It was my 81st birthday on Sunday. A perfect square. Last one 64, next one 100. Very warm again, though with a slight alleviating breeze. Went to church – had to park further away than ever. Small congregation and not a very inspiring service: both leader and lectio person spoke very quietly, and I could not hear everything. However they did sing Happy Birthday for me. Before the service I bumped into Leanne outside her place and had a chat. Ray looked very thin and tired.
After lunch Dot and I went for a walk along the river: she was wearing a long white and black dress and looked good. I mean she always looks good, but this was especially striking. Watched a bit of tennis later and then Kim came round with presents – wine and a candle holder. David’s presents – two very appealing looking books, one on the Tour de France including maps and the other a new chess one featuring strong English players. Joy and Phil also sent me books and Dot gave me a number of things, many of them Scotland-related. Lots of greetings on Facebook and several cards.
Kim left about 6.30pm, when Dot had booked a table at Gem. She and I had a lovely meal including excellent cocktails. Afterwards we watched the last few strokes of Sinner’s win over Zverov and then the Tour de France. Also had FaceTime from both Amy and Oliver, and earlier from David. Oliver has moved to Stratford, but was ringing from Cheltenham, where he is on a course. Amy spotted a fake banknote at the zoo; so was a bit of a heroine.
Monday – Cooler, with wind, but still dry. After lunch, and after posting various birthday cards, went to see Anne at Poringland. Had tea and cakes in conservatory. Her house and garden look really good, but it was a bit chilly with all the windows open. Not used to that sort of thing! Anyway, had a good chat. Drove home around tea time, and I cooked cottage pie for supper. Watched an old episode of Endeavour, which was good, with an excellent ending, then cleared the house up and put out the rubbish for tomorrow morning. Managed to get my steps up to 3000, although we hadn’t done much walking. Anne gave me a bottle of merlot and a bar of chocolate.
Tuesday – Yes, it was quite warm. I spent most of the day writing my sermon for Sunday, while Dot got a bus into the city to get some food from Markys, as Mark calls it, for an afternoon tea tomorrow with Pam Goddard, who is in Norfolk for a while. Cooked some pies for supper, and we watched the Tour de France and France v Spain. Unexpectedly Spain were much better and won 2-0. Got three more birthday cards, all with first-class stamps – one of them from Vicky, Matt, Oliver and Amy. Managed 4000 steps, almost all of them indoors. Keep checking shed, but no sign of wasp return.
Wednesday – Still warm, but with a breeze. Not feeling great today, but kept going, I’m glad to say. Moved car to one side so that Pam Goddard could park in our drive if she came by car, but she didn’t. She arrived just before 3pm, having walked down from the Castle. Dot had put together a lovely afternoon tea, which we all enjoyed. At the end of the afternoon I drove her back to Sparhawk Road in Sprowston, where she is staying with a nephew, I believe. Then back and watched England inevitably lose to Argentina 2-1 after taking the lead through Gordon, who was then substituted. Needless to say Argentina got away with numerous fouls. Then watched Tour de France. David spoke to us on FaceTime, mainly about the football.
Thursday – Warm and dry. Dot got lots of washing dry. Had a bath. Bridget came round in afternoon with her broken arm, which is not giving her too much pain. Tea and chat, largely about her meeting Anne on a train in Cornwall, and how they both got home. Anne came via Cambridge, where she was picked up by Charlotte; Bridget and David stayed at a friend’s in Chelmsford, although the friend wasn’t there. Later we went over to Des and Chris, who will be away for four weeks from Saturday and want us to water their plants. Had cup of tea and chat. Cooked salmon for supper then we took Judy to Claire’s for Cake and Compline. Only David and Bridget there apart from us. Claire having rough time at work: both she and David want to retire. When we got home we watched Tour de France. Again.