I am on my own. An odd feeling, especially since contact with Dot has been very erratic. My iPhone says she’s at Norwich airport, which is about par for the course. No problem picking up – instantly – Amy in Albania and David in Canada, not to mention Oliver in London. But Dot? No chance, even if she’s in Norwich. Which she isn’t. Anyway, to take the last five days in order…
Sunday 15th – almost entirely dry and fairly warm. Heard early in the day that Adrian Howes had died. Forgot my glasses when we drove to church and had to go back for them. Fortunately I had enough time. Anna not well; so band was Dot, me, Matt and Steve Fiske. Sounded quite good actually. Liz C forgot her Communion stuff; so we had Morning Worship as originally scheduled. Bit of anti-semitism in news slot; so I adjusted the prayers slightly to take it into account. David C asked me afterwards if I thought this appropriate, and I got a bit angry with him. Not like me at all, but I was getting quite frustrated about the whole issue.
Took Ray home as usual: he seems to be going downhill – has been prescribed morphine and cocodamol by palliative nurse. Watched a fair bit of TV, including the end of Mansfield Park, which I don’t think is that good really. Also a 2016 documentary on Greece which was strangely different from today. Cleaned out LED light on back porch, but it still doesn’t work. However I did manage to fix the printer after much effort. Dot and I did some research on Daniel, which was interesting.
Monday – Very warm. Bit of dizziness, especially when washing hair in bath. Had had a bad night and felt pretty tired. Had a lie down after watching Death Valley. Dot very busy preparing for her holiday. Watched her water flowers so that I know what to do! Cake and Compline at ours in the evening because Claire’s house needed repairs following thunderstorm. She brought a cake by way of compensation. By walking in the house I made it to about 4200. David and Bridget, Claire, Jude and Vicky came. Phil on holiday. David C wants to meet me to talk about Palestine. I suppose I shall have to.
Tuesday – Warm with a bit of wind. Suddenly remembered I had not picked up my pills from chemist; so drove up there about 10am and got them. Then at noon picked up Mike Read and drove to Bury St Edmunds, which was straightforward other than missing the turn in Thetford. So instead drove up on Diss road through Euston and cut across on road we have used in the past. Found Fornham All Saints with no problem and were in good time at Owen Hindle’s place. Had tea and biscuits and chatted to the accompaniment of tennis at Queen’s. Later Mark arrived, and hot on his heels his wife Liz (Nice), who I had helped to train as a journalist. She is now editor of EADT and Ipswich Evening Star. She said some nice things about the training, and I got a much clearer picture of what is going on there now. Mark was trained by David Paull before I arrived. It was really good to see them.
Drove home after they left (they live just behind Owen) and arrived in Norwich during rush hour. Tried the Unthank Road route, which worked surprisingly well, and I dropped Mike and got home around 5.30. Dot had been shopping and bought me some new trousers as an early birthday present! Plus some fruit off the market. Anne kept calling her to check things about their holiday. David FaceTimed later, and we had a chat. Lorraine’s sister has a similar vertigo problem to Dot’s. Amazingly, after walking a while in the kitchen before bed, I reached over 4000 again.
Wednesday – Dot’s last day in Norwich, and as she’d completed her packing at an early stage, it was all a bit surreal. As an added complication, the EDP informed us that there were lengthy hold-ups around the airport and would be for the next five months. All to extend a cycle path. As keen cyclist Matt would say, we already have cycle paths. They’re called roads. What a useless council.
Dot and I went to Bible study and we continued with James. Leanne was there, as were Debbie, Judy and Steven. Still a lot of planting going on in front of hall. Elaborate watering plans on church What’sApp. Meanwhile I was watering our own garden under guidance from Dot. After we’d been to Morrisons, that is. Short shop. Cooked egg , bacon, mushroom, beans and fried potatoes. Amy was still in Albania. We watched Long Hot Summer, with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward: very good except that in common with many films of that era, they didn’t know how to conclude: it just stops. Quite funny. About 4500 steps.
Thursday – Very warm. Bit worried about traffic; so left early to pick up Anne from Poringland and then take her and Dot to airport. Hold-up not as bad as expected, and I dropped them off as planned, then drove home. As I arrived home I met the window cleaner, who was about to do our house. Had quite a long chat. Cleared up and emptied dishwasher, then had a rest and made lunch. Remembered just in time that Bridget was coming; so moved car to one side as road was pretty full. Took EDPs over to Chris. Bridget did cleaning, and we had a chat about Fast Fiction!
Des came over later and asked about fish and chips for tomorrow, as well as inviting me to an evening meal on Wednesday! I chose the hymns and watered the flowers, then had tinned fish and stewed apple for supper. I also wrote a Pump piece before becoming worried about Dot, who I hadn’t heard from. Quite an odd feeling, thinking she might actually be in trouble. Eventually she texted me after midnight and said she’d had ”many adventures”. Quite a relief to find she was at hotel. My phone was showing her still in Norwich of course. Sorted out my trousers. Oh yes I did.