Caroline and Teri try to get a better but precarious look over the church wall and into the hall grounds. Kay looks on admiringly.
As first weeks in August go, this one is not in line for any major awards. As I write, Andrew is staying with us and is asleep on the sofa, Dot is ill in bed with a throat infection, and Phil and Joy are having their leaking pipe fixed – the duration of which work will determine whether they can come to Andrew’s birthday meal or not. So I’ve booked for five at the Rushcutter’s and may end up with two. Andrew and I have already been out to buy shoes, clothes and some fruit, as well as a photograph frame (it’s his birthday, and I’ve given him two new pictures of the grandchildren).
Yesterday’s expedition to fetch him from Coventry was a bit of a nightmare, though if it had been by way of the M25, it could have been worse. There has been a massive hours-long roadblock there following an accident. It didn’t take me too long to get to Coventry, though the roads were busy and I adopted the usual diversion at the end. On the way back there was a huge hold-up on the A14 both sides of Huntingdon. Stayed in it for a long time and then diverted on to the Papworth road and on to the A428, which proved pretty successful. But we had to divert again before Elveden, which ate up more time.
The week didn’t start too well, either: I lost a chess game to Dave Hall. Not an unusual event, though I have beaten him on occasion, and I played quite well. But I will probably not be playing much this season: I am taking a chess sabbatical. Had a long chat with him afterwards involving prostate problems and their implications – and much besides. On Tuesday, to round it off, I had my sixth-monthly blood test. Went smoothly enough, but it’s the results that count.
Wednesday was good, too. It was a beautifully warm day, and a group of poets and artists walked around Oxnead to get a flavour of one of the most impressive of the Pastons’ residences. Or at least the location of it. The modern version is currently being transformed into a wedding and concert venue, according to the workmen we spoke to. But the setting is fantastic, and the tiny Oxnead Church has a lot of fascinating stuff in it, though it has been “badly messed about”, according to Teri, the stained-glass artist and architectural student I gave a lift to. Others present: Kay Riggs, who organised it; Carole Gilfillan; Kit Price-Moss; Adrian Ward; and Rob Knee. The poets amonog us agreed afterwards to try to write three new poems (at least) by the beginning of September, with the aim of producing a book by Dragon Hall time – the beginning of November. Teri cam in for a drink, and we were joined by Mary from next door, for whom I had taken in a parcel. Opportunity to point out a wasps’ nest in their gutter.
Dot was at Barbara’s on Thursday, clearly getting infected with something, and I took the opportunity to update my website with a lighthearted piece on road safety in Scotland that attracted an unpleasant anonymous e-mail by someone with a humour bypass. That done, I wrote most of my sermon for Sunday, but I still have to complete it. Don’t really know why I’m doing this first, especially as I wasted an hour or so installing updates to my operating system and browser. In the evening I went to a Paston trustees meeting, which went on a bit, with the female contingent eagerly discussing things either way in the future or unlikely to happen at all. We shall be busy over the next six months on a coastal architecture project for which we have £3000 funding. So that will be fun, and might concentrate people’s minds.
Not Kate and Pippa, but Andrew and myself at Pensthorpe
Just back from Coventry, returning Andrew after a three-night visit. Dot came with us, and we started after Communion and a delicious Anna Green church lunch (Andrew dining at Phil and Joy’s), leaving about 2.45 and getting back about 8.20. Roads were relatively clear apart from a stretch of the A14 between the M6 and Cambridge Services (yes, I know that’s a lot), but as few lorries were involved, everything ran quite smoothly. Dot drove out, and I drove back. Cambridge Services has deteriorated markedly since a lot of other people found it and overran it. Don’t you hate other people? This does not include people we know and love, of course.
Andrew came to Norwich on Thursday, fetched by Phil and I in the Merc. Another fairly straightforward trip, with Andrew as good as I’ve seen him in a long time. On the Friday we watched much of the Royal Wedding, starring Kate and Pippa, with supporting roles for Will and Harry. Excellent reading by Kate’s brother. Afterwards I took Andrew to Dunston – a perennial request – and for a change we walked to St Remigius’ Church, up through Dunston Hall grounds and back down the road to the Common. Andrew surprised me by knowing where we were when we emerged from Dunston Hall gate. On our way home we went up Caistor Lane to view the bluebell wood from afar, then called briefly at Whitlingham, where the wind had got up a treat. Lastly, we called into the Rosary, before returning to the house for steak and chips.
Excellent day yesterday, when we all went to Pensthorpe nature reserve, which proved far better than I remembered it from years ago. Lots of entertaining birds, which is always good, not to mention some red squirrels, which appealed to Andrew. The wind was still sharp, but this was uncomfortable only while we ate lunch at the Snack Shack. Walking round the various paths, beside the Wensum and through a wildflower meadow, around some lakes and into some hides and gardens was no problem at all, in view of the sun and blue sky. Spent about five hours there.
Must mention also Dot’s excellent talk at the Surrey Midweek Fellowship. She spoke about church schools and had them eating out of her hand. The fellowship, not church schools.
Not tremendously high-quality iPhone picture of Sam Savigny at Ali Tandoori on Sunday, with his free birthday candle stuck into something or other
Exceedingly tiring day yesterday. Drove to Coventry to see a council financial person about A’s arrangements, now that his money has drained away to the statutory level. She said quite a lot before I understood anything, and I understood then only because I asked for an interpretation. No, it wasn’t the accent: just a complete lack of familiarity on my part with the financial terms she was using. Anyway, I think I eventually understood what will be happening – and unsurprisingly, it’s no easier for me. More juggling of money in prospect. I can hardly wait.
A seemed pretty well physically, but his poor memory does seem a little worse. On the plus side, he has not destroyed the TV, which seems to be working well. The same could not be said of the CD player, but as it has a high dirt content, this is not totally surprising.
The journey there was pleasant and quick, but I made the mistake of taking it easy on the way back. What this always amounts to is taking longer and getting tireder. I had a stroll round Monks Kirby, which was enjoyable enough, but later decided to go across the Fens, where the traffic has got much worse in recent years. Encountered a shower of rain – precursor of a change in weather that is continuing today. Quite cold again and windy, and it’s starting to rain quite steadily.
Just got up to the city and back before it got going, paying in church and personal cheques and purchasing a Senior Railcard which I hope will prompt me to use the train more. The last one ran out in June last year, which must mean I haven’t travelled by rail since then. I suppose. The carpet-cleaning man came earlier, so it’s wet inside as well as out.
Last night we had a smaller Tuesday Group than usual, which I struggled through without falling asleep, as far as I can remember. Tonight the much more exciting parochial church council. Yes, that was a joke.
Julia, Dot and Dave on a bridge over the Macclesfield Canal, coming towards the end of our walk. We are headed for the ridge top right.
The best kind of wintry day: cold, but with sunshine and a certain stillness in the air. The weekend was much the same, and our longish walk at Lyme Park on Saturday was superb. We covered just under five miles, with a fair bit of ascent, and happily Dot and I were relatively untroubled by our recent ailments. I felt pretty well throughout. She had a slight ache in her back, but had no problem completing the walk, which left the car park at Lyme Park (which is in Cheshire and was used by the BBC in the filming of Pride and Prejudice) before heading over a low ridge and down to the Macclesfield Canal. We walked along the canal for about a mile and half and spent some time watching geese skating on the ice and eventually plunging through it. Then we headed back up over the hill to our start point.
We were actually staying in Derbyshire – at the Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton – with Dave and Julia Evetts. Unfortunately the excellent food there negated the slimming work achieved by the walk, and at the end of the weekend I found my weight had worsened rather than improved. So this morning I did another couple of miles. I am really too heavy now and am determined to take off about half a stone. Dot is quite keen to assist me in this.
Didn’t feel 100 per cent in Derbyshire and had to go to bed earlyish both nights, but we still had a very good time. However an ambulance was called for someone else and I think it must have hit our car, because there is a dent in the back wing. Rather irritating.
On the way north on Friday we called in at Coventry with Andrew’s new TV/DVD combi, which I managed to set up in his room after walking to the shops with Andrew to purchase an aerial lead. Bitterly cold, and at that point quite windy. The set-up was very easy, and Andrew seemed to get the hang of it. The Langleys staff, who seem to be taking a closer interest in Andrew than the previous owners did, have said they’ll make sure he can operate it. They also took him into the city so that he could buy some clothes last week.
Before Coventry we had called in on A Ethel to give her her birthday present and stayed for a while. She seems very frail, but looked better than she had a couple of weeks ago. Rosemary is out of hospital and recovering from pancreatitis.
Clear drive back from Derbyshire via Chesterfield and the M1 on Sunday. Stopped at Cambridge Services for a snack, and both felt very tired. Nevertheless I took Rupert to Lowestoft in the evening for another poetry reading event at the Seagull Theatre, while Dot relaxed at home in readiness for an early school visit today. The reading went quite well, though it was a mixed bag as usual. Host Ian Fosten in good form, except when he omitted me from part two by mistake, and I had to point it out to get my second three poems in. Quite a good reception: did a couple of light-hearted ones (Directions and At the Chemist’s) which provoked some laughter. Also did Careless Rain, Mother of a Year Six Boy, Denver Sluice and In Love with the Second Cello.
Andrew playing on the giant wooden xylophone at Dunston Common, where we went for a walk on Boxing Day.
This will have to be a quick one. Dot is in the loft with the children, and David has gone into the city. I haven’t finished preparing the New Year quiz, and I’m sure I’ll be in demand very soon. Hold on – yes, Amy wanted to come out of the loft. Now she’s gone up again.
We’ve had a pretty busy Christmas, which I suppose goes without saying. I fetched Andrew from Coventry on Christmas Eve and took him back on the 27th – two drives of nearly 300 miles, which was tiring, although road conditions were good each time. David arrived in Norwich on Christmas Eve – about an hour after I got back with Andrew – then went back for the children on Boxing Day, then left again on Wednesday to visit the Coomes at Bishop’s Stortford and go on to Caddington before returning here with the children yesterday afternoon. They are staying until tomorrow. Are you following this?
The cold weather has thankfully abated, to leave a murky greyness, which is not exactly thrilling but doesn’t obstruct the traffic. Dot and I went to Christmas Eve Midnight Communion and led Silent Night on guitar; we also did a couple of readings and I assisted with the chalice (slightly unnecessarily). The church was warmer than I expected, and I took the collection away in the absence of treasurer Vicky, looking after her new baby, George.
Jessie, Roger and Philip joined us for Christmas Day, which went well, with the help of a lovely bird from Morrisons and some of Jessie’s scrumptious mince pies. Andrew seemed to enjoy himself. Phil, Joy, Sam and Lucy came round on the morning of the 27th, and I took Andrew over to Clarke’s to get some new shoes. The planned new TV/DVD player will have to wait till things calm down. Andrew seemed short of clothes when I fetched him, and I meant to give him some of mine, but forgot at the last minute. I will probably send him a parcel.
On the 28th David, Oliver and I went into the city, and I bought Dot a new MacBook Air, which David has now set up for her. I also got a cover for my iPhone, and Oliver one for his iPod. Apple seems to work on a different price structure to everything else on the planet, but we go on buying from them, because their stuff is so good. A lesson for others? Or not?
Now Dot and the children are at the shops, buying prizes for tonight’s New Year quiz. So I’d better work on some questions. Should just mention that among many other brilliant presents (some solid reading and watching ahead) David and Bridget came round last night to bring us a voucher for afternoon tea at the Assembly House. Must lose weight.
Decided to go to Coventry on Wednesday, because it was forecast to be the only half-decent day this week. Didn’t start out too well, but in Coventry after a good drive the sun was shining and everything was glorious autumn. Andrew was in good form, and Julia came over to The Langleys to have a chat with us while I was there (I had remembered to phone her while en route, and fortunately she was free). The house seemed in better nick, especially Andrew’s room. After Julia left, Andrew and I went to Friday’s for a steak lunch. He had a gigantic sundae intended for two. Afterwards got some petrol and checked the tyres, which were strangely very low on one side. It may be that this was the cause of a problem with the automatic levelling of the headlights, because when I was on the way home, halfway across the Fens, the levelling suddenly sorted itself out, and has been OK ever since *touches wood*.
Journey back was not good. The A14 was solid after the A1: I realised just in time and turned north up the A1 before skirting north of Huntingdon and reaching the A141. There was another hold-up at Chatteris (heavy traffic at roundabout), but I thought I was making good progress when I reached Nordelph to find that the road to Downham Market was arbitrarily shut. No advance warning. Using my vast knowledge of the area 😉 I eventually located the totally unsigned alternative route via Barroway Drove.
Weather took a nose-dive on Thursday, with high winds and rain, but I managed to get to Paston in the evening for a trustees’ meeting. Slightly nervous journey home because wind was very strong, but no problem. Earlier Dot had become trapped in the Longwater shopping complex after the southern bypass was closed by an accident and traffic was gridlocked on the exit road into Norwich. It took more than an hour to clear, but fortunately Dot spotted that she could get back on to the bypass instead of travelling into Norwich, as most drivers were doing.
Today still very windy but dry, and I walked into the city to buy Dot’s birthday present, plus a couple of books, while she took the car for a valeting by some non-English and therefore very hardworking guys off Aylsham road. Great job! She then had a meeting with head teacher friends in the city, and I went to Morrisons to restock an empty fridge. When Dot got home she was excited by a piece of furniture, so we drove up, caught its owners just before they shut up shop and bought it. It is a corner unit in oak which will hold our television and a few other things. It will be delivered next Friday. A bargain, I have to say. Well, I don’t, but I will. As I had just paid our house insurance for the year, it turned out to be an expensive day.
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.
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.
Mr and Mrs Reed exit the church after the ceremony
Busy time since I last posted. Failed to find anyone to accommodate Riding Lights actors, but it turned out not to matter: other avenues had yielded fruit. I’m not particularly good at persuading people to do things that they might find onerous, though when we put up Nigel Forde +1 in 1984 it was actually a lot of fun. Long time ago … the year I became chief sub on the Eastern Daily Press, and the year we moved to Aspland Road, making commuting so much easier for both me and David – walking to work and school respectively.
Rang up hospital this morning to inquire about Andrew, and he seems to be doing suspiciously well. No date yet for discharge, but I also spoke to The Langleys, and they are happy to have him back there, which would be nice, since we have his room nicely set up now.
I had a hearing test at Boots last Tuesday (free offer) and discovered my hearing was pretty much OK, though not perfect. – ie good for someone who’s about to get an old age pension! Have been trying to keep walking, though the weather has been very mixed. I managed a walk back to Eaton from Hethersett when Dot dropped me off there on Thursday (about four miles) and another walk back from Bally yesterday (2½).
The weather was excellent on Friday for the Paston reception to launch their plans for the church extension. We took Howard and Anna, who were impressed. Howard spent a lot of time reading the carvings in the church, and Lucy showed them The Book. Anna is keen to get it into a Castle Museum exhibition, tied in with Paston stuff they already have. The Paston Heritage Society people (Jo, Brigitte et al) were there in 21st century clothes, which was a bit disconcerting. They are usually in costume. When we emerged quite late from the church the sky was still blue, and the whole setting glorious.
By the next day, a complete change. As we arrived for Ed and Jenny’s wedding at Christ Church, New Catton, the lead-grey skies started spitting rain, and by the end of the service it was tipping down, which rather destroyed any chance of official photographs, though I took some informal ones. The formal ones were taken in a marquee after the wedding breakfast at Mannington Hall – a superb setting, even in the rain. The food was high quality, as were the speeches – some of the best I’ve heard. The wedding itself was unusual in that Ed’s mother married him: or to clarify slightly, the couple were married by the Rev Liz Cannon, Ed’s mother, who coincidentally Dot and I know from way, way back. Other friends present: David and Bridget, Vicky (with husband and daughter, very briefly), Tim Mace and Peter Pyke, a former member of our Tuesday group. At our table, with the Archers, were Liz’s sister Christina Potter and her husband Melford. Discovered they holiday frequently on Sanibel, but weren’t able to talk much about it, because it emerged as we were leaving the tables and moving into the bar area for the cake cutting. The cake, incidentally, was strikingly original: a creamy confection on top, with clusters of fairy cakes below.
On Sunday I was responsible for the sermon, and in the evening we invited some people round from church: as one of them was a vegetarian, another could not eat gluten or dairy and the third was a child, this was a bit of a challenge, but Dot surmounted it in her usual efficient fashion. Spent quite a bit of time helping the girl (a very bright six-year-old) to learn chess – at the instigation of her father.
Yesterday we went out for a meal with friends we met in Egypt but who go to St Luke’s. Spent most of the evening telling each other our life histories, which was surprisingly interesting. Earlier in the day we had been to Bally to pick up the picture I’d bought from Martin Laurance. We arrived at the same time as the Archers, who I suspect are stalking us. Introduced them to Annette, and when we left Bridget was considering buying a picture from her. Chatted to Annette, Martin and Rupert, and ran into Dot’s friend Maggie and her husband Malcolm. Now about to go to hear Caroline read poetry and sing in a church in St Benedict’s.
Dot on the railway bridge at Whitlingham Lane, Thorpe.
Sad news from Coventry this morning: Andrew became progressively worse over the weekend and had to be taken into hospital this morning. Can’t say this came as a huge surprise after seeing him on Friday, but sad nevertheless.
We had a quiet weekend in his absence. Dot and I went for a walk down on the Thorpe side of Whitlingham on Saturday afternoon: calm, warm, and hardly anybody about beside the river and across the meadow. The next day, however, she had succumbed to a cold that had been creeping up on her and stayed in bed with a very bad throat and cough while I went and led the service at church. Pentecost! Matt’s first stab at preaching, and he was very good.
Annette tries on a wig found in one of Rupert's boxes
In the afternoon I went to Bally for Open Studios – pretty much a must, as the artists have all had sudden notice to quit by mid-June. End of an era. Excellent main exhibition, but few people there: it was very hot, and I guess many of the potential attendees were on the beach. Spoke to Rupert and Shirley, then Martin Laurance – provisionally buying a painting of his – but spent most of time being shown round the exhibition by Annette. Some good new stuff from her, and if she spent as much time praising her own pictures as she did extolling the virtues of others, she might sell more. Such a nice girl.
Towards the end of yesterday the weather started to turn cooler, but not until after I walked into the city to pay in a couple of cheques. In the evening I drew my final chess game of the season after getting an advantage but not making it count. My 50% tournament score means I stay in the second division next season, though I keep wondering whether to give chess a rest. Dot stayed in bed most of yesterday, but has got up this morning, saying she feels much better. Had a call from Riding Lights theatre company yesterday asking if I knew anyone who could put up some of their troupe who are coming to Norwich next month. We’re going on holiday at the crucial time, but I’ve put out feelers. Nobody has grasped one yet.
