8 November 2007

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Dramatic action picture of Oliver being chased by a dinosaur. You can see the terror in his face.

Meanwhile, I have just returned from the chiropractor, who told me my back would probably be a bit sore tomorrow but should improve over the weekend. As it was extremely painful before I went, this wasn’t as bad news as it might have seemed. It does seem to have eased a bit at the moment. I see him again on Monday, shortly before a 90-minute stint with the dentist. O happy day!

The back probably got worse because I drove to Mansfield on Tuesday, then on to Hull and back home on Wednesday. Why Mansfield? you may ask. Was it because my grandparents used to live there? No, it was because the Premier Inn at Mansfield had a room spare at a fairly convenient spot between Coventry and Hull. Quite comfortable, too.

I’d called at Coventry to take some property from Gareth’s house to Andrew’s new home – mainly clothes and photographs. Andrew seemed very well. I also retrieved a letter to him that explained he’d left some stuff in the hospital safe, which may explain where his building society book is.

After assessing the reporters at Hull I spent a bit of time down on Hessle foreshore, on the banks of the Humber under the bridge – a spot I’d previously visited when I took David to have a look at Hull University, probably 17 years ago. Very beautiful sunset to accompany my cheese and onion sandwich.

Drove home by the shortest route over the bridge and via Lincoln and Sleaford, which was pretty dire as far as queues and slowness were concerned – not to mention the thousands of speed cameras in Lincoln – but it still got me home quicker. Stopped thirty miles short of Lynn for a Little Chef mushroom omelette and chips.

Today Dot has been at a head teachers’ conference at Mangreen, just outside Norwich. Weather is very unpleasant: quite bit of heavy rain and unrelentingly dull and wintry. My computer was offline for most of the day, but I managed to persuade it to come back eventually.

Almost forgot to mention the most significant event of the last couple of days: the Ballater cottage is being sold after 17 years of its being a home away from home for us. I think we’ve stayed in it almost every years since 1990 or 1991. David and Vicky stayed there with us; so have Anne and Philip and Roger and Barbara. What will life be like without it? Certainly a major change.

5 November 2007

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Partly – though perhaps not entirely – because I’ve been feeling lousy, I have not made any progress with novel-writing five days into novel-writing month, and will probably abandon the attempt, concentrating instead on writing a short story for the Fish competition, getting a collection of poems together to submit to a publisher and writing a Christmas drama. So if I’m galvanised into something, it will have been worthwhile, and if David finishes his novel and makes a million I shall bask in reflected glory. I can do basking.

I’ve been feeling vaguely sub-fluish, with a floaty head (no picture, unfortunately), occasional nausea, pains in odd places and particularly severe pains in my lower back. Dot thinks this is to do with my weight, but I am not fooled. Anyway, I am feeling a bit better this evening (she prayed for me before going to Weightwatchers) and will shortly be off to play a tournament chess match, if I can avoid the fireworks.

Yesterday I managed Communion and the church lunch. Read one of my poems in the service – immediately following Rufus Wainwright’s version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah, which is not where you want to be – and all went well. Didn’t do much for the rest of the day, other than catching up on recorded TV programmes. No, I didn’t feel like writing. Norwich CIty came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Ipswich, so Glenn Roeder, our new manager, is clearly the Messiah.

Today we went to Park Farm, then to visit Dot’s cousin R. On emerging form his house we found it had started raining. Chilly too.

Oh, yes – the picture. Another one of our refurbished garage to demonstrate that I do sometimes play cars (and trains) with Oliver, whatever he says. It’s hard on the knees, though.

3 November 2007

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Caught almost in mid-air, grandson Oliver walks along the back of a dinosaur – no, wait, it’s a row of tyres. But it’s at the Dinosaur Park, which is where we spent most of Tuesday. Lovely sunny day with a bit of a nip in the air, and I was impressed with what the park had to offer, even thought it was out of season and a few things were unavailable. The Dinosaur Trail was very well put together with some nice touches – like reporting to rangers on three missing tyrannosaurus rex. Oliver wasn’t too impressed with the sound effects, but he’s quite a sensitive little soul.

Also had some fun on some mechanically propelled go-karts, and Oliver showed some class on the crazy golf. Some good dinosaur-themed play areas too.

The previ0us day, when we had brought him back from Caddington, we also called in to see Aunt E, who gave him a car which responded to voice commands – at least, it was supposed to, but we had a great deal of trouble getting it to work, much to her disappointment. She unearthed a substitute present, but by the end of Oliver’s stay with us we had got the car to work after a fashion – so we had to return to her on the way back to Caddington on Thursday to show her! Oliver is very anxious that people should be pleased and happy – which is a lovely trait, though it worries him when they aren’t.

On the Wednesday we went to Yarmouth to visit the Sea Life Centre. One reason for this was so that Oliver could go on the train, and from the station we got a taxi, as the buses were so rare (we never actually saw one during our visit). The SLC was interesting but extremely pricey despite being out of season, with minimum staff just about managing to cover all bases. There was a nice touch pool, where O could stroke a hermit crab shell, among other things. He was particularly interested in the sharks, which came a very close second to the shop. The shark exhibit is quite impressive, as are the sea horses.

Another taxi back to the station – this time a much friendlier driver, who not only refused my tip but gave Oliver £1! He was rather scathing about the lack of forethought going into the new harbour plans – or more particularly the inability of the roads to cope.

On the Thursday morning we took a bus into the city (and back). Oliver sat upstairs at the front and enjoyed the view. We also got a couple of boxes out of the Poetry Vending Machine in Borders. The one intended for Amy wasn’t really suitable, so I had to substitute both poem and warning on the box. There was a danger Amy might not know what pregnancy was, or why poetry might lead to it. Had a drink in the Forum and sent Daddy some pictures to prove it.

Got Oliver home successfully, but by Friday both Dot and I were feeling rather ill. I had to write my column, but neither of us did very much. Today Dot has been feeling quite bit better, apart from an occasional coughing fit, and went into the city. I found myself at my old school taking part in a rapid chess tournament, despite feeling very strange – slight temperature and a gradually developing pain at the base of my back. Thought I was getting a cold yesterday, but this happened instead. Ah well, despite it I actually won some prize money for the first time for years, scoring 3/5 in the all-play-all open-challengers section and finishing =3rd. Not as impressive as it sounds (if it sounds impressive), because there were only six in the section, and four of us won something. I drew with the two who finished 1st and 2nd and lost to the guy who finished equal with me. Beat the others – and in a final-round friendly beat the guy who had beaten me.

I have to admire Stephen Orton for organising it – a few of the kids were very difficult to handle and three of them got stuck in the disabled lift. Tempting as it was to leave them there, a caretaker was summoned to extract them. Most were fine, though.

27 October 2007

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As promised / threatened, here is another picture of the garage, now with floor completely painted and refurbishment complete. Did I say complete? Since this picture was taken a number of improvements have been made, including curtains hiding the big door, rotation of the desk, and a number of items moved from the house to the garage. Still looks pretty good, and I’ve managed to dispose of the Strimmer, the logmaker, the hose and some old magazines on Freecycle. In the end I decided to keep the leaf blower and see how it works on this autumn’s leaves.

My study now also looks several thousand times better (no picture), and I’ve started work on what might become a novel or might not. I’ve also written a couple more poems to go with work by Joan, and I’m quite pleased with them. Fairly quiet week on the whole: the weather has turned a mite chilly. Yesterday our neighbour of 19 years moved out and the house is standing empty, though apparently the new owner is expected any time.

Dot is with her friend Barbara at the moment, and I’ve been catching up with stuff I need to read. I also popped over to the cinema to see if there was anything on worth seeing, but it’s a typical half-term: wall-to-wall rubbish.

Tomorrow evening we travel to Caddington, to return with Oliver the next day. He is staying with us until Thursday, and Dot has a programme scheduled which includes the Dinosaur Park and several aunts. Dot’s cousin came round on Thursday and stayed for a meal.

23 October 2007

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This is Alderfen Broad, where we walked just over a week ago. But this last weekend was even more special: Amy’s third birthday.

We arrived at Caddington about noon, to be greeted by two delightful grandchildren. One of the great things about grandchildren is that they’re always so excited to see you. We shall make the most of this before it wears off. Already they seem quite grown up: Oliver a mature five and Amy an enthusiastic three. She got a giant doll’s house for her birthday from her parents, and we bought her a couple of dolls for it. Oliver also bought her a doll. Amy can’t get enough dolls. She also got a CD player; now both of them have one, which makes things quite noisy, as of course one can’t have it on without the other wanting theirs on.

In the evening we watched England lose to South Africa in the rugby world cup final, which wasn’t altogether surprising, but it was a much closer game than might have been anticipated. Added to Lewis Hamilton losing the world championship the following day, and it wasn’t a great British sporting weekend. Norwich and Spurs also lost.

Julia and Dave came over on the Sunday and we had a second party, with the cake making a reappearance, complete with candles. We left early to organise the evening’s Ambient Wonder event, which went surprisingly well, with about 20 people turning up and a variety of things to do.

Yesterday Dot reorganised the garage, and I cleared out my rooom, which was satisfying. Later I lost a chess game, which wasn’t. Today I have been through lots of old papers that have been lying in my room for a long time. Some interesting stuff and a lot of rubbish, now sorted.

19 October 2007

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The garage is completed, and looking good. The picture was taken about an hour or so before completion, with Colin just having to finish the painting of the floor. Very nice to have it done: Dot can’t wait to get out there and rearrange everything, so further pictures will undoubtedly follow. Hard to contain your excitement, I know. Everything has been painted and tidied up, with strategic wood and shelving installed and a proper door into the boiler room.

While this was going on, I discovered that what seemed a minor problem with my teeth turned into a crown replacement and root canal work, which will cost about as much as the garage. At the moment I have a dressing on the tooth, where it will remain until the fateful day, November 12.

I managed to overcome my excitement by going with Dot to Great Bircham in West Norfolk, where she was carrying out a church school inspection. We stayed overnight in a B & B which was quite nice without being overwhelming, and had dinner on Tuesday night at the King’s Head Hotel opposite. It was absolutely delicious. We had hurried over there in the rain and had to wait about three quarters of an hour before the restaurant opened, but it was worth it: the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and the chef top-class. I had beautifully done duck breast after a starter of probably the best ceasar salad I’ve ever had. Good wine too.

The following morning our “private” bathroom was invaded by another guest. I was about to contest the word “private” with the owner when she apologised for the other guest not knowing where her own bathroom was and using ours instead.

While Dot was inspecting I did an eight-mile walk taken from the EDP, some of which was on the Peddar’s Way. I hadn’t realised quite how heavy and prolonged the rain had been the night before, and there were a number of tricky points where I had to skirt standing water with the aid of my long pole (first time I’d used it). Halfway point was a tiny village called Fring, with a charming duckpond and a church on a hill. The whole walk was a bit up and down – unusual for Norfolk.

As I’d neglected to take any kind of sustenance, I was pretty rired out by the time I got back to the King’s Head, where I’d parked my car. Had a pint of Adnams (the sort of thing I do only if I’m very thirsty) and plaice and chips with mushy peas in the bar. Could have done with somewhere to clean up and have a bath, but of course there was nowhere available. Went for a short drive and then met Dot at the school around 4.45pm. We drove more or less straight home.

Yesterday I spent most of the day working on my page for Monday, plus putting the finishing touches to some poems, and Dot went down to Gillingham for a fairly brief governors’ meeting while I cooked the meal (which she’d prepared). Today I helped Colin out with unloading his lorry then made sure everything was ready for Ambient Wonder on Sunday. Dot drove out to her aunt’s to get a present for Amy, whose birthday is on Saturday. We head for Caddington tomorrow morning, armed with a pavlova and some wine.

15 October 2007

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Well, it turned out to be Swardeston Church, which I realised just in time. Very pleasant evening: concert by a string quartet, with three poems from me in the middle. Seemed to go well: sold a few leaflets and a couple of books afterwards to benefit the festival fund. Had a drink in the refreshment are and chatted to a couple of people. Nice atmosphere – good weather too – and to cap it all we saw the rugby without knowing the score: England in the final after beating France. They’ll play South Africa next weekend.

Met a woman at Swardeston – Grace Smith – who knew my aunt Dorothy when she was school secretary at Lakenham, before she became matron at Norwich School. She also knew Frank and knows Josephine. She told me my grandmother stayed at Brundall some time during the war, which I didn’t know. Gave her a copy of my poetry book with the poem about Dorothy in it (Coltishall Hall).

Nobel Peace Prize won by Al Gore and the IPCC, which is a joke. Might as well have given him the Nobel Prize for physics. Obviously releasing a film full of scientific holes and making pots of money out of climate change is peaceful in some way. At least it wasn’t the Nobel Prize for Truth.

Spent the evening with the Cracknells on Friday discussing theology over a chicken takeaway and wine, and on Saturday (before the poetry reading) had a brief Creative Day at Bally, though only Rupert, Tonia ands Joan were present. However, got Joan’s password and put her on the web site with David’s help. I’m writing some poetry to go with Joan’s new pieces for the PVM boxes.

Meanwhile our lovely granddaughter Amy gave us all a scare by falling off a high walkway at Woodside and landing on her head. Big bruise, but she didn’t lose consciousness. On Saturday evening she was taken to the A & E on the advice of the doctor after her neck seemed stiff. But it seems she’s OK. She’s three this coming weekend.

Weather has been quite mild. I led the service on Sunday, and in the afternoon Dot and I went to Alderfen Broad, a little-known spot approached down a bumpy track with a tiny car park at the end. No siognposts, so I guess they’re not actually promoting it. Quite unprepossessing but lovely spot: peaceful. We walked down some pathways and looked at a cormorant, some coot and a grebe or two from the hide. Also five unidentified ducks of some kind.

Today work on the garage proper started. Colin took away loads of stuff and came back to fill some holes, make a door work and do a lot of painting – ceiling and walls. Tomorrow Dot and I head for Great Bircham, where we stay the night before her inspection on Wednesday. Hopefully it will be nice enough for me to go for a walk.

Tonight I won a game of chess on top board – about time – and the team won 3.5-0.5, with the help of a default.

Picture is of the lovely Amy on a different climbing frame, but at the same place.

11 October 2007

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At his official birthday party Oliver showed his prowess on the roped climbing frame, going over the top successfully.

Yesterday Dot and I had our haircut at Reepham, and I went for a two-mile walk on a track round the outside of the village but off Marriott’s Way. Very enjoyable. Dot is still immersed in sorting the garage out and (today) doing a thorough job on the house, with occasional input from me. The mail strike is over, but I still felt I couldn’t risk sending the cheque for Andrew’s care by first class post, so I sent it special delivery.

Weather is quite good. Tonight we’re out to one of Dot’s school colleague’s for a meal. I’ve been improving and printing a small leaflet on Edith Cavell, featuring my poem Edith and the Glacier. Will probably read it at Mulbarton Church on Saturday night during a concert (and during the England-France rugby game, annoyingly).

9 October 2007

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How can it be a week since my last post? Probably something to do with the Royal Mail strike, which is on its last day, with more promised. Or maybe it’s because life is just so busy. One of the exciting events in the last seven days was Oliver’s “official” birthday party at Woodland Farm, attended by ten of his friends from school. The picture shows him surrounded by female admirers, a member of Woodland staff and parts of his Dad and grandfather (the other one).

Dot and I functioned as minders, but with Vicky’s organisation, nothing was going to go wrong – unlike another party at the same place, when two children had inadvertently been left in the Playbarn by the organising mum. As the place is so well organised, they were in no danger – in fact they didn’t know anything was amiss. Ho, hum.

This happened on Sunday. On the Saturday, after England has amazingly managed to beat Australia at rugby (almost as amazing as France beating New Zealand the same evening), Oliver got so enthusiastic about the game that we had to go outside and play it. I managed to trip over Amy’s trampoline while going for a high ball and fell heavily on to it, doing myself some damage in the ribs area. Very painful, and it was hard to move round that evening, but I was walking OK by the party – to my surprise. It’s still unpleasant if I get into the wrong position, and turning over in bed is tricky, but on the whole it seems to be healing all right. I may be out of the World Cup Final, though.

Meanwhile, Norwich are in the relegation area after six straight losses and no goals. The manager is considering his position and doesn’t seem to have the energy or enthusiasm required to lift the team.

We are also in the midst of a garage re-creation programme. Today Annette and Mike came to liberate the chesterfield (and stayed for lunch), and Dot and I took books to the charity shop and rubbish to the tip. Needless to say, we chose the wettest day for weeks to do all this. Colin W came on Friday to look the place over and make some suggestions: he will be starting next week by removing whatever’s left in there and then making good the walls, painting everything in sight – including the floor – and erecting shelving. We’re going to put a few things on Freecycle. I have piles of things to plough through in the way of old newspapers, other papers, books etc. We’ve spent about £50 on plastic boxes.

Last night I lost another chess game to someone graded well below me. I had the advantage quite a lot of the time, but he refused to make a significant mistake, and eventually I was reduced to winning a piece, for which he got a lot of play, and I didn’t have enough time to deal with his threats.

Also yesterday we visited North Walsham to sort out Mum and Dad’s grave refurbishment. Stonemason was an extremely nice bloke who admired the picture of my great-great-grandparents’ headstone in Harlestone, Northamptonshire. Very helpful about what we want done. Followed this by dropping off Paston Letters book at Millfield School for Lucy, then visited J&F and the cemetery.

On Sunday we’d come back early from Caddington to front the Ambient Wonder “Magic of Words” preparation session. Plenty of ideas from the small throng assembled, but I’m not looking forward to organising it all. However, the vicar rang today to say my work on the Developing Consciousness book might not be wasted – he now sees it as part of a DC pack, which is promising. He’s managed to get the Bishop very interested in the whole thing, and is trying to spread it to America. No, I’m not kidding. He’s a vicar with global ideas. He also wants me to get involved with developing the Meditation Centre website, which might be interesting.

2 October 2007

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An EDP picture of one of the PVM boxes. Today four of us – Rupert, Annette, Mike and I – installed the machine in Borders, the Chapelfield Mall bookshop, where it will be for two or three weeks. It looks pretty good and – a real plus – is working.

It’s my grandmother’s birthday. She would have been 127 today.

Dot has been away for two days at a conference in Derbyshire, which as far as I can make out is about how to run Christian charities, or run them better. Before she went we had the Stedmans for tea, and Dot cooked scones and rock cakes, which was a treat. Interesting talk with them about how views change over the years.

Then on Saturday we went to see one of Dot’s colleagues from her early years in London. AB now lives in Bury St Edmunds, and we hadn’t seen her for some years, so we went for lunch on Saturday. Had a really good time and in depth discussions about life in general. Stayed longer than we’d intended, which meant we didn’t have all that much time before going to Bergh Apton in the evening for dinner with another couple of couples from the education world. It’s all eat.

Have been busy catching up with stuff since Dot has been away and am seeing a stonemason on Monday about replacing my parents’ headstone. Today and yesterday have spent quite a lot of time on InPrint stuff and have just completed another poster for a machine that’s going in a Norwich pub. It doesn’t work properly, so we’re making a few bo0xes available free and inviting £2 donations while redirecting them to the real thing at Borders! You can see that working…

Did an interview with some web writer about the PVM this afternoon, and the results should be available soon on http://www.lifesignsnetwork.net/index.aspx I hope.

Andrew seems to be settling in at The Langleys and has a mobile phone. Long talk with him today – or rather, long listen. He has been getting out and looking at things, which is good.