but haven’t sent it out yet. Dave and Julia arrived at 2.30pm precisely, and we had a cup of tea and discussed what we might do, among other things. In the end we got a bus up to Castle Meadow at 5.15pm and walked down into the arcade. Not as exciting as expected, though we had our photos taken by a photographer from Norfolk magazine. Walked up to Haymarket and round the top by the Forum. Some lights, but nothing startling, except a picture of Dot and some of her colleagues advertising Sillars. Walked on down to Jarrolds, expecting to be able to access delicatessen area as advertised online, but it was shut. So instead went and had meal at Ivy. Very nice chicken dish, though I wasn’t particularly hungry. All had mains only, plus bread and wine! Walked back painfully through Close: extremely cold, below zero. Back home by around 8.30 and had some spirits followed by tea and coffee for Dot and me, and interspersed by stories, mainly health-based. Bed after 11pm. Earlier had spoken to Joy on phone to arrange present delivery, but hard to fix: nothing definite yet. Also brief chat with David on phone at lunchtime: websites being moved.
Friday – Dot’s 79th birthday! Not quite so cold: dry and bright. Bought Dot some flowers that were supposed to arrive by 10.40am: they got here mid-afternoon while we were at Blickling. Fortunately I’d asked Chris to take them and left a note on the door, and when we got back about 5pm they were here, together with a couple of books from David. A plant from Oliver and Amy had arrived earlier. At Blickling had coffee in pub then walked to bookshop, where Dot and I bought two books for £5: a Shardlake one and a Slow Horses one. Then went on “highlights” tour of house – all with Dave and Julia, of course. Very interesting tour. Had late lunch afterwards then headed home. Had “street meet” at ours: Mary and Bob, Matt and Ciara. Des ill with cold and Chris preparing meal for visitors. Mark still away of course, and Sarah seeing her mum in hospital. Good chat. Then I drove Dot, Dave and Julia to Delia’s, drove home (I had abstained from drink earlier), then walked back. Anne arrived before me of course. Lovely meal: I had pâté, then steak, then ice cream with ginger in brandy basket. Had bad pain in leg as we walked home: not sure why. Home around 11.15pm.
Saturday – Very wet and windy. Not quite so cold. Julia decided she needed Beaujolais Nouveau from Waitrose: so I volunteered to drive them there. Have never seen city so crowded with cars. Eventually reached Waitrose and found final six bottles: bought them all. I bought bananas and croissants and lost the dynamic duo, who I thought would have made their way to checkout. Instead I took my small purchases out to the car and returned to find them, after a phone call. Tried unsuccessfully to avoid traffic on road back by going round southern bypass and up Bracondale. But no good: had to turn round and go down King Street, then past Carrow Road before turning right and getting home via Rosary Road. Dot had been making lunch. Very nice: after it I stayed at home while others went by bus to UEA and Sainsbury Cenre. Had bath – mistake, because I felt tired afterwards. Read a bit. Norwich drew 2-2 away to West Brom. After return of the terrific three I made a meal of salmon etc which seemed to go down well. Whisky afterwards. My left leg started aching. Bed. In the middle of all this Liz Cannon said she couldn’t lead tomorrow because David had had a fall and was in pain; and Mike could not do prayers because he was ill following an operation. Eventually sorted – Carrie leading and Anna doing prayers. Should be interesting.
Sunday (24th) – interesting day, as predicted. Mostly mild and dry till we returned from Gem around 10pm. Very windy, though. In the morning walked along river to Costa. Julia bought jacket in charity shop. I had sudden and very unusual attack of acid reflux/indigestion, which took a while to go away, with the aid of Gaviscon tablets from Boots. After small lunch (I had toast) we got bus up to Turner exhibition, which was very good. D & J tired a bit so we walked home – possibly a mistake, as Julia later had a diabetes issue, which delayed our getting to Gem. Dot went down to secure table, and I drove D&J down, then took car home and walked. Earlier both Dave and I had rest on bed – I slept for a bit. Very good meal at Gem – four mezzes and a main each. Too much really. Home around 10pm and watched Spurs beat Man City 4-0 away after watching Norwich City goals. Earlier Graham’s grandmother died.