Monday, December 16 – Some sun: dry. Graham and Debbie both ill. Exhausting day with very few steps. In the morning drove up to Thunder Lane post office to post parcels, after posting cards at sorting office. Then on to Ellie’s to put a thank you note through the door. Then home for lunch. Dot went to Morrisons, mainly to buy food for Cake and Compline event tomorrow. I wrote some cards, then did a large number of electronic ones. Dot got lights from loft and put them up, including the tree. Watched Strike first episode, went to sleep and knocked tea on to floor, breaking mug. Mysteriously, no tea on me at all. Still have bit of pain in my head, and got a severe pain in my upper left leg for a while. Last night had severe cramp In left leg, which took a long time to get rid of. Still, it’s better than having a cold. Ha!

Tuesday – Dry till evening. Chilly wind, but temperature not too low. Hair cut by Linda, then bath.  Spent much of day writing cards and sending electronic Christmas letters, also trying to find addresses etc. Sorted out a few presents but haven’t sent for them yet. Took Dot to Greens for violin lesson and met her when she walked home. Dot prepared room and food for Cake and Compline Christmas do. Lots of work. Paul dropped in a present and card. Everyone came to C&C, though Eleanor was a little late and David very late. Good evening. Shattered. 

Wednesday – Dry during day, windy; quite cool. Ordered most of presents from Amazon. Posted invitation cards to neighbours and ordinary cards to Michael and Margaret; and June. Then decided to go into town for lunch at Jarrolds, followed by buying boots and shirt for Dot and present for Kim. Was tired out, and left leg was painful again for a while. Then got bus home; in by about 4pm.  Felt very tired, and thirsty for some reason. Had a bottle of cider, which is unusual. Managed to just about finish all the cards and answer a few e-mails. Tidied up and after a light meal watched the second episode of Strike, plus some of a documentary on the Yardbirds, during which I realised I preferred Eric Clapton to Jeff Beck. Actually I already knew that. Graham still ill, and Philip Robinson seems to have had a heart attack and is in a bad way in hospital. 

Thursday – Very cold, partly because of northerly wind. Dry after rain overnight. Dot had big tidy-up, with loft entry (by me). We dropped off presents for Naomi and family, then went to shop. I left Dot at Morrisons after helping to gather food and walked home via King Street, dropping off Jenny Downing’s card on the way and Maureen’s (at No 6 ) after I got home. Still got home before Dot, who had stopped for petrol and extra mulled wine. Think we’ve now really completed our cards and presents, except of course some of the Amazon ones haven’t arrived yet. So have to arrange visit to Phil and Angela. Had long chat with Amy on FaceTime, concluding it was wiser not to try and meet on New Year’s Eve but to have a quiz on Christmas Day instead (and meet later in the New Year). Mark arrived home late in the day from America. Philip Robinson still very ill. Dot had long chat with Anne. Frustratingly, I have cold symptoms. 

Friday – Cold, with rain later. I have a cold.  Grrrrr.  In the afternoon I drove Dot up to Kim’s, then posted card in Heather’s, and three others at sorting office. Then home for a rest while Dot visited Kim. I picked her up about 4.30, by which time it had started raining. Graham got in touch, saying he was getting better and letting me have his additions to the Alternative Carol Service, which are mainly OK, though I may not make it. At 5.30 the neighbours decided not to face the “grim” weather for street meet, and instead several of them went round Des and Chris’s, including Dot. Another present arrived, four days early. Des got us fish and chips, as he does fortnightly, and Dot and I watched Return to Paradise. I went to bed early, feeling gradually worse and hoping that by some miracle I would be Ok tomorrow. 

Saturday – Dry but cool and not very bright. Felling quite bad with cold at beginning of day; slightly improved later. Rang Joy and discovered that they wouldn’t be seeing either Joe or Sam this Christmas, so new present logistics problem. Discovered John Beales’ wife Margaret has died suddenly. Watched second episode of Dalgleish, which was very good – considerably better than The Listeners, a four-parter about a mysterious noise. Dot cooked me a fried egg sandwich and I had a bath while she went to Ann Curran’s 90th birthday party (former Tuckswood head). She only knew one other person there. Have developed a bit of a cough, but not too bad. David FaceTimed around 10pm, and we had quite a long chat. Very few steps, obviously. Still not sure whether I’ll be going to church tomorrow. (I didn’t.)