It’s Friday 18 April, and I forgot my father’s birthday yesterday – possibly because we were so busy. But no excuse. It’s now 1030 and the gas man has just left after spending about 90 minutes putting our heating system right. Valve problem in the airing cupboard and a recalcitrant radiator. Oh yes: it’s Good Friday.
Last Saturday (12 April) it was warm and sunny at first: cloudier later. Dot and I rehearsed our song for the last time, and I updated my blog. After a light lunch we set off for North Elmham Eastgate centre, where we took part in a poetry/prose/song event organised by James Knox Whittet. Hs wife Ann was also there: she had been seriously ill with pneumonia. Knew several people from the Fakenham library event. Quite a long programme: happily our song, Sands of Luskentyre, was second on the list and went surprisingly well. I also did an Iona poem to finish. Lots of good stuff. Including two Gaelic songs by Anna, and a poem about Yesnaby on Orkney. James read from his book again. Nice cakes. Got home just in time to get ready to go to the Greens for a meal. Walked both ways, ending up with nearly 6000 steps. Derek and Janet Bower also there. Had a really good time and arrived home about 10.45pm. Watched a little football and were in bed by 11.30pm. Very tired.
Sunday – Still tired. Quite warm, but rain later. Went to joint service at St Luke’s led by Bishop. We were part of worship band. Bishop was quite low key and avoided any net zero nonsense. Sermon quite good. Spoke to lots of people afterwards, many of them from St Luke’s. Took Ray home afterwards: strangely high number of people parking near his house. Then called in at St Aug to pick up mugs so that we could put them through our dishwasher. Oh yes. Watched a fair bit of television, including a good episode of Grace and the Boat Race (men and women) – both won easily by Cambridge. Also a bit of football. Later almost all the football results went badly. Liverpool won and Spurs lost. Contacted Robin, who is feeling better.
Monday – Bit cooler, but some sun and dry. Guy came to service the house alarm (Sonata) almost on the dot of 8.30am: had to put trousers on and go down. He put a new battery in. When Dot got up we drove up to church with the mugs we had put through the dishwasher. Later had a look at Channel Island details and warmed to it a bit. Kerry (Arniel) rang and we booked it. Checked visa requirement for Canada, which seemed straightforward and was getting on well with the insurance when I realised that Dot had already booked insurance for Rhodes and her details would have clashed with what I was trying to do. Rang Staysure and spoke to useless woman; got pretty depressed. May choose different company.
Went out for walk, which got me over 5000 for the day. Down Rosary Road, up Bishopbridge, through into Close and back after circuit of car park. Earlier Dot and I had chat with John at No 19, who still isn’t better. I felt pretty ill first thing this morning, and later had strange pain across stomach – seemed like gas, but not sure. Still getting head/ear problems.
Tuesday – Rain in the morning and evening, but a dry afternoon. Still reasonably warm. Got up very late after disturbed night. Had bath and then lunch. Feeling rather down over travel insurance, which I hadn’t sorted out. Have now written to Kerry with details of my medical conditions and await a reply. Disillusioned with Staysure. Dot went to garden centre at Sprowston and bought some rocks, then re-did little bit of garden at front – looks very good. Meanwhile I walked up and over the top to take tickets to Naomi. Ended day with over 5000 steps. Booked a table at the Foundry for next Tuesday. and sorted out bins for us, Des and Sarah. Des is still away, and so is Mark. In the evening watched various things and abandoned a so-called comedy called The Change. Watched a little bit of Aston Villa v PSG. which the former won 3-2 but the latter won 5-4 on aggregate. Cooked duck.
Wednesday – Breezy; cooler, especially when the gas went off, leaving us without heat or hot water. Bizarrely it came on again after I’d booked an engineer, then went off again. Even more bizarrely the downstairs electricity went off as well, but I think that was because Dot was doing an in-depth clean of the oven, which may have tripped something. [No – it was related to water in a heating valve.]
Aargh! One thing after another. Message back from travel agent. Will probably have to go in to discuss medical conditions. Lunchtime Bible study as usual: usual crowd plus Luke, a quietish older guy with Orthodox background. Ellie on phone. Think it went ok. Spent some time in afternoon sorting out charity money, then walked up to post cheques. Still less than 3000 steps today. Cooked complicated dinners – lamb for Dot and fried steak for me. Swapped prayer-leading with Howard; so will be doing it this Sunday. We watched three episodes of Ruth Ellis drama which was very well done but at the same time depressing because it was true, and she was screwed by lawyers. On the plus side, the guy she killed appeared to have deserved it. I probably shouldn’t say that.
Thursday – Very busy. Dry, mainly sunny. Warm out of wind. Dot woke up early and got me cup of tea. House chilly because heating off. Men building new wire fence to left of steps at end of road. Call from Kerry – fixed travel insurance meeting for later in day, then drove to Salthouse to see art exhibition at church. Spoke to Ian Dyble (the vicar) and found ourselves on same wavelength. Bought some cards, then drove to Cley NWT, where we had tea and scone and looked at another exhibition – this one by John Hurst, a guy we met at North Elmham. Saw a couple of marsh harriers, then drove home.
Got bus into city and went to travel agent. Long session with Kerry, who is very nice. Ended up with insurance that cost more than ticket to Canada. Also insured Channel Islands trip. Walked to Jarrolds, where we had wine and bread, then walked back to Marks & Spencer, where we bought food and then some trousers for Dot. Got into conversation with very pleasant guy outside changing room who had just bought his first suit for about 30 years in preparation (partly) for his daughter’s graduation in medicine at Bristol. Saw daughter as she went into changing room and she looked strangely familiar. No idea why.
Walked home. Had a cup of tea and watched football, then cooked M&S food – chicken and mushrooms, which was excellent. Saw end of Ruth Ellis drama. Very well done.