For the first time in many moons, I forgot to write up my blog last night (Wednesday, June 3). Don’t know why. I’d spent quite a bit of the day scanning old pictures to my computer; so maybe I wasn’t focused on the present. Some of the pictures were very faded or blurred, which was sad: others were as new.Part of that time Dot was rehearsing at the orchestra – her last rehearsals, probably, till September, because she’s missing the centenary concert at the Cathedral: we shall be in Scotland.
It had been quite a different day – wet and with a thunderstorm in the evening, not quite overhead, but plenty of rain. Windy too; so it felt chilly. Before going to bed we watched Amandaland, brilliant as always. And I think I’ve fixed the problem with our landline, which hadn’t been ringing when someone called us. Found a second phone in the garage which critically had a set of instructions with it. I applied the latter to our current phone and managed to sort it out.
So back to last Saturday, which was warm again, but the forecast wasn’t so good. Up early because Robin arrived at 8.30 to install our new handrail on the upper stairs. I took a card up to the sorting office and booked seats at Snape for two concerts at the end of August. Not cheap. A bit later Dot went up to the Two Magpies on Timberhill to meet Anne and had a drink with her: she goes to Canada tomorrow, being picked up by taxi at 6.30am. At Toronto she has to catch a bus to Barrie. Great fun! Robin was finishing as Dot returned just before 3: he had also re grouted the bath and basin in the bathroom. We went to bed for a while, then I cooked supper: two beef pies, potatoes and courgette. Watched three more episodes of A Very Peculiar Practice and then the European Final between Arsenal and PSG, won on penalties by PSG when two Arsenal players (Eze and Gabriel) missed the goal completely.
Sunday – Quite warm, but plenty of cloud. Anne on way to Canada. Went to church, which was pretty full for a joint service with St Luke’s. Graham led, and Sam from St Luke’s preached on Isaiah. We sat next to Eleanor, who seems to have become a regular. Helped Ray get back to his lift (Paul and Harriet): he walked very slowly and seemed quite ill. Worried about him. Had to park quite a way up Oak Street; so fetched car for Dot. Had a couple of croissants at church; so didn’t need much else for lunch. Played through the latest EnPassant chess games at home while Dot put in bowing marks on her orchestra music. Watched a bit of TV, including Death Valley, during which we both went to sleep, and the latest episode of Dear England, which is very well done. Had beef stroganoff, which was OK, followed by fruit. Conversation with David and Chrissy on FaceTime. Oliver and Sophie had a good time in Montreal, apparently, though it was a long drive. O is now back in London. Chrissy’s job sounds really good.
Monday – still quite warm, but plenty of cloud. Drove up to chemist with Dot to get our prescriptions, then via Thunder Lane to Morrisons to refresh our food stock. I cleared out quite a bit of paperwork from baskets in my room, and gave some cash to MAF and JFJ. After lunch Dot had a long phone call from Carrie about her husband’s death and the aftermath – difficulties with children of his former marriage. Lasted nearly an hour, during which I cleared up fairly thoroughly downstairs.
Later had a series of phone calls with Fred and Joyce, which resulted in our planning to take her to Felbrigg to meet him (and Sue) on Friday. Cooked venison burgers, which went down quite well, and put out bins. started watching a documentary about the Queen and Anthony Blunt, and just when it mentioned the power cuts in the 1970s, all our lights went out – as did everyone else’s. Quick conflab in street, but the power soon came on again – it had apparently been switched off so that engineers could deal with an emergency. Bit worrying. Finished watching documentary, plus the final episode of Dear England, which was really excellent. Dot got quite emotional about it.
Tuesday – Wet, but not cold. So wet, in fact that when we got to the Town House for the Archant pensioners’ breakfast, rain was pouring through the roof opposite the door. Apparently it was being mended, though the staff didn’t seem convinced. Robin was on antibiotics and Tricia was having her hair done; so we were alone on our table. However we did have a good chat with Peter Franzen and with Eric and Linda towards the end. Peter had written a piece in the EDP this morning about a ridiculous cash-motivated 40mph limit on a small part of the NDR. I congratulated him.
On the way home Dot called in at Boots and Morrisons, the latter to get flowers for Carrie. She went to see Carrie later and found her improved: her granddaughter was there. I transferred some slides to my computer, once I’d remembered how to use the scanner machine. Had light supper (because of big breakfast). Felt cold later in the day; so turned heating back on. Watched a new drama called The Fortune which was a bit strange, but not as strange as the comedy we watched earlier, which was truly bizarre.