An early picture of Dave Gemmell with his first wife Val and Dot on a boat on the Broads. His death seems to have hung over the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been very on edge. Tomorrow is his funeral. We are driving down to Sussex today, staying overnight with Stella and going to the funeral from there, returning here tomorrow evening. Happily everyone has rallied round Stella, the publishers being particularly helpful, and his friend Steve is flying in from New Zealand for the funeral.

Here in Norwich things have been very hectic, preparing for the visit of Roger and Barbara from Canada. We had three new doors installed last Friday, and Dot spent yesterday painting them while I caught up with administrative matters. I need to write another column by the end of the week.

On the up side, we’ve spent some lovely days with Oliver, who stayed with us on his own for the first time last week. We took him to Sheringham on the train, and the next day on the Bure Valley railway. He is a real delight to be with. If only we could keep up with him! He has now departed these shores and is in France, where the family are on holiday with Vicky’s parents.

We went to Richard Beales’ wedding to Debbie Smart last Saturday at Attleborough – very hot, and the children had a good time, I think. Excellent food. On Sunday we spent the afternoon and early evening at Yelverton – Denise and Peter’s ruby wedding celebration. Had a really good time talking to old friends, to the people who now own Holly Bank (Christine and her boyfriend Paul) and to Elaine and her new baby Oliver (!). Spent quite a time chatting to Marilyn and her new husband Philip – well, not that new, but we’d never met him. They live at Shelton. Excellent food and we felt really at home.

Meanwhile, I have a new computer, installed courtesy of my son a couple of Sundays ago. A real joy to use: my Dell had done well, but it was getting to be a real pain. This one has many features I have hardly glanced at, but it also does the normal things well, quickly and prettily. Wonderful. Much like Dot, now I come to think of it…