Tuesday 18 Feb – Quite a pleasant start, with sun. Cold, though. Caught glimpse of new neighbours heading out! Dot still spring cleaning – saw another episode of Unforgotten – really very good. Renewed car insurance and filled in health survey. Ordered wine. Anne came round about 5.30 and went by bus with Dot to Ask Italian for a meal, then on to the theatre for a performance of The Nutcracker. Home a bit earlier than I expected – before 10pm. I had cooked lamb steaks, sprouts and potatoes, then cleared away, set off dishwasher and finished a poem – Am I Nearly There? which came to me after I briefly lost consciousness (ie went to sleep). 

Wednesday – Still cold, with a bit more wind, but some sun. Had a bad night and felt a bit odd towards the end of the day. Suddenly realised we should be at church by 11.30am to meet a man from PMT who we’d like to fix our sound system. Phil, Debbie, Judy also there. More complex than I thought it would be, but a very nice and helpful man (Jim). After he went we had our usual Bible study in Acts – bigger group than usual, because Phil stayed and Ellie and Steve turned up. After lunch Dot and I walked up to the sorting office to post a card to Sandra (King) and then we drove to Morrisons to buy some food, which all went well. Was emptying dishwasher when Harriet turned up. Dot had just started practising violin; so I made Harriet a cup of tea and had a chat. Haddock for tea, then Dot went to orchestra – driving herself and Nova because Janet couldn’t come this week . I lay down briefly and then put the next rota together. Quite hard work, for some reason. When Dot got home watched Amandaland, an episode of Outnumbered and Real Madrid beating Man City 3-1 (6-3 on aggregate). Felt better by bedtime. Why!???

Thursday – Markedly milder, but some rain, though mainly dry. Dot and I caught bus up to bus station via All;

Saints Green (Castle Meadow is closed for roadworks) and walked up to the Assembly House, where we had tea with Kim. Dot and I had a fruit scone each : very good. Chatted for about 90 minutes, then Kim went into concert. Met Andy Russell and had a chat – he had his prostate out three weeks ago. Then Dot and I went to Chantry Place to get some trousers, but they didn’t have the ones so wanted; so progressed to Slaters at bottom of St Stephen’s, where I got some Dockers, similar to the ones I bought in Canada. Not quite so good, though. Quite upmarket shop. Dot called at a different shop, where she bought handkerchiefs.

It had been raining, but by the time we exited Slaters it had stopped, and we walked home. Expected to see lots of road works on Castle Meadow, but practically none, and only two workmen. Tired by the time we got home and lay down for a while. Then Bridget came round to clean: she is thinking of writing a humorous book on her cleaning adventures. Watched a Lauren Bacall film in evening – Designing Woman – then the first half of Bridget Jones’ Diary. 

Friday – Quite mild, but wind getting up a little bit. Started on Parish Pump but watched a lot of TV, including more Bridget Jones and in the evening Death in Paradise. Just about all our neighbours are away, having visitors or under the weather; so Dot and I went outside for a few minutes and drank some wine on our own, and caught Sarah  coming back from a funeral near Wisbech. Dot did quite a lot of violin practice. Felt OK most of the day, but my head was a bit funny in the evening. However, got a letter from the hospital to say I had no significant kidney stones. Yippee!!

Saturday – Mainly sun with some cloud, and mild. Finished my Parish Pump pieces, on Turner, Einstein and Madame Tussauds. Quite interesting. Walked with Dot to Carrow Road, where she saw City beat Stoke 4-2. I was exhausted by the time I walked back and lay down for half an hour before clearing up and making the bed. Made a large portion of salmon for supper and noticed that Oliver was en route to Canada: sent him best wishes. Watched second half of Calcutta Cup – a lucky win for England by one point. Watched the third Bridget Jones film but missed it on Channel 5 and had to pay to see it on Prime. Saw City highlights on YouTube.