Granddaughter Amy being attacked by a bear but retaining her appetite
One of those weeks where you seem to have plenty of time to do stuff, and so you fritter most of it away. Weather has not been brilliant – wet and dull all day yesterday – but at the moment the rain has relented, which pleases Dot, as she’s scheduled to have lunch in the city with Anne a bit later. It’s a bit autumnal: cooler without being anywhere near cold. I’ve had my second ear-syringe (note the hyphen) which seems to have cleared all the wax, though the ears (and head) are still strangely crackly. On the plus side, I can hear better. The sound of the rain on the car roof as I returned from my appointment with Martine (we name the guilty nurse) was strangely loud. I’ve also had my teeth cleaned by a hygienist, who is so highly skilled that it doesn’t really hurt at all. So I should be in good shape.
I’ve managed to write a Paston poem, linking the last Margaret with the first of the family who arrived at Paston from France. Think it just about works. Need to speak to Annette in more detail about the workshop. The church magazine editors’ training plans have been laid aside temporarily, because one of the key guys is too busy and Anne’s dog is not well. Not sure if it will ever happen. However, I have written most of my sermon for Sunday. Most of the church will be either at Greenbelt or some other holiday venue, so I am prepared for a very small congregation.
Played my first chess game of the new season on Monday, after negotiating quite deep flooding on the road approaching the club. Hesitated to go through at first, but saw a bus a negotiate it, so followed. When I reached the club several other people were there, so I felt a bit of a wimp. However, recovered enough to draw a tight game against Jon Burrows, who’s graded about 30 points higher than me. As it was a knockout competition game, I have to play him again – probably on Monday.
Another Monday. Where did the week go? Seven days ago I was rather dreading a visit to the dentist, but it turned out well: sensitivity proved less serious than I thought. Still, I have to see the hygienist this week…
On Tuesday things turned exciting. I was informed by my son on Monday evening that Oliver was expecting us at about 10am the following morning; after an initial hollow laugh we decided to see what we could do and ended up leaving the house at 8.15am. Despite heavy traffic, and to everyone’s astonishment, we got to Caddington just after 10.15am, and an hour or so later we were Norwich-bound with grandchildren loaded. We stopped at Cambridge Services for lunch, just in time to stop Amy dying of hunger, and got home mid-afternoon.
We were fortunate to get the loan of Fred and Sue’s caravan at Beeston Regis (West Runton) for a night (or more, if we’d wanted to), and so we left fairly early the next morning, arriving at about 11.30 and in good time for the Red Arrows display at Cromer Carnival. Happily we didn’t have to leave the site: there was a great view from the cliffs, and I took many pictures, of which a surprising proportion turned out quite well. The sky was completely clear while this went on, but as soon as the Hawks disappeared into the distance, clouds started to come over. Still it remained dry and reasonably warm, but as the tide was right in we decided to go and visit Aunt Jessie. This was followed by a visit to Sainsburys for food and a few small items of clothing for the children, and on our return we went down the new steps to the beach: extremely steep, but a great improvement on having to walk all the way to West Runton to gain access to the sand. The tide was still quite a way in, but there were some pools round the groynes on which we sailed a couple of boats and looked unsuccessfully for crabs. Both children were quite successful at getting pretty wet.
"Ginormous" crab in the net
On Thursday we got down to the beach by 9.30 to catch the low tide. It was already coming in, but had a long way to travel, so we were able to do a bit of crabbing in the rock pools. We managed to catch three smallish ones, and then Amy spotted one that was officially described as “ginormous”, and we managed to get it into our net. We were all a bit nervous about it until a boy wandered past, had a look and nonchalantly picked it up. I guess you either have it or you don’t. Eventually all crabs were returned to the wild, and as the tide came in, there was some sandcastling, game-playing and even clay-pot-making – Oliver being inspired by some pots Sue had made and left in the caravan.
After lunch we packed up and drove home by way of the Wizard Maze at Metton. We hadn’t been sure whether to stop or not, but it was a huge success. First we tried to find a number of letter clues in the maze, splitting up on gender lines. Oliver and I found all but two or three, slightly more than the girls, who left the maze early for Amy to play on the varied items in the play area: bouncy pillow, swings, pedal-karts, bales of hay etc. When Oliver and I joined them Dot managed to work out the magic words from the letters we had, and so we won the prize of an activity book and pencil for each of the children. When Oliver got the play area he joined in enthusiastically, and was particularly good on the quad bike. Amy typically made a friend, named Emily, and she had a brother named Barney who was a year older than Oliver. All four had fun on the hay bales before we left quite late for home. Very warm. We were lucky with the weather: we only had the caravan because Fred’s daughter decided not to use it because of the unsettled forecast.
Much quieter day on Friday, which was very warm indeed, making bus drivers very tetchy. Nevertheless we took a bus into the city, where the Norwich City shop was obligingly shut for a refit. I managed to get Oliver a scarf somewhere else in the Mall, and followed up this coup by buying him a casual jacket which he picked out. Meanwhile Dot was buying hair slides for Amy. We walked round a bit in search of the open-top bus tour, but failed to find it. However, we did buy hats for the children from the market, as I was worried about the sun on their heads, and then got a bus home. Not content with this, we then drove to see Auntie Ethel, who gave Oliver a radio and Amy a necklace. After this we went to Prezzo’s for supper; the children were understandably very tired by the end of the day, and we got them into bed quite early, though not before an extremely elaborate car-and-brick construction spread across the floor in the kitchen. David arrived around 10pm, just after we finished watching the cricket.
Oliver prepared to support those Yellows
On Saturday David and I took Oliver to see Norwich City beat Swansea 2-0 in a game they had looked like losing. Ruddy saved a penalty and we then got an own goal, followed up at the death by a brilliant volley from new player Simeon Jackson, who’s Canadian. Meanwhile Dot took Amy to buy flowers and then drop in on a party for Phyllis Todd, who was 100 yesterday. We had originally thought the party was taking place on the Sunday and had kept it clear, but the best laid plans… David and the children departed about 7pm, and we flopped out on the sofa.
Communion service at church yesterday was followed by very little activity from us. We ended up watching four episodes of Battlestar Galactica back-to-back; in our defence the second, third and fourth were actually one story. It really is very good. I’ve finished Avilion, which turned out very well, though you wanted it to continue. Heavy rain and high winds were forecast overnight, but I slept through most of it, and the weather had improved a lot by the time Dot left at 9am to present her Philosophy 4Children to a summer school in Suffolk.
Fred, Dot and Sue on the path between Blakeney and Morston
And so it goes on. The ear syringe turned out to be inconclusive, and I have another appointment in two weeks’ time. Meanwhile, my hearing is not as good as it was before. Something going on in there, obviously. And the weather is pretty up and down too. We put the heating on because we were cold, and the system took revenge by getting hotter and hotter and ignoring all my efforts to turn it off. In the end I turned it completely off at the power switch in the garage, expecting to have to call British Gas on Saturday morning. But no, when I turned it on again, it behaved perfectly normally. And when I went out for a walk the weather was quite warm too. Some rain, admittedly, but I avoided it.
We were lucky, too, with our visit to West Runton on Thursday to see Fred (my best man) and Sue at their caravan. Quite a pleasant afternoon: we had a surprisingly good lunch at Wiveton Fruit Fram followed by tea and scones at the Blakeney Hotel before walking to Morston. From there we caught the Coasthopper bus. Dot and Sue stayed on it right back to West Runton, while Fred and I alighted at Blakeney to pick up the car, cheekily parked at the Manor Hotel, our regular reunion venue. New steps down the cliff at WR, so we popped down to look in the rock pools, revealed by a very low tide.
Friday saw more travelling, this time to Beccles for an evening private view of prints, mainly by Annette and her students. Annette’s mother and sister were there, but we just missed Lucy. Very odd weather. It was cool before we left, so we put on some autumnal clothes. But the gallery was warm verging on very warm, so by the time we left we were boiling. And when we reached Norwich it was pouring with rain, so we were cold, warm, hot and wet in the space of two or three hours. Then very hot when the heating refused to turn itself off…
Saturday was again mixed, but I managed to get out for a three-mile walk in the afternoon. Then out of the blue we went to Godfreys and bought two sorts of hedge cutters and a saw – and not only that but actually cut a few branches off our overgrown hedge. And more today! However, today’s surprise purchase was a windbreak, which we bought at Waxham after seeing what it was like on the beach. This was a joint day out for the two churches or, as it turned out, a very few people from the two churches. It wasn’t cold, but you had to get out of the wind, which was blowing sand everywhere, specifically into the picnic. Dot and I took both our cars so we could give lifts to Phyllis, Elvira, Pepukai, Richard and Allanah, which is a good cross-section not only in age but also culturally, taking in Africa and South America. Quite a good time, but no-one stayed very long after lunch.
I’m getting through Avilion, which is both excellent and mysterious, as Robert Holdstock always is. And we have at last started watching Series 2 of Battlestar Galactica, which is brilliant. Eight episodes down.
Busy, busy. That may be why I feel heavy and listless. Have just been to Carrow Road with Dot to book tickets for the Swansea match for David, Oliver and myself. Only a mile and a-half there and back, and I feel exhausted. Am having my ears syringed shortly, but somehow I suspect that may not have any effect on the exhaustion. Haven’t been sleeping too well and have been having rather unsettling dreams, which is very unusual for me. Weather is still fairly warm, but not without some cloud and rain.
My eye test on Thursday went well: seeing is not a problem, and no new glasses necessary. No explanation as to why I have this burning sensation in my eyes in the evenings sometimes. Jennie arrived on Thursday afternoon: first time we’ve seen her for a while. Her arrival was somewhat marred by an event in the city shortly before her arrival: Dot was stung by a wasp. She was a bit worried at first because of Roger’s anaphylactic near-death experience, but was reassured by a pharmacist. However, the sting did become infected and turned quite unpleasant: swollen arm, very hot, very itchy. Had a bad night and went to see a nurse practitioner on Friday morning, just after I left for Coventry with Phil to take Andrew out on his birthday. Periodic phone calls revealed that she was not at all a happy bunny, and so it was fortunate that Jennie was there to keep an eye on her. The area of infection spread up her arm, and in the evening she called the emergency number, only to be reassured that the penicillin would not have kicked in yet. So a second sleepless night followed, and it was not until Saturday that the infection stopped spreading. It has still not quite subsided, and she is still taking the pills.
Meanwhile, Phil and I had a difficult drive to Coventry, having to take a diversion to avoid a huge hold-up on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon – my least favourite stretch of road in the country and yet another example of short-sighted planning by the highway authorities. It’s the place where all the traffic going from the east to the Midlands and from London to the North-East has to share a two-lane dual carriageway. Who would have guessed that wasn’t enough road space? Not the highway planners, of course.
Andrew, however, was very well, and we took him for an excellent meal to Friday’s before driving to Corley Rocks, which we reached successfully despite Andrew’s directions or, in one case, because of them. One of Andrew’s favourite spots, it’s a bit tired but has potential. Unfortunately its potential is unlikely to be realised. The journey home was much easier.
On Saturday Dot and I took Jennie for a drive round north Norfolk. Jennie had a bad foot and Dot was still feeling groggy and very uncomfortable, so the ride was about the only option. We started by having a look at Paston Church, then lunched at the Ship in Mundesley (excellent again, with the waitress taking an interest in Dot’s arm and providing a welcome bag of ice. I had fish and chips again, and the other two had an imaginative starter followed by something sweet. We went on to Blakeney, where we decided we were not hungry or thirsty enough to take in any more and headed for home, just as it started to rain hard. Went via Holt and across country to Aylsham. Interesting. On Sunday we all went to church and tried out Nicholas’s new liturgy. Jennie returned home in the afternoon.
Annette at Oxburgh Hall
Monday was a beautiful warm and sunny day, and I drove to Oxburgh Hall to reconnoitre for the art/poetry Paston workshop in early September. I met Annette there, and we spoke to the NT’s top woman on site, who was very helpful. Annette and I had lunch in the cafe, which was a cut above, then looked at the nearby church. All fascinating stuff, and useful insofar as we now have a clearer idea of what we’re doing. Not clear, but clearer. Quite a pleasant journey there and back on the Watton road.
Tuesday started rainy for the visit of Pat and Barry Clayton and a couple of their friends. Pat was a college friend of Dot’s, and it was a very long time since we’d seen her. After an expansive cold lunch the rain had stopped (as forecast) and we all walked round the riverside path to the Playhouse, and then back down Elm Hill and through the Cathedral. A pleasant enough stroll, but again I felt very tired at the end. They left at about 6pm to return to their holiday address in the Harleston area, and Dot and I went to Vicky’s for Tuesday group. Tried to pick up Harriet, but she was in considerable pain in her legs, and Dot stayed with her while she rang the doctor. Also called in on the way back: the doctor hadn’t yet arrived, but she was resting and feeling a bit better.
Have finished reading a book by someone who visited the highest points of all the counties in the UK. Not nearly as good as it might have been, unfortunately. Now I’m on to Robert Holdstock’s Avilion, sequel to the wonderful Mythago Wood. Now he is a good writer. Even David Gemmell says so (on the cover).
Old family picture shown to Sam, featuring (left to right) myself, Sam's father, Andrew and our cousin Adrian. Taken at Dovercourt, I believe.
Annoying day yesterday. It looked very much as if it was going to rain, so I kept putting off going for my usual walk. Then it didn’t rain, but it kept looking as if it were going to. The people of Norwich should thank me for not going for a walk, because if I had, it would certainly have rained. Annoying element of day part two: my printer went missing. Not literally. It’s still upstairs, attached to my wife’s computer, but now my computer can’t find it. It’s looking for it, it keeps assuring me. It just can’t find it. It has the right name, and when I don’t want to use it, it tells me it’s ready, but when I try and print something, it just looks for the printer. So everything I want printed has to be e-mailed to Dot first, which is tiresome. Checked on Google for solutions, but they were either incomprehensible or didn’t work. One was so silly even I knew it wouldn’t work, and it didn’t.
Still, by way of compensation, I did get a few things done. Nicholas came round in the morning to talk to Dot about organisation of the John Bell visit while I had a look at the draft of his book (in which I figure among the thanks). After that we discussed changing the liturgy as the first stage in a consultative process which may or may not turn out to be interesting. Later, in the evening, nephew Sam came round and we had a catch-up chat. Also showed him some photos of Wales and some old family pictures, which I’m sure he found rather more compelling. Lucy had been out all day with her mother at Norjam, which is not a new local preserve for spreading on toast but a gathering of Guides, and she didn’t get back in time, so I took Sam home around 11pm.
Oh, and I updated my website, partially rejigging it at the same time.
On Monday we went to Hempnall for lunch at Sue and Roger’s. Lovely house and lovely meal. Made the mistake of rearranging carpet cleaning man for 4pm and had to leave earlier than we would have done. Got back just in time, largely because there were no vehicles on the road between Hempnall and Stoke Holy Cross – a rare phenomenon – and I was able to eat up the miles in the MX5. Nice to drive that for a change.
Tuesday started with a trip to the surgery to get my blood tested. Waiting room packed, which meant of course that when the first name was called, no-one responded. Why does this always happen? Got in 20 minutes late and blood was removed. Now the wait to see if it’s behaving itself. As I had predicted, I was a bit late returning to get my hair cut by Linda, but no-one seemed to mind. In the evening the Tuesday Group was down to five, and knowing that our resident vegetarian was going to be absent, I cooked chili con carne, which I have to say tasted pretty good.
Today is bright, and I shall be going out shortly to see if I can get my eyes tested (get it?). Dot has already been to Park Farm, and she is following this up by shopping at Morrisons in preparation for our friend Jennie’s arrival this afternoon. She will complete the morning with a visit to the dentist, which sounds like fun. I have just rung the hospital in Coventry to confirm that Andrew is Ok to go out for a meal tomorrow, and it seems he is doing well.
Queen Amy processes down the castle steps during our holiday in Llanberis.
The time is just flashing by. Probably something to do with my being 65. It looked as if it was going to be a quiet week, but something happened every day, which I guess is better than the alternative. Tuesday was our 42nd wedding anniversary, and we celebrated with lunch at Caffee Uno (during which it poured with rain outside) and champagne at Tuesday Group. On Wednesday, Dot and I met Jessie at Jarrold’s, had a meal with her and then brought her home to look at our Welsh pictures on Apple TV. To make up for it, we took her home afterwards. On Thursday I went to the hospital while Dot was at Ethel’s. I received a certain amount of reassurance concerning rehabilitation from my operations; I had been feeling a bit down about it. Actually my health is quite good, and I walked halfway home afterwards. It was a bit muggy, so I took a bus the rest of the way: in fact the mugginess has been a constant over the last few days.
On Friday I drove over to Paston while Dot carried through the second stage of a mammoth house-cleaning project, and met with Lucy and Annette to discuss taking the Paston project to Oxburgh Hall. Annette and I will be offering a workshop, if we can work out how to organise it. Every sign that the Paston thing will extend some way into the future, and that there will be more poems and artwork to come from it. Maybe a second book, though it will different from the first – no more copies of which can be printed because several of the plates have unbelievably collapsed or gone missing. I have to write the words for a flyer and a press release, and later this month will be going to Oxburgh Hall with Annette to reconnoitre. After the discussion Annette and I were treated by Lucy to lunch at the Ship in Mundesley: we all went for the fish and chips, and were not disappointed. Good service: according to Lucy, they only employ graduates. That must be illegal, because it works so well.
In the evening we were given a lift by Vicky and Jared to Roger’s birthday do in Thorpe. As none of us knew anyone else there (except Roger’s son Philip) we spent most of the evening talking to each other and had a good time. Met Roger’s new girlfriend, who seemed extremely nice. We had a little too much to drink, but survived without medical help. Ho, ho.
David came up on Saturday to accompany us to the friendly match between Norwich City and Everton, which ended 2-4. Quite encouraged by the performance of the new Canaries, especially Andrew Crofts. Norwich gave away a couple of soft goals, but weren’t hopelessly outclassed. It was 2-2 for a while. Well, about a minute, I think. Although it was raining when David arrived shortly before 2pm I successfully predicted no more rain after about 2.15pm, after consulting three different forecasts. So we bravely managed without umbrellas. Still very warm, as it is today. Afterwards I showed David our Welsh photos, and then we watched the European Athletics championships, at which we did quite well. Appropriately, a Welsh one-two in the 400m hurdles. England also doing quite well against Pakistan in the test match. David stayed overnight, and left about 10 this morning.
Today Ruth was taking the service for the first time, and I gave Steve a hand with the music. We had originally intended to be in London with the Coomes’, but Maurice has been very ill, and David and Kristine are up in Yorkshire. Ruth and Steve did really well, and I’m trying to persuade Ruth to do it on a regular basis (and Steve to join the music group). Good sermon by Margaret.
Have done a bit of work in the garden, but not as much as Dot, obviously. I’ve cut back some roses from above the potatoes, and we’ve tidied up at the front too. Our brown bin runneth over.
Our home for a fortnight: Pant y Cafn, on the Llanberis path to Snowdon
Slept in till 10 this morning after a tiring few days: both Dot and I had been slightly unwell following our holiday, though not bad enough to stop us functioning more or less normally. The journey back from Wales on Friday had been arduous, though it started in a very relaxed way as we called in at Swallow Falls, near Betwys-y-Coed, at Dot’s suggestion. Worthwhile, despite having to pay to get in (£1.50 each). Falls thunderous after all the rain in recent days. Petrol in Betwys, then drove on to Telford, making slow progress after Llangollen because of heavy traffic. Paused for a snack and then on to Coventry via M6 toll after being warned of heavy congestion on “free” M6. Called in to see Andrew in hospital and found him much improved, quite coherent, able to engage in conversation and even inquire about David and what we had been doing. Arranged to send him a diary, because his memory is so poor that he likes to write everything down. Also arranged to see him on his birthday and take him out for a meal.
Continued onwards, with traffic still heavy but moving steadily. Stopped at Thrapston for a meal, then continued across the Fens. Traffic almost at a standstill around Huntingdon: discovered afterwards that much of it was probably generated by the Secret Garden Party, a music and arts festival that was so secret I had never heard of it. Rather irritating, but we discovered from radio traffic bulletins that the alternative route along the A14 was even worse. After that things improved a little, and we reached home just after 7pm, having set out at 10.15 from Llanberis (after dropping key off). Collapsed on sofa to watch Tour de France.
The rest of the weekend was the usual holiday recovery schedule, with some additions. I bought Andrew a diary and posted it to him, and Dot went out for a meal in the evening with Anne for Charlotte’s hen party at Pinocchio’s, which apparently set new records for slow service. Dot had a main course of fish and a piece of cake to follow. This lasted from 7.30pm until around 11pm, though I guess it wasn’t entirely the restaurant’s fault. You know what these hen parties are like. Dot got home just before midnight, and we forced Anne to watch our holiday pictures on Apple TV.
On Sunday we had a really good morning service, led by Howard with a brilliant sermon by Mark Tuma on prayer – why the disciples asked to be taught how to pray, and why Jesus told them (what it meant). Thought it was just right for us. We had arrived feeling a bit low, especially after discovering that it was no longer possible to park on Sussex Street, and felt really encouraged by the whole thing. Gave Harriet a lift home, then watched the German Grand Prix – blatant rule-breaking by Ferrari went unpunished, predictably – then went to see Phil and Joy and thank them for looking after the house while we were away.
Our Welsh holiday featured heavy amounts of rain, while our home county was mainly dry and sometimes very warm. Still, we had a good time. Obviously I kept a diary, and it goes something like this:
Friday 9 July
Started out from Norwich in very warm weather – high 20s – having to circumnavigate the men who had at last arrived to mend the potholes in our road. Ended at Llanberis around 18C, with pouring rain and low cloud. We’d taken the back road round the Berwyn and were balked constantly by slow drivers, so I was rather stressed by the time we met Adrian at Cerrigydrudion for a brief chat by the side of the road. Did a little shopping in Llanberis before meeting Ian Torr, the owner, at the house, situated high above the village and on the Llanberis path to Snowdon. Amazing position; amazing house, even in the rain. It would be hard to beat the view from the lounge or our bedroom.
The train to the summit of Snowdon could be seen and heard from our house every half hour
Saturday 10 July
Continuing rain, sweeping down the hillside, but quite warm. Got up late and drove into town to do extensive food shopping. David and the children arrived just after 2pm. After lunch the rain paused for a while, and we went for a walk up the road. Later Oliver, Dot and I went into Llanberis again to get additional shopping. The gate to the property has to be padlocked shut because, amazingly, people have parked in the drive and walked up the mountain. So we are told. Watched third place match in World Cup: Uruguay 2 Germany 3.
Sunday 11 July
Dry and quite warm. Eventually walked down into village and after dithering around went to the Electric Mountain centre, where we had a very pleasant sandwich and took the tour into the caverns under Elidir mountain to see the huge machinery involved in electricity generation (pump storage system). Most impressive. At home, watched the Tour de France – stage won by Andy Schleck. Then I wandered out for a reconnaisance walk on the hill. On the way back met David and showed him where I’d been. Walked about six miles today. Had supper, watched some of the British Grand Prix, then the World Cup Final, which was predictably unexciting. Spain won 1-0 in extra time, shortly after Oliver retired exhausted to bed.
Oliver reaches the summit of his first hill in Wales
Monday 12 July
I am 65. Quite warm weather, pleasant for walking. After opening my presents, we all walked across towards Moel Cynghorion, and Oliver and I climbed Tyrn yr Aelgerth, 409m high. Came down by quite a hard route, and Oliver was excellent. We walked about four miles altogether. In the evening we had a birthday meal at the Lake Padern Hotel: steak followed by raspberry pavlova. Delicious.
A boat ride on Llyn Padarn, looking back up the Llanberis Pass.
Tuesday 13 July
Started fine and dry, but rain came later. Dot and I took washing to the launderette and picked it up about 4pm (free to us because the launderette owner also owns our house). Also bought food, then all went to Padarn Country Park, starting with a 45-minute boat ride, continuing with a sandwich at the café, then walking up to the Quarry Hospital (dodging the school parties) before ending at the Slate Museum, by which time it was raining steadily. Excellent demonstration of slate cutting, with lots of humour. Then into town, bought poles for Amy and Oliver at outdoor shop, plus map and walks book. Home for fish and chips. David walked home from town, as he did several times.
The floating restaurant, just behind Caernarfon Castle, selected by Oliver for our lunch. Good, too. Oliver and Dot in foreground, Amy and David making slower progress.
Wednesday 14 July
Quite a lot of rain, especially on the way to Caernarfon, where we parked on the quay, the rain stopped and we visited the castle, which is impressive. David and Amy did their own thing on the battlements for a while, but we eventually met up and had a surprisingly good lunch on the floating restaurant, next to the swing bridge. Then drove back through more heavy rain, stopping in village for brief shopping. Later walked some of way up Llanberis path but turned back as grey clouds hastened towards us. Just got home in time. Earlier in day Oliver and I visited the tea room to check on the weather forecast and were shown round the old cottage in which it is based. Oliver beat me at Mah Jong.
Thursday 15 July
Overcast, but rain held off till late afternoon. Went into town, bought monocular for Oliver, and Dot fell over spectacularly but not seriously. Walked up to waterfall, and David and Amy walked home from there while Oliver, Dot and I went back to the High Street for the car. Home for lunch, then to Dolbardon Castle ruins and a walk across the lake meadow. In the evening heavy rain and very high winds, which got worse about 1am. Boiler very smokey: moved Oliver into David’s room. Stormy night.
Amy and Oliver refresh themselves with Twisters after an exhausting session on the beach at Dinas Dillwe
Friday 16 July
Grey and wet start, though wind died down quite quickly. Drove to beach at Dinas Dinlle, recommended by Steffan at tea room. Sort of Welsh Walcott. Kids had great time on beach, getting themselves wet, and eventually we climbed the hill fort, which is 3000 years old and almost as much fun as the play area below it. Turned chillier as kids played there, and we drove home for fish and chips, with something different for Amy, of course.
Oliver after his conquest of Snowdon
Saturday 17 July
The big day. Started rainy, but improved as forecast. Ian came up to check the boiler. David, Oliver and I climbed Snowdon by Llanberis path. Oliver did really well: I had to stop more often than him on steep sections in second half. Eventually made it to the restaurant about a quarter of an hour before Dot and Amy arrived by train. Very cold on top, with a strong wind. Terrific achievement by Oliver, who showed real determination in the unpleasant conditions near the summit. Thousands of people in and around the restaurant, but Dot got us tea eventually, and we all visited the very top. Then we all walked down. Very cold at first, with some sharp rain for a few minutes, but rest of day was dry. Amy did well, and Oliver even better. Dot had knee trouble towards the bottom, as did David, and my ankle felt fragile, but it held out apart from a couple of twinges. All made it back by 6.40pm. David, Oliver and I had started at 11.05am, and Dot and Amy got the 1.30pm train. My pedometer gave ten miles total, but David’s iPhone GPS gave 8.6 miles, which is probably more accurate. Took almost as long to get down as it did to get up. All exhausted, but kids recovered quickly – Halfway House café stop on the way back being a big help. All early to bed. Ian had brought our washing back and left it inside.
Amy, David, Oliver and Dot in the Llechwed slate mine
Sunday 18 July
Very wet all day. Capel Curig had more rain than anywhere else in the UK, plus flood warnings. Water pouring off mountains as we drove to Llechwed slate caverns at Blaenau Ffestiniog in the afternoon. Bought petrol in Betws-y-Coed. Took Miners Tramway tour, and Oliver and Amy bought some slate, plus some sweets from olde shoppe. Drove home via Beddgelert and the Nant Gwynant pass. Watched The Damned United on TV, plus documentary on Clough. Both unexpectedly good.
Monday 19 July
Very wet again. Don’t know where it all comes from. A bit drier in Corwen. Had lunch with Adrian and Clarissa after a lightning drive to The Plough Inn at Llandegla, an excellent and friendly pub restaurant. On way back called in to see Julia and Glaves, Nathan, Nigel and Rona at Tynddol. Rain descended again in force as we drove home.
Tuesday 20 July
Showery. David and children left at 11.30 after a cooked breakfast. Made good time and were home by 4.30pm. Meanwhile Dot and I went down to Llanberis and swapped Oliver’s walking pole for a new one. Dot bought walking boots and socks, and I bought a fleecy top. Had tea and scones in café and then drove up into hills, where we got a good picture of Snowdon, temporarily cloud-free. Bought food and went home. More extensive rain in the evening, but a spectacular sky.
Adrian, Clarissa and Dot on the mountain near our house
Wednesday 21 July
Quite a lot of sunshine, with spots of rain now and again. Adrian and Clarissa came over for lunch – an hour later than expected because their satnav dumped them in Beddgelert, where they had no phone signal. Eventually reached Llanberis after consulting tourist office there (more helpful when he switched to Welsh) and phoned us from Llanberis. I’d been waiting in the lane on and off for about an hour after an early foray into town to post cards and dispose of bottles. After lunch on the balcony we walked on the path over the railway to the stream and back, and had tea, coffee and Welsh bread at tea room. Steffan and Adrian got on very well in Welsh. Stayed at the house after A & C left and eventually watched The Unforgiven. I’d seen it before, but forgotten most of it, especially what a good argument it is for forgiveness.
Dot on the high path round Llyn Idwal
Thursday 22 July
Familiar low cloud and persistent rain at first. We went into Llanberis to drop off washing and have a cup of tea at very Welsh café on High Street, Back to house as sky cleared: encountered workmen making sure the road was clear of hidden dangers for Snowdon runners on the Saturday. Drove over mountain to Bethesda, then Llyn Ogwen, where we walked up to Llyn Idwal and decided to walk round the lake after speaking to a girl who’d just done it in “about 40 minutes”. Climbed up quite a way at the head of the lake but were unsure of the path and a bit hesitant to go on, partly because my footwear wasn’t the best (hadn’t been expecting a climb of any sort). So we retraced our steps, then found the short-cut path round the head of the lake: soggy but passable. So completed the circuit and probably did about three miles, though I forgot to take my pedometer. Small amount of rain as we started, but otherwise fine and not cold. Cup of tea on return to the car park at Ogwen Cottage, then back home for meal. Evening sunny and warm, with good weather due after we leave.
Long DCC meeting last night, with much discussion about possible changes to the morning service at St Augustine’s. In the end we decided to set up a smaller group to look at the liturgy and other issues, and another couple of people will be looking at the signage to the hall, which can be hard to find if you’re not looking in the right place – as with so much else. Last night woken two or three times by loud discussions outside, and this morning, as we prepare to leave for Wales, the city council contractors turned up to mend the road. Not that it doesn’t need mending, but isn’t their timing wonderful? No warning, of course. Just hope we can get out. Feeling very tired.
The house we stayed in at Lamole, near Greve in Chianti. You can see only two of the three storeys.
An odd week. Dot has been very busy: on Monday she did a church school inspection at Ellingham, on Tuesday she wrote the report, and yesterday she started off at Hapton School, moved to the Bird in Hand at Wreningham for a swift baguette and drink with me, then on to the Diocesan Office for a 2pm meeting, followed by a visit to Catfield School and collapsing on the sofa at home. I have been making vague preparations for our Welsh holiday, cooking some jacket potatoes for the Tuesday Group and buying some new sunglasses. Not simultaneously. I also seem to have fitted in arranging for a new church service leader to take over on August 1, when everyone else is away, writing a new poem and keeping various websites up to date, as well as writing a chess article for En Passant, the Norfolk chess magazine.
Today we had the first rain for some time, occurring roughly ten seconds after Dot and I started doing a bit of gardening to put something in our hungry brown bin. It didn’t last, though, and tonight it’s warm again. I’ve checked the car over and bought some new sunglasses (early birthday present). Spoke to Pieter at The Langleys today, and he’s very concerned about Andrew’s condition in hospital: apparently he’s sedated and hardly makes any response at all. He’s going to keep an eye on him, but I hope we’ll be able to call in on our way back from Wales.
Dot sunning herself on the balcony outside our room at the Manor Hotel, Blakeney, not long ago
Spent a warm and sunny day at Mangreen Hall on Sunday. More than 30 of us from the church made it, which makes you wonder why our average congregation is about 14. We were discussing how to change our Sunday service – if at all. Being radical and notoriously keen on change, I proposed that we stay the same, with a few amendments. Others went for moving it to the evening or making the liturgy more traditional, which is a bit odd, since we have traditional liturgy already, including a bit of Celtic and a bit of translation from the Aramaic. Anyway, it will all be discussed on Thursday at the DCC. Fortunately (or unfortunately) we shall be leaving for Wales the next day for our holiday with David and the grandchildren. Will we recognise the church on our return?
In the afternoon we had a kind of service at which several of us contributed songs, poems or readings. I sang Man in the Mask, which I wrote some years ago and lost the music to. Happily I came up with another tune a few days ago, and it seemed to work quite well. It’s a song I’ve always been pleased with, and it was nice to give it an airing. I also read one of my poems – This is not home. Ruth sang a beautiful Shaker song, and some of the children read.
Today it was very slightly cooler, though not much. Dot was doing a church school inspection at Ellingham, so I decided to embark on some multi-tasking. I started by walking to St Augustine’s to take back the music stand we’d borrowed for Sunday, together with one of the hymn books. Shortly before I arrived a bumped into Anne, who seemed a little less than her usual sunny self. I’m a little worried about her. Then when I reached the church I coincided with Vicky, who was picking up collection money to bank it and had lost her key. I was able to give her mine, as I have a spare. We walked back to Magdalen Street together; she had a bright Amy with her.
From Magdalen Street I got a bus to Costessey. At least, I meant to. In fact I got on the wrong one and almost got locked into a bus on St Stephens. I transferred quickly to Theatre Street on this being pointed out, and caught a number 16 (and not 26) to the Bowthorpe roundabout, from where I walked up to Costessey Junior School and returned a “Visitor” tag that I had walked off with some months ago. It may take me a bit of time, but I eventually get round to returning things… Took the bus back into the city, called in at WHS for a refill for my Parker ballpen, and walked home, calling in at Budgens for bread and fruit on the way. Nearly four miles altogether. Quite tired after early rising.
