Reasonably warm on Thursday, September 3: slightly windy but dry. As usual felt tired when I woke up, though I’d had quite a good sleep. Read a bit, then had breakfast and received a phone call from my cousin Barbara, who didn’t sound too sharp. I offered to come to see her on Saturday, but she wanted me to ring her next week, when she hoped to be feeling better. Think she’s getting a bit of aggro from a neighbour.
Had to shorten our conversation a bit as I was due to pick up my chess friend Mike Read, to take him to Bury St Edmunds again to see Owen Hindle. (Actually Fornham All Saints, but near enough.) Had a good time there, much of it watching snooker (Owen rarely turns the TV off.) Did play through one chess game, though, and for a change he had a cleaner there, who danced round us (not literally). She seemed a nice woman. Journey both ways was fine, if you accept the usual hold-up approaching Norwich on the A11 – no obvious progress being made, but then the workmen are all out of sight. I know that because there’s a sign saying so.
Had mussels for supper, thus identifying with Dot. Watched latest Vuelta stage, featuring a new Slovenian star. Found loaf of bread in the road near Mark’s car, but it wasn’t his. Later Joe announced lots of police outside : they were apparently looking for a knife, though not to slice the bread. Small gathering of neighbours to discuss, and some time later I heard someone had been tasered on Rosary Road. The sunshade in our back garden was out of its holder, but I don’t think that was connected. Went to bed early and read.
Friday – Very wet in the morning, but dried out by the time I walked to St George’s Street by way of the river path with Des, Chris, Sean and Ciara for lunch at XO, which is sort of Asian. I had pork wontons and a bit of watermelon salad, plus a cup of tea. Quite pleasant. Apparently the restaurant will be closing soon.
I had a bath before I went. We walked back together, and I had a couple of hours’ rest before street meet. Read a bit. Quite a number of people out in the street. As well as the aforementioned, there were Joe, Jon and Matt. Sam is practising for the city run tomorrow morning. David FaceTimed while we were out there and gave them a wave, but I rang him back for a chat later. Apparently Chrissy’s job is going from strength to strength. Had some mackerel fillets with bread and butter and watched Ludwig. To bed not long after 10pm.
Saturday – Dry and quite warm. Got up a bit late, feeling a bit strange. Went out for walk – down Rosary Road, along the riverside and up the Close, then into the Cloisters. Back through to Prince of Wales Road. Over 6000 steps by end of the day. Saw Ciara as I went out and when I got back, and had a brief chat. She is putting up hanging baskets, which will please Dot, who seems to be staying in Nice today. During lunch started watching what I thought would be a little bit of snooker, but it turned out to be the longest game I’ve ever seen (well over an hour), with masses of safety. Won by Selby against the odds, and he won the match too. Did some sudoku while I ate supper; for some reason didn’t feel very hungry. Caught up with some other stuff afterwards, sent Oliver’s presents and paid the TV licence and watched EFL football, including Norwich City’s 3-1 away win at Sheffield United. We are now in the top half of the table.
Sunday – Cloudy at first, brighter later. Listened to Morning Worship. Spent some time debating whether to go to church or not, but at the moment they are running along Riverside (athletes, not the church). Not sure I could get out in the car. There was probably a way, or I could walk, but I didn’t really feel keen. Saw Des and Mark going up to Old Library Wood with gardening tools. Read a bit in old diary and realised it was ten years ago to the month that we went by train to Switzerland and met Peter and Joan.
Anyway, had a light lunch with biscuits and a very nice chicken pâté. Dot went to Cannes and appears to be having a good time. Kim came back from Coventry and said she was “jiggered” after helping her daughter to pack in preparation for moving – so I gave her a cup of tea and a lift home, then went and filled up with petrol at Morrisons – the petrol bit having reopened. Then I had an unusual supper – the other six sausages and two fried eggs with toast. Managed to execute the fried eggs very well for some reason. Was going to have fried potatoes, but I didn’t like the look of them. Played through some EP chess games and went to bed.
Monday – Girls went to Villefranche and I got a scam call about someone using our debit card. I hope it was a scam call. Did the Monday crossword and some washing, watered a few plants, tied back the roses, refilled the bird bath and took Des to Volkswagen about his car: they were singularly unhelpful. He also got an estimated bill of £18,000 for his knee operation, which hit him just before I tried to teach him sudoku. Tomorrow I take him for an x-ray. Had early supper – two lamb chops grilled. Quite nice, actually. Watched weekend football. Paid some charity money and did the last of my blood pressure measurements. Early to bed after clearing up. Read quite a lot of the Rodney Green book.