Tag Archives: jessie

Meandering to success

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Chronicle performing at the launch of the Paston exhibition at NRO
Chronicle performing at the launch of the Paston exhibition at NRO

In the end we needn’t have worried. UPS failed to deliver after I’d alerted next door, who were no doubt on tenterhooks all day.  In the end they delivered on Monday, less than an hour before the exhibition opened, and Dot made a special emergency trip, with the children,  to deliver the leaflets to me.

The launch went very well, with a big attendance, and Chronicle’s performance was very well received. I was at NRO from about 10.45 and got home around 5pm, having given Kay a lift to Tombland to pick up a park-and-ride bus. Sadly Lucy didn’t make it, being confined to her house with cracked ribs and in quite a bit of pain. So Peter filmed it for her.

Dot and I had picked gone down to Caddington on Sunday afternoon – the last part of the journey in torrential rain. We had tea with David and then I drove back in much better weather. It was Amy’s birthday, of course. We got her a rather nice leather jewellery case.

On Tuesday, when it rained again, we went out to see Aunt Jessie in the afternoon. The gas man arrived about the same time as we did, to service her central heating. So we sat in the dining room, which worked out quite well, as Amy was able to draw on the table. Well, on paper, but on the table. You know what I mean.

During their couple of days with us Oliver wrote a very good poem, and Amy joined in with a couple of lighter, funny ones. She also made some sugar mice (with a bit of help). There was also a certain amount of table tennis played, with Oliver frequently victorious.

We set out after lunch on Wednesday to travel to Coventry, which turned out to be quite an arduous journey, with hold-ups because of the amount of traffic. Nevertheless we met the Evetts on time at the Allesley Harvester and had a good couple of hours there.

Then Dot and I drove home – again, more arduous than expected because the A14 was closed. We travelled south on the M1 to near Bedford and took the A421. Not a bad route, though further of course.

While the children were with us we also entertained the Hendersons, who stayed overnight  on Tuesday while looking at houses in the area. All of us went to Prezzos and had a good meal.

Yesterday – a beautifully warm and sunny day – Fred and Sue arrived around 5.30pm for an evening meal with us. Today we all went to a CBSOB reunion at the law courts, where we were shown round by former pupil Mike Huggins: very well done, though I knew a lot of it from my time training journalists. We then took a walk along the river, and Dot and I won a quiz set by Adrian O’dell, thanks to a bit of knowledge from Dot (Wensum means meandering, for instance).

We ended with a good meal at the Adam and Eve (Rita still in attendance). Thanked Ray Houseago for allowing me to use his name in my column, though I’m not sure he knew what I meant. He behaved as though he did. Throwers also there. The four of us walked back along the river, had a cup of tea and then Fred and Sue left. Dot and I dozed off in front of the TV.

Paston expert put on spot

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Wensum Park, during a walk on Monday
Wensum Park, during a walk on Monday

OK: we found the missing photographs for Jessie – old ones with nurses on them, among other things – but Jessie wasn’t able to identify much when we called in on Sunday afternoon. Roger was also there, and we gave him a lift up to Ray’s on our way home (he was delivering something and then walking back).

The concert on Saturday was extremely good, and we had excellent seats. Colin Dowdeswell was conducting, and we had a chat with his wife, who vouchsafed the alarming news that the Hendersons are moving back to Norwich when Paul retires next year. We knew this was a possibility, but it seems to be firming up.

Visited Geoff in hospital on Monday: pushed him in a wheelchair to the quiet spot over the road and had a longish talk, partly while Sophie was talking to an authority figure (not sure who she was) about arrangements for Geoff’s discharge, maybe in a week or two. He is much, much better, but they are both stressed about what will happen when he has to leave.

Busy day yesterday: I was at Cromer just after 10am for my appointment at the hospital, which took place on time. It turned out to be a minor  operation: a more major one (sigmoidoscopy) is due to take place fairly soon in Norwich, but this is purely precautionary: the doctor said he didn’t think there was a problem. Feeling more or less OK.

Got back to Norwich in good time, though the weather was so beautiful I wished I didn’t have to. But I wanted to hear Karen Smyth talk about merchants and medieval literature, and I’m glad I did. Had a longish talk with Angela, who is now in charge at Dragon Hall, and a quick exchange with Karen, who embarrassed me slightly by calling on me as a Paston expert when someone asked a Paston-related question afterwards. Fortunately, I was able to answer it (it was about Bromholm Priory),  so perhaps I am. Hard to believe.

Had to go to Morrisons afterwards to buy food for the Tuesday Group in the evening, where David A played a talk by John Donoghue about beauty, which was inspiring.

Dot has been out and about a lot, and is “fighting off something” (not me). She was coughing a bit in the night, so I hope her fight succeeds, and includes me.

After trying to find a way of sending my steam train video to Dave Evetts, I have had to admit defeat (file too large). Pity. While waiting for my appointment at Cromer, I wrote most of a poem called Age of Steam, which I have now finished and am pleased with. Have just finished reading a superb book called The Misogynist, by Piers Paul Read. Beautifully written, with a nice ending.

On the trail of gorillas

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Oliver, Dot and Amy find a gorilla in Chapelfield Gardens
Oliver, Dot and Amy find a gorilla in Chapelfield Gardens

Slipped into September almost without noticing, as usual. Dot is far from me, having journeyed up to Middlesbrough with Barbara yesterday, where she stayed the night before delivering some Philosophy4Children at a nearby school. She is doing this as I write. They will then drive back, arriving early to mid evening. This means I shall have to attend a PCC meeting without her invaluable support, but I expect I’ll manage 🙂

As usual I have wasted much time, and now have to work hard to catch up. Today is Joy’s birthday. I took her presents round yesterday: they included some old Amy Carmichael books that I unearthed, one containing a letter from the Dohnavur Fellowship to my aunt Mary, thanking her for looking after one of their lads. Joy is into AC at the moment, so hopefully she will find that interesting.

Also yesterday I was sole musician at church until Carrie took over the first hymn (at my invitation). We tried to do the second one together, but it didn’t work too well because of the tricky timing. I easily get lured off track by people singing slightly differently… Still, nice service altogether. I forgot to take the collection home and had to go back for it.

It’s been another busy week. When isn’t it? Back on Monday, a week ago, we had lunch at Lucy’s with Simeon. It may be the last time we visit Dayspring, because she’s moving to Mundesley later this month. Very pleasant: we had tea in the garden afterwards: warm sun with a bit of wind in exposed places. Afterwards we went to the cemetery in North Walsham and then called to see Jessie, where we found Roger, Adrian, Clarissa and some tea and cake.

Later, Adrian and Clarissa came (as planned) to stay with us for a couple of nights because Bury were playing Norwich City in the Capital One Cup on the Tuesday. Confused? Well, Adrian’s son Gareth is now captain of Bury. Dot and I also got tickets (declining the offer of free seats with what turned out to be an extremely noisy Bury contingent), and it was a great game, Norwich winning 6-3 and scoring some excellent goals.

Adrian and Clarissa departed on Wednesday, and we left too, eventually – for Caddington, to pick up Oliver and Amy.  They stayed with us until the Saturday. On Thursday we all went to West Runton in the afternoon and stayed till early evening as the tide went out and the beach got more and more peaceful. There was a certain amount of rock pool investigation, and some enthusiastic climbing and descending of a steep cliff slope. Both have huge amounts of energy, of course. Amy did some gymnastics on the groyne.

On Friday, with Oliver feeling a bit less energetic because of a cold, we took a bus into the city, where we followed part of a gorilla trail and then visited a bike shop to look at a possible bike for Oliver’s birthday. Afterwards we had a slightly surreal lunch in BHS, because Dot had a voucher. David arrived at 9pm.

On Saturday David, Oliver, Amy and I returned to the bike shop and, rather unexpectedly, completed a purchase. This meant that David had to go to Halfords to buy a bike carrier for his car – and then fix it on to the car. In the middle of that we had lunch at Prezzos, which seemed to have recovered some poise following our last, rather disappointing visit. Plenty of Norwich City supporters about: happily the Canaries beat Southampton 1-0.

David and the children returned home early in the evening with a certain amount of trepidation, but both bike and carrier survived the trip in sound condition, as did Oliver, Amy and David.

While we were in the bike shop I got a really unexpected phone call from Andrew, who seemed surprisingly coherent. Is something amazing happening, or is it part of a cycle? That wasn’t really meant to be funny.

I’ve just finished a book called Quiet, by Susan Cain, which David got me for my birthday. This is about “the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking”  – and so clearly right up my street. I should have read it 50 years ago. Unfortunately, she’s only just written it. Fascinating stuff. Makes me feel better, which can’t be bad.

David and Chrissy take a look at Norfolk

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Dot takes a break during our walk to St James Hill, Mousehold

Well, eventually the gas man cameth and fixed our problem – unsurprisingly a sticky valve. Again. And I got to speak to Andrew on his birthday, though he was rather vague. The next day (Wednesday) things looked up considerably, as David and Chrissy arrived for a three-day stay. They largely organised their own activities, but we took them to Prezzos (unfortunately not at their best), and on the Friday we all went to see Jessie at North Walsham. We also shared several meals at home, and it was lovely having them with us.

On the Thursday, while they were out in south-east Norfolk, I went to visit Geoff in hospital and was encouraged to find him upbeat and making good progress. His right side is still largely paralysed, though he can move his foot and thumb, and he can sit up with help. He can talk (though he has trouble remembering some words) and he can swallow. His toes are a bit of a mess with gangrene (caused by lack of circulation during his operations), but apparently this will sort itself out. He looked more like his old self. Sophie was also in good spirits. The hope is that he will move to the Colman Hospital for rehabilitation this week.

Also had a committee meeting about the parish share in the evening, which was rather depressing. We need to find quite a bit more money next year, but everyone then talks as if we’re running a business and need to behave accordingly. I find this very difficult. Paul: “We’ve been asked to go over into Macedonia to help people there, but unfortunately we probably won’t have enough money; so we’ve decided against it.” End of New Testament. It’s probably just me.

On Friday the car went in again to have the air conditioning looked at, and it turns out that this is more serious than we thought. So it’s going in again on Thursday to have a new condenser fitted. Another £300 down the drain – or in the radiator.

David and Chrissy stayed on until late Saturday, which was a nice surprise, and on Sunday it seemed very quiet. In the afternoon Dot and I walked through the Rosary and up to Mousehold. Clouds threatened showers, but nothing happened.

Yesterday we went out to Park Farm. I had been intending to go for a walk while Dot had her session, but it started raining on the way there, so I decided against. In fact the rain didn’t really materialise, but it was too late: I had ordered the food. Afterwards we went to see Aunt  Ethel at Welborne. She seemed very well, perhaps because she has begun to eat. Quite coherent and clearly in a better state than many of the other people there. It’s a nice setting, but sitting in rows in a lounge is never very stimulating.

Meanwhile poor Barbara M has been moving too fast again, and this time has done herself serious injury, falling down the stairs into the basement and fracturing her pelvis, not to mention various bruising and lots of pain. She is going to find it hard having her movements restricted over the nest few months. I imagine Roger will find it hard too, in a different way.

I have made some progress on writing Amy’s story, which I’m quite pleased with.

Looking over my shoulder

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Chronicle in action at Dragon Hall. From left, Rob Knee, Caroline Gilfillan, Kay Riggs, Tim Lenton

Well, it happened. Reading the Pastons dawned sunny and reasonably warm last Friday, and everything fell into place. The speakers all turned up and did a good job; I operated the laptop for the pictures and struggled through after one or two initial blips. The two performances by Chronicle (the first to about 25-30, the second to half a dozen) went well and got good feedback. The exhibition and re-enactors performed well.

Dot brought Jessie, and Jude came too. From church Ray and Christine were joined by David Archer. At least two people came from London, including a man who used to be admired by Dot at primary school; unfortunately she wasn’t feeling well enough to chat him up: her catarrh lingered on, and still does to a much lesser extent. Anna’s sister Nicola also put in an appearance.

In the afternoon a number of USAF children came and joined in the re-enacting as well as one or two other things. The favourable weather meant that we could spill into the garden and was also good for Rob’s tour of the Norwich Paston sites. For more information, click here.

Afterwards Dot and I had a meal with Jessie back at 22, and we then took her home, continuing on to Paston to deliver various items to the Barn. Lucy was still not too good (she hadn’t been well enough to come), but she showed us details of a couple of houses in Bacton she was interested in.

Elizabeth had left her memory stick behind, so on Saturday I delivered it to her home in Little Melton before driving dow to see nephew Joe’s photos at a New Buckenham Photo Exhibition. Liked his stuff very much, and there were other good photos on show too. Dot would have enjoyed it, but she was still suffering a bit, so didn’t come. Bought some cards.

From New Buckenham I drove across country via Hapton and Hempnall to Ditchingham, where I picked up Joy from her retreat house. Arrived a bit early (I hadn’t been sure how long it would take), but Joy was pretty much ready. Drove her home, buying some milk on the way.

Meanwhile Andrew had taken a turn for the worst and was sectioned because they felt he wasn’t in a position to remain at the hospital voluntarily. Apparently he has been quite hostile to staff. I decided to go over to see him on the Monday, partly because I was worried about what was happening to his stuff. In the end I didn’t go because A Ethel was taken ill and had to go into hospital, where she remains. Dot and I saw her last night in the company of Angela and Rodney, who returned here afterwards for coffee.

I managed to get in touch with one of the carers (Paul), who assured me that Andrew’s stuff was being taken care of, and I’ve now decided to go over next Monday, in the company of Phil, who had been in Southampton last week while Joy was in Ditchingham. I spent most of yesterday dealing with church money and taking it to the bank, then sending out invoices for hall use. We also finally got a visit from a gas person, who serviced our system. It was OK, though of course we were urged to buy a new boiler, and of course we didn’t.

Today I shall be heading to the hospital shortly for an x-ray on my left shoulder. Or a look over my shoulder, you might say.

Alien experience at the Cathedral

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Rêve d’Herbert in the Cathedral Close

Pressure has eased somewhat, although we still remain pretty busy. Weather is a bit cooler, but not unpleasant. Gave my talk to the Norwich tourist guides on Thursday evening, and it went well after an initial panic when the projector wouldn’t work because it was switched to video instead of computer, something with my limited experience I didn’t know it could do.

About 15-20 guides present, including the unique and obscure Jude, who landed me in it in the first place. Surprisingly, she brought Roger with her. The talk lasted about an hour, with a few questions afterwards, and the guides were quite complimentary. I had been worried about speaking to them because of their vast knowledge, but I must have come up with one or two things they didn’t know.

One of them came up with something I didn’t know: one of the many John Pastons – this one a brother of Erasmus, Clement and Thomas – is buried in Huntingfield Church in Suffolk. Will have to go and look at some point. Did a bit of research on it when I came home.

I had managed to complete the brochures on Pastons in Norwich and Dragon Hall (a new, smaller flyer) by the time I gave the talk, and so was able to make them available. The Pastons in Norwich one was Vistaprint, and I had to manually correct an error in all 100 of them (my error), but managed to do it without spoiling the look. The other one I created myself on Pages. Left a few of them at the Library yesterday after attending a talk there by Dr Karen Smyth on Julian of Norwich.

This is Julian week, and after the talk (and a chat with Karen, who is speaking at Dragon Hall on the Pastons, and Louise Øhrstrøm, the Danish Julian expert who spoke at St Augustine’s) we went up and looked at a display of books on Julian. Interesting map of medieval Norwich.

March of the aliens

Afterwards Dot and I had lunch at Presto and had a long chat with Kathy and Roberto. In the evening we went up to the Cathedral Close for the opening event of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, which was an amazing performance by a group of French artists unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They were rather like Iain M Banks’ Culture books, in that any attempt to describe what was going on would fall woefully short. Basically they were on stilts, shrouded in white, and used inflated costumes and lights to produce eerie, alien effects as they walked through the crowds, ending down on the Green with a kind of dance and launch of lighted balloons. Incredible. Dot and I were so intent on taking pictures that we lost each other in the crowds at one point, but were reunited under a lamppost by the Green. I am not easily impressed by spectacle, but this was totally exceptional.

Thursday had been a good day even before the talk at Central Baptist Church to the guides. It was one of those days when everything falls into place. After taking Dot up into the city I left the car at Kwik Fit for a slow puncture to be fixed, and while there noticed that they did windscreen wipers. Dot had broken one of hers, so when I returned with my car later in the day, she took hers, and they did it on the spot. Also arranged for BT to come and install Infinity (there’s a poem in that somewhere) and British Gas to do our annual service. And I got in touch with Andrew’s carer, had along chat and got her mobile phone number. Should be going over there on Tuesday with Dot, hopefully to catch the doctor on his ward rounds and to see Minster Lodge, which Andrew said would “do for now”. Deep shock.

On Wednesday I had a nice surprise when I visited the doctor: my blood pressure had dropped considerably, despite my not taking the additional pill that the doctor had been under the impression I was taking. He still tried to persuade me to take it, but I declined.

In the evening Dot and I went to the Christian Resource Centre to hear the coroner, William Armstrong, give a before-dinner talk. He is an old admirer of Dot’s (they were at City College together), and the two of them had a chat afterwards while I was talking to Régine Godfrey and her husband Peter, next to whom we had been sitting. She is French and writes for an Archant magazine; so we had something in common (complaints about page designers). I was also able to keep up with her remarks about French politics and the French words that she used on and off, so I was quite pleased. They live in the old hospital complex on St Stephen’s.

The talk was excellent too, as was the meal, though I think I prefer the usual format of having the meal first.

On Bank Holiday Monday we called to see Jessie for tea and cake, then I walked to the cemetery to get a bit of exercise. Dot joined me there, of course. A beautiful day, and I think we did well to keep clear of the crowds who apparently, and understandably, flocked to the coast. Today we’re awaiting the arrival of Linda to cut our hair. Much cooler now, with a bit of rain.

Touch of deja vu, this time with children

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Chilly trio atop Ranworth church tower

Certain amount of déjà vu this week. It’s just as cold, but thankfully remaining dry. And again I found myself at Ranworth and the Castle Museum in Norwich (though not simultaneously). This time in the company of David, Oliver and Amy, who are staying with us for a few days.

We went to Ranworth on Easter Monday, and I managed to fulfil my promise by buying the map I had looked at with Andrew. This time it was priced! We spent some time at the visitor centre and then had something to eat at the church tea rooms. We caught the second shift coming on duty, and they kept telling us they had no idea where anything was, or indeed if it was at all, which suggests a certain failure in organisation. However, they were very friendly, and the tea was good.

Afterwards we climbed the tower – a steep process made even more difficult by the need to pass some people coming down. The children took this in their stride and made the summit easily. Needless to say the wind was blasting across, but the view was even clearer than last week.

On Tuesday we took the children to Winterton while their father did some work, and we had a good time as usual in the dunes while becoming increasingly aware of our advancing years. I fell over almost immediately while executing a body swerve, and then wrenched my arm while tagging Amy (or, looking at it from her point of view, not tagging Amy). Meanwhile Dot also fell over, though not so dramatically, and we discovered later that she had lost one of her earrings.

Earlier we had had baguettes and rolls in the cafe, which was packed – possibly because it had featured in a national newspaper recently as a top food spot. We always knew that, of course, but we had previously benefited from the fact that it doesn’t look it at all. Quite unprepossessing and lacking in style, but hey, the food is great, and so is the tea. Afterwards we drove to North Walsham and had even better tea with Jessie, followed by a visit to the cemetery.

Yesterday we took in the Castle Museum with Oliver and Amy and half the population of Norwich – presumably because it was still so cold outside that the beach was out of the question. Some interesting items for the children to tackle, and games to play, but the battlements were out of order and the dungeon trips full. We ended with some tea and cake and a trip to the shop before meeting Daddy in M&S and buying Oliver some trousers.

Then Dot, Oliver and I took the bus home while Amy, after some indecision, stayed with her Dad for further shopping. They arrived home just in time to join us for a meal at Prezzos and chocolate dessert at home. Meanwhile part of our rear containing wall has fallen down into the Wildlife Trust car park, but it was not hit by a vehicle. Oh no. Actually it may well not have been. We await a conversation with the NWT people.

On Easter Sunday we couldn’t persuade any of our guests to join us at church, which was a pity, because it was a nice service, led by Geoff, and quite well attended. It also featured some chocolate eggs at the end.

Spring about to disintegrate

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Edingthorpe Church from the lychgate

Almost springlike today, with blue skies and a distinct rise in the temperature. Sadly, it is all forecast to disintegrate tomorrow, with rain sweeping in. It was lovely yesterday too, when I drove out to Paston in response to a call from Lucy. Afterwards I called at Edingthorpe Church, which is a beautiful spot, then walked a bit down the Weavers’ Way, from the point where the Yarmouth Road meets the North Walsham bypass. Yes, I’m keeping up my walking routine, but not losing any weight. My blood pressure just better be down…

Of course forgetting to take my pills yesterday, and then losing at chess, didn’t help. I played pretty badly against Chris Tuffin until I lost a piece, then pretty well, but it was too late. Unfortunately, he followed the same pattern but didn’t lose the piece.

Still writing tanka with Joy, though I’m a bit late with the final one in the current series. Must get down to it. On Sunday I read five poems at the Seagull, which seemed to go down well. Hope to do some songs next time, if Phil can fit it into his now busy schedule.

On Saturday we visited North Walsham, refurbishing the flowers at the cemetery and dropping off a cardigan to Sheila (she had lent it to Ethel at the funeral). We then spent most of the afternoon with Jessie, listening to Norwich lose 4-0 to Manchester Utd. The tea and cake made it worthwhile. Called in at Waitrose afterwards, and Dot got a refund on some flour – together with more flour. What nice people.

Big Day survives winter’s tail

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Jessie cuts the cake

The snow is still with us, though it has stopped falling from the sky for a while. Some intrepid guy has spread sand on Aspland Road up to halfway, so there is no problem reaching the top. In fact we have been able to reach the top right through the current cold spell – though admittedly we haven’t been out much in the car.

Yesterday we did, though – because it was the Big Day, Jessie’s 80th, and a gathering had been scheduled to take place at the Wayford Bridge Inn for lunch. There had been a lot of snow late on Sunday, and I was a bit worried about emerging in view of the whiteness of the road; I took it very, very slowly down and reached the bottom with no problem. After that it was plain sailing. We picked Jude up from her house on Riverside Road, and the main roads in the county were more or less clear.

In fact the roads were so clear that, much to Jessie’s delight (and ours), David made a last-minute decision to come from Caddington and arrived in time – before some people who had come from North Walsham! The only person who didn’t make it, I think, was a friend who couldn’t get out of her drive in Acle. The Wayford Bridge Inn was excellent: staff very attentive and a first-class meal. I had one of the best steaks I’ve had for a very long time.

Amazing

There were 14 of us – Jessie; Dot, David and myself; Janet and Ray with Judy and her husband from St Albans; Roger, Liz and Philip; Jude; and George and Fiona. Afterwards David returned to Caddington and arrived in time for his swimming lesson in the evening. The rest of us went back to Jessie’s for the amazing cake that was our present to her – baked, of course, by the equally amazing Marion Sturgeon from Alburgh.

We headed for home just before 6pm, as it started to snow slightly. No real problems getting back. After we dropped Jude I was about to turn into Aspland Road when I noticed a car doing a three-point turn (!!) so continued right up Prince of Wales Road and turned round to approach from the other – and preferable – direction. This time a car was stuck two thirds of the way up; so I reversed to the bottom, and when he had finished slithering around and being pushed to the side of the road, I took a run at it and made the top easily.

Since last Thursday we had two lots of visitors who were not deterred by the weather: on Thursday the Kibbles and on Saturday the Robinsons, who decided to park outside the sorting office and walk through. Not necessarily a good idea: Philip fell over while pushing a car that was sliding around while turning at the top and coming to rest in the gutter (the car, not Philip). He was OK, though, and we had a good evening: Dot cooked some delicious steak and ale.

On Sunday we emerged for church and had no real problems, arriving very early – but not before Geoff Saunders, who was leading the service. Eventually we had 17, which is pretty good and no different from a normal Sunday, though it was quite  treacherous underfoot. Afterwards Dot and I parked near Fye Bridge and walked up to Mandells Gallery for Martin Laurance’s private view. Brilliant exhibition as always; we almost bought a painting, but by the time we got round to it, someone else had bought it. Damn spot.

Spoke briefly to Martin and at greater length to his partner Val; then to Annette and Mike, and Rupert. Several familiar faces from the Norfolk art world. Martin is quite interested in collaborating on some poetry-and-art project, which would be great if it came off. Have spoken to several people about possible book projects recently, but nothing definite. Still, it’s good to have irons in the fire. The tanka collaboration continues.

Meanwhile, Lucy has managed to fall over in the snow and injure her shoulder, as if she didn’t have enough problems. She is in hospital at Cromer, and so Rob and I have to represent her at the Norfolk Record Office on Thursday, which means I shall have to cancel a doctor’s appointment. Annoying, when they are so hard to come by. At present I am trying to make up my mind whether to have a Tuesday Group meeting tonight. No snow is forecast for today, so it should be possible, but there is still a lot of snow up here, and if certain people fell over, we would never be able to get them up again.

 

Knee-deep in the season’s activities

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David and Bridget Archer – providers of fish and chips

I think Christmas is here. At least, we seem knee-deep in all the activities associated with the Christmas season, and a few others too. Not much time to stop and think since my last post.

On Friday we had the traditional Archant pensioners’ Christmas lunch in the traditional hotel, with the traditional rain outside. Quite a pleasant meal: sat with Su, Brian and Julie Bedson, and we were joined by new EDP/EN editor Nigel Pickover, who was his usual expansive self. I have to admit that I quite like him. I said this to Su, and she retorted that I liked everyone, which is not true but a nice thing to say (I think). I was served tea by my first cousin once removed – Lewis (Kitsune Le’) Lenton, who is Mark’s son, an artist and a bit out there. Still, he was tuned in enough to introduce himself, which was nice.

In the evening of the same day we went to a drinks and nibbles evening at the vicar’s. I spent much of the time talking to Melissa Snell: we are very much on the same wavelength, except that she is in love with Bolivia. Also spoke to her husband Simon and to Margaret Comerford. Quite an odd evening, because there were many people there who I didn’t speak to at all. Dot struck up a conversation with a teacher who may have persuaded her to join a music group where she will be able to play her violin.

On Saturday Dot and I went to see Norwich beat Wigan 2-1. Go0d match, which we deserved to win. Our recent record is now second only to Barcelona in the top five European leagues, and we’re eighth in the Premiership. Ran into Peter Franzen (former EDP editor) for the second day running, which is a bit excessive. Weather was not too bad, but I wore lots of clothes, just in case.

Sunday saw the usual Christmas event at St Augustine’s, designed and organised by myself. We were pretending in a rather halfhearted way to be a radio programme, and there was some appropriate dialogue as well as carols, readings and poems. Everyone was very appreciative, which is the nice thing about St Augustine’s. It was followed by our Christmas meal: most people contributed, and it was very good.

Sue and Roger Eagle came round for lunch on Monday: they are really good company, and we have much in common. Had far too much to eat and have been feeling overfull ever since. As a result decided not to go to the Christmas chess event; flaked out and watched a bit of Battlestar Galactica instead.

It was all go yesterday, and fortunately the weather was fine. We started by picking up Dot’s glasses from Little Plumstead school (her gloves are at Barnham Broom, or possibly Diocesan House by now) and then drove to North Walsham for tea and sausage rolls with Jessie. We then proceeded to Sainsbury’s and bought flowers for the cemetery, from where we moved on to Sheila’s. She seemed pretty well, though a little vague on some matters. More sausage rolls, and a mince pie too. From there we went to Rosie’s, where we had ginger wine. Rosie is in quite a bit of pain with her back but is as determined as ever to carry on doing what she always has: in this instance making 175 wreaths for customers and friends.

In the evening, and far from traditionally, we had Tuesday Group fish and chips, supplied by the Archers but eaten at ours. The usual suspects tucked in enthusiastically. Added excitement was provided by Ian, who had locked himself out and spent much of the evening trying to contact his sister, who has a key. Eventually the Archers gave him a lift to Cringleford, where said sister lives, and deposited him there. It was unclear whether he was staying or whether his brother-in-law was going to be able to (a) find the key and (b) take him home.

Today has been fairly mild. We had our hair cut, and Dot left for Barbara’s. I then almost forgot to pick up Philip to take him for his benefits assessment, but Joy rang and reminded me. This took two trips, because as usual they kept him waiting a long time. In between I posted  a package and sorted out the church cheques for paying in. After picking Phil and Joy up and taking them home (dropping in at Surrey Chapel to leave some cards) I returned home and left immediately for the city, where I paid in those cheques and took a Christmas parcel to Dipples, receiving one in return! Quite chilly by the time I got home. Dot has just rung to say she is on her way back.