Feeling a bit down; not sure why. Went to the UEA with Rob this morning on Paston business. The UEA half of the conversation (or two-thirds, to be precise) were very keen to create new projects for which they might get additional funding, which was quite exciting, though I may have to juggle creatively to accommodate one of them into Dragon Hall and the NRO.
Then to Paston in the afternoon for a trustees meeting, which was equally full of potential life-consuming items. After supper, went out for a walk while Dot was at orchestra rehearsal and returned too tired to get to grips with the many things that demanded my attention; so watched two or three Bob Dylan videos. Not satisfactory at all, especially with another busy day tomorrow. And my teeth hurt.
The weekend was quite busy too. On Saturday, after a delightful walk at Strumpshaw Fen and then listening to Norwich City getting cheated out of a win against Arsenal by incompetent refereeing, we went to Cafe Rouge for a meal with Angela and Rodney, primarily to discuss Aunt E. Nice meal, though, and A & R came back for coffee afterwards. I invited them, not reflecting carefully enough on the state of the house, as Dot pointed out.
On Sunday I led the service, and in the evening Dot and I went to the Seagull Theatre at Lowestoft and played four of my songs for the assembled thronglet. We had to manage without our lead guitarist, but it seemed to go OK. We sang my new song, Woman at the Window, inspired by a Dali painting, and then Man in the Mask, Sunset Woman and The Band Played On.
While we were there Dot unexpectedly arranged with Ian to visit the theatre again the following evening for a concert by Brian Houston: she was doing P4C at Gorleston in the afternoon, then had a meal at Ian’s and went on to the Seagull.
Meanwhile I was playing chess, trying to catch up with my tournament games. I managed a draw against Chris Tuffin after getting an advantage and being on the brink of losing. Hard work. But hey, at least spring has arrived.
On the minus side, Andrew has been admitted into hospital at Warwick (no beds in Coventry). The manager at The Langleys was concerned that he was not safe following his drugs regime change instigated by a new doctor. He was apparently so affected by drugs that he might have walked into the road. So we now wait to see where they might place him on a more permanent basis.
It isn’t getting any warmer. It snowed briefly this morning, but the main factor throughout the week has been the biting east wind, which as my friend Sandra would say is a lazy wind, because it can’t be bothered to go round you – it goes right through you. Despite this, life goes on: I guess you’d get used to living with it eventually. As another friend, Kevin, said, it’s not bad weather, it’s the wrong clothes. Not sure that’s entirely right (puts on extra jumper).
On Monday another Paston trustees’ meeting at Dayspring. I went a bit early to chat to an afflicted Lucy, but not sure I helped much. The meeting went well, and I agreed to help at the Paston Day at the end of April, organising some Chronicle stuff, or as we prefer to put it, reading out some poems and letters.
Drove to Coventry to fetch Andrew on Wednesday. Phil is having a bad time at the moment, so he couldn’t assist. No real problem in the driving, and A was much better than expected. On the Thursday we braved the wind and cold and went to Ranworth: had a sandwich or two at the staithe and then walked to the revamped wildlife centre on the edge of the Broad. Pretty much on our own there, which was quite nice in a way. Good views; but the staff had spent the morning unpacking and weren’t really in full flow. I wanted to buy a map, but no-one knew how much it cost. In the end I said I’d leave it and come back next week (which we might do, with the grandchildren).
Andrew and I then climbed Ranworth Church tower and found ourselves on top with a family of four: grandparents and two young children. We took each other’s photographs, but didn’t hang around long. Earlier I had walked over to the Riverside shops with Andrew and bought him two pairs of new shoes as well as some other items of clothing. On the way back from Ranworth we called at the Rosary, which he didn’t recognise for some time as we were approaching it from the wrong direction.
On Good Friday we walked up to the Castle Museum and spent a couple of hours looking round, starting with the wildlife section and proceeding to the basement by way of the keep. After lunch at home Phil walked down to see him. Andrew and I left for Coventry at about 3.303pm and stopped for a meal at Thrapston Little Chef before reaching The Langleys just after 6.30pm.
Unusually he wanted me to help him unpack and sort himself out; so I didn’t start for home till well after 7pm. But despite being delayed by alleged animals on the road near Newmarket (the police stopped traffic and were searching along the edges) it was a really easy ride back , and I was home by about 9.45pm.
I have omitted to mention that while Andrew was in Norwich I had my first session with Sharon Gibbons at the Oasis, when she got a life history and did some manipulation of my shoulder, which is quite painful at times. Not sure what caused it: she suggests a problem with a complex of muscles in that area. Sounded convincing, and the manipulation felt good.
The whole appointment took longer than I anticipated (over an hour) and I was late back for our meal, which made Dot late for her visit to Carrie. Oh well. (Fleetwood Mac again).
Today we enjoyed an extensive bit of shopping at the supermarket, and I checked one of my car tyres again that I thought might have a slow puncture. It probably has, but it’s very, very slow. Now anticipating the artival of David and the children late this afternoon. According to our tracking device, they have arrived safely at the Co0omes’ house in Bishop’s Stortford for lunch.
Dot has a new job as an RE Quality Mark assessor. It remains to be seen how much more time this will take, but it shows how highly thought of she is. Not surprisingly.
The cake made by Amy and her grandmother (see earlier post)
As February rolls to its end, we roll home from the Sainsbury Centre, where we have been to an art private view and auction, at the invitation of Anna. Wasn’t really looking forward to it, but it was actually a lot of fun. We put in a few bids in the silent auction, but don’t expect to win any of them. Dot bid in the actual auction and went up to £50 before dropping out. Anna and Howard were both there, of course, and so was Nick Castor, who took over my journalism course at UEA in 2006. Nice to see him again.
Unfortunately there were sandwiches and prosecco. Not unfortunate in itself, but we didn’t know that was going to happen and so we took out some lamb chops from the freezer, which we now have to eat. We went by bus, which took nearly an hour from the point where we arrived at the bus stop to the point when we reached the Sainsbury Centre. Half that time coming back of course, but again we did have quite a long wait at the stop.
Yesterday I drove to a Paston trustees’ meeting at Dayspring. Quite nice weather (it’s been reasonable over the last few days, though cold). Lengthy discussions about plans for the year, budgets and particularly the planned DVD and the new website, which is all very exciting but confusing. Today I attempted to do the minutes after editing Lucy’s piece for the newsletter in which she spelt not only the patron’s name wrong, but also the chairman’s – and that’s only four letters (Knee). Still, she’s not well.
I’ve been managing to keep to my 30-minute brisk walks each day (more or less), and as a boost, today I also cleared up a lot of foliage that Dot had cut off the bushes in the front garden. I’m sleeping better too. Still writing tanka with Joy, and she sent some of them to a reviewer she knew, who was quite complimentary.
Rather a lot going on at the moment, which explains my lack of posting. Dot took quite a while to recover from her cold after Buxton, and she still has a bit of a cough, as have I. Feel more or less all right, though, especially as I’ve just booked a fortnight in Ballater at a house called The Coyles in Golf Road, just round the corner from the legendary wee house.
Today is a lovely winter’s day, with blue sky and not really cold after an initial frost. I walked up to the Rosary for about half an hour, under doctor’s orders. He took my blood pressure last Wednesday and pronounced it too high. I declined his offer of more pills, and he gave me a month to show some progress. Have booked an appointment online for March 15. It was the only one available.
Took Phil to the doctor’s last Thursday, and after returning him home and calling on the vicar with cheques, took the car in for servicing, which came out at an unexpectedly high £400. Walked home (of course), but Dot drove me up to fetch it at tea time.
The service included cleaning the car, which was fortuitous, as the following day was Peter Beales’ funeral, which was big enough to make it on to TV as well as into the newspapers. Dot and I drove to the nursery and took advantage of the coach into town to avoid problems with parking. Fortunately seats were reserved at the front of the church for us (as family), and I managed to keep three chairs plus a wheelchair space for Angela, Rodney, Vicki and A Ethel. The latter survived the whole thing remarkably well, even when the lock to her bungalow jammed when we took her home, and we were stuck outside in the cold for about quarter of an hour waiting for the warden.
She had been taken to the church by a specially adapted taxi with R, A and V, and she also came to the refreshments in the nursery bistro, which coped splendidly with about 200 people. She got lots of attention, and it was a nice occasion. Richard and Mandy both gave good tributes (read by the vicar), and the service featured the Shipping Forecast, by special request of Peter. No-one knows why, but it certainly got people’s attention.
The taxi did the same return journey with Angela & Co, but we met them at A Ethel’s, which is how we came to be involved in the jammed lock situation. After we go tin and they left we stayed with A Ethel for a while, but she was nowhere near as badly affected as we thought she might be. Ironically (I suppose) I received an e-mail while we were there telling me that our friend Jan Miller had died of cancer at the age of 64. Totally unexpected; we had no idea she was ill.
On Saturday we had booked to go to a Riding Lights performance at Lowestoft, but the tickets never turned up, and Dot was coughing quite badly, so we decided to give it a miss instead of ringing up and demanding action. Not very good on their part, though, especially as when I originally tried to book, their website malfunctioned. Spent most of the day finishing off my sermon on Jesus’ temptations, which I delivered on Sunday, of course.
On Sunday evening we met Heather, Simon and Sam at the King’s Head and progressed to the Ali Tandoori for our usual Indian meal. Miraculously, Dot did not cough while eating, though she did have quite a lot of red wine. Had a really good evening: we get on very well with them. Pity they will soon be going to Bournemouth: Heather has a job at the university there (she is already commuting) and Simon is looking for one in the area. Sam is due to go to Chester University next year, and his band, The Upgrade, is playing at the Waterfront next month.
Monday afternoon saw another Paston event: a cafe conversation led by Elizabeth McDonald at the White Lion Cafe. About a dozen took part, and it went well: I was able to make some contributions. Kay Riggs was there, as was Adrian Ward, which was nice. In the afternoon Dot and I did a mammoth shop at the supermarket and ran into Barbara Vidion, which was also nice.
Mary Paulson-Ellis in King Street, viewing a beam that is said to have come from a Paston house in Princes Street
It’s turned very cold again, with a sharp wind, but the snow that fell briefly last night has gone. I drove Phil home while it was falling: he’d called to print something out, and we had a long conversation about various problems, especially his roof. In the end I arranged for him to meet Vicky tomorrow: coincidentally, she’s in charge, for Orbit, of work going on next door to him.
It’s been raining most of today, but I’m glad to say that on Sunday and Monday it was dry, because on those days I was showing Mary Paulson-Ellis, a writer from Edinburgh, round some Paston sites in North-East Norfolk and in Norwich. She was accompanied by a colleague, Nic, from UEA, with whom she’s working on a Paston project for the 26 writing group. It’s all Norfolk-based and connected with the fact that Norwich is England’s first Unesco Creative City of Literature.
On the Sunday I rushed to Paston from church lunch to meet Mary and Nic at Lucy’s house, Lucy being still in Benjamin Court at Cromer, recovering from her broken shoulder and bruised foot. Mary was brought by her brother, and Nic had his wife and young son with him. Jonathan was very hospitable and good with the young lad, taking him up on the roof and out into the garden while Mary, Nic and I looked at various Paston-related books (eg Fenn first and second editions and our own handmade book).
Afterwards we went on to Paston Church and then Bromholm Abbey, where Nic and his family made for home while I took Mary to meet Lucy at Cromer. On the way home from Cromer (in the pitch dark) I showed Mary Oxnead Hall and the church, but we decided not to get out of the car!
On Monday I met them at St Andrew’s Hall, and we went in and looked at the roof and the Paston coat of arms in the doors, thence taking in the usual Paston sites: Peter Hungate, Elm Hill, Cathedral and King Street, before going via the Julian Shrine to the Museum, where we viewed the Paston Treasure before having tea and cake. I walked them down past the Guildhall bef0re leaving them. Quite a stimulating time. They want me to do an MA in Creative Writing. I don’t know why.
Continuing the Paston theme, I met Sarah Power at Dragon Hall on Tuesday, drawing up a rough plan of what we would do there on May 31. I now have to get a couple of paragraphs of publicity to her before Feb 22. It’s all go. No Tuesday Group last night, though: several call-offs, which was just as well because of the snow.
Having the usual problem with getting our brown bin emptied: alleged to be “not out” again, but of course it was. I have now been promised a site visit, whatever that is. It still hasn’t been emptied. Have just seen that a new prime number has been discovered, containing 17 million digits. It is so big that even Norwich City Council bin emptiers would be able to see it.
Went so see Norwich play Spurs on Wednesday, as the month neared its end. Much milder, but quite windy and certainly not in any way a warm evening. It was a good match, with Norwich the better team in the first half, but Spurs coming back with a superb Gareth Bale goal and threatening to win at the end. I felt encouraged by the spirit and skill shown by the players after their previous two disastrous outings a 5-0 defeat at Anfield and the appalling 1-0 home loss in the Cup to non-league Luton. Today they play QPR away, and I fear the worst, even though they have been strengthened by buying two new forwards.
Dot has just gone to the supermarket and will be hastening back to watch the match on Sky TV, for which she has an iPhone app.
Yesterday I travelled to Cromer in the MX5, while Dot attended a NAfPHT conference at Mangreen and did some networking. I visited Lucy in hospital at Benjamin Court, and she was in good spirits despite her broken collarbone and bruised foot. We talked a lot about Paston but also about other things, including our families and why things happened. I was there for over 90 minutes and arrived home after Dot. Tomorrow I shall be standing in for Lucy to show a writer from Edinburgh some of the Paston sites.
Nice big obit in the Telegraph this morning for Peter Beales. The funeral has been fixed for February 15, and on Thursday I bought a new overcoat and two pairs of trousers from M & S, encouraged by Dot. Yes, these items are connected. Afterwards we called in at Presto, which is Caffe Italia reincarnated, because Roberto and Kathy have come back from their retirement and repurchased the premises. Had a quick drink and shared a scone, plus much repartee with the owners. Good to have them back.
Peter Beales and his sister Rosie earlier on in his career
Another busy week, despite the snow restricting our movements. Now, at last, the white stuff has gone and been replaced by rainy but much warmer weather. Today is around 10C or more and Dot was “sweltered” on returning from a brief foray to buy a frame for a photo of Ethel (for her birthday later this week, when she is 89, and not 90, whatever she says).
It is a week, however, that will be remembered mainly for the death of Peter Beales, rose grower supreme, Dot’s cousin and all-round gentleman. He succumbed to pneumonia on Saturday afternoon (26 Jan), while Norwich City were going out of the F A Cup to non-League Luton Town. It is four months since his wife died. A sad loss, and a shattering blow to his children, Richard and Amanda.
We received the news from Amanda in the evening. Earlier we had been at Jessie’s after visiting the cemetery (Dot’s Mum’s birthday is also this week). While there we listened to the Norwich City debacle on radio. Later Dot was in deep telephonic conversation with Angela about how to break the news about Peter to Ethel, but in the event she took it without flinching. We visited her yesterday after a drop-in at the supermarket, and she was in good form.
Last Wednesday, with plenty of snow still on the ground, I met Elizabeth McDonald at the Cathedral Refectory to discuss her contribution to the Paston event at Dragon Hall in May. She’s doing a PhD on Books the Pastons Read, and so will fit in well with the literary theme. Later I drove up to the doctor’s in Dot’s car (because she was using mine) and almost got it stuck outside the house, such is the unsuitability of rear-wheel drive to snowy conditions. Strangely when I returned it shot up the hill with no trouble.
I had had to pick up pills from the chemist as well as call in to the doctor’s to register myself for making online appointments – the latter prompted by my having to cancel Thursday’s appointment, when I accompanied Rob to the Norfolk Record Office in place of the injured Lucy. But I leap ahead. Also on the Wednesday I went to a meeting of the King Street Cultural Quarter, with whom we’re collaborating slightly on Dragon Hall. Quite amusing to witness the same kind of meeting the PHS has, but without the need to get involved. They are in fact in a worse state following the sudden resignation of their chairman and the reluctance of anyone to take over.
The meeting at the NRO next day was far more civilised – although Dr John Alban, the curator with whom we have been dealing, is also stepping down (retiring) at the end of March. We managed to get a clearish picture of what we’re doing, and it all seems very promising. The result should be a three-month exhibition on the Pastons at NRO starting in mid-October, with some talks by prominent people in the Paston world. Rob gave me a lift, and afterwards we called in at the ABC Wharf in King Street to view the venue for a possible photo exhibition. I think it can best be described as esoteric: a massive warehouse-type space overlooking the river. Impressive but very, very cold.
Caroline with her book and the singer
After church on Sunday, where the improved weather attracted a single-figure congregation, Dot and I drove to Fakenham for the launch of Caroline Gilfillan’s new poetry book, Pepys. As you might guess, it is all about the famous diarist, and part of the launch consisted of Caroline, in period costume together with three friends, performing some of the poems, excerpts from the diaries and a couple of songs. On approaching the house we encountered Rob and Penny, with whom we enjoyed the afternoon. Fortuitous, as we knew no-one else except Caroline. Obviously we bought the book. And ate the food.
Flashback to autumn: Julia, Dot and Dave at the Gunton Arms after a warming lunch.
For some reason we seem to be ahead of ourselves in the run-up to Christmas. Most of the cards and presents are ready, if not dispatched. And this despite my illness earlier, and Dot’s being indisposed on Tuesday this week, when she had a sore throat and stayed in bed instead of going to Barbara’s. This gave her a chance to become familiar with her new iPhone5, and she started asking Siri (her electronic friend) philosophical questions. Ah, well.
On Sunday I led the service and Liz preached – rather well, it has to be said. She spoke about righteousness meaning primarily right relationships. On Monday I played my first game of serious chess for some time, standing in as a guest on Board 4 for the A team in the Williamson Cup against Norfolk & Norwich A, the strongest team ion the league. Amazingly I won against a player graded 177, and the team won too, 3½-½.
For all you chess fanatics, here is the game:
White, Tim Lenton; Black, Gabriel Barr.
1 g3 f5 2 c4 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 g6 5 Bg2 Bg7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 0-0 Qe8 8 Re1 Na6 9 a3 (probably not necessary) c5 10 d5 h6 11 Qc2 e5 12 dxe Bxe6 13 Nd2 (Bf4 is probably better) Qf7 14 e4 (looking to strongpoint e4) Nc7 15 exf (planning two self-pins on the strongpoint square) Bxf5 16 Nce4 Rae8 (afterwards Gabriel suggested Ng4 for Black here, with an intended sacrifice on f2; White may be able to play Nf3) 17 Nxf6+ Qxf6 18 Ne4 Qd4 19 Bf4 Qxb2 20 Qxb2 Bxb2 21 Rab1 Bxa3 22 Rxb7 Ne6 23 Nxd6 (Bxh6 is also strong) Nxf4 24 Nxe8 Nxg2 25 Ree7 Bb226 Rxb2 Bd7 27 Rxd7 Rxe8 28 Kxg2 1-0.
On Tuesday I kept an eye on Dot and then took Ian, Harriet and Judy to Vicky’s for Tuesday Group. Quite a carful, but fortunately the suspension held up. Yesterday Dot was better and resumed her perambulations around Norfolk schools, while I went into the city to pay in some cash, as well as posting some cards. Today, with the weather still crisp and sunny, we travelled to Mundesley, where we had tea and coffee in the Royal Hotel’s new cafe, combined with an open meeting of the Paston Heritage Society. Not as many present as expected, but all went well. Peter Sissons was there, plus Maria Vincent and Patricia, our new trustee. And, of course, Penny, Rob and Lucy.
Afterwards Dot and I called in at the garage and discovered that, as expected, we need a new automatic headlight leveller, which will set us back in the region of £500. Onwards to pick up pills from the chemist and post parcels at the sorting office. Then some printing of booklets for Sunday’s service while Dot went out to get a couple of small things for Menita’s children, and to buy some petrol. Oh yes, however advanced you are, it’s still all go.
Amy, Oliver and Nana at Elveden during a recent visit.
Busy times continue, hence the delay in posting this. Dot is now working on her inspection report: she was at Linton infants’ school in Cambridgeshire yesterday, having stayed the night at the Crown Inn, where she was presented with a massive breakfast at 7.30am. Fortunately the school was a very good one, and so the report should not be too hard to write. But it may be her last inspection: the effort is becoming incommensurate with the reward, and the new system of organisation has made it less flexible for inspectors.
While she was away I attended a PCC meeting (Monday night), at which Nicholas’ plans for a new Sunday evening community were discussed and generally approved, and a lengthy meeting of Paston trustees with Peter Stibbons (yesterday afternoon) about a planned Paston DVD. I was also able to talk to him briefly about a copy of my Norfolk poetry book that I had sent to him some time ago (he is also a publisher), and he recommended someone else, who I will try. A slow process.
Dot got back from Cambridgeshire in time for a Tuesday Group at the Archers’ last night. The Group has settled into a fairly constant eight: the Archers, Dot and I, Vicky, Judy, Ian and Harriet. Last night we watched a Rob Bell Nooma video, about bad reasons for attending church (among other things). He does that sort of thing very well.
Before Dot went to Linton on Monday evening we went shopping and I bought some slippers from M&S that turned out to be too small. Yesterday I took them back and changed them, which turned out to be remarkably easy. Later I did some shopping at Morrisons: I had mistimed it somewhat and it was a big rush to get to the Paston meeting, but I did just make it, despite the usual ditherers doing a constant 45mph on the road to North Walsham and even less between NW and Paston.
We had actually been to North Walsham on Sunday too, calling at the cemetery before taking tea and mince pies with Jessie and showing her how to work her new Samsung tablet. To be fair Roger had already shown her, but apparently rather too quickly. Earlier we had been at a Remembrance service at St Augustine’s, where Stuart gave a talk on a parishioner who died in France shortly before the end of the war, having experienced little fighting in the Middle East up to that point. Fascinating stuff, despite being delivered in a less than charismatic way. This was followed by some more of Carrie’s legendary soup, which again gave me heartburn. I mean, soup?! How can that happen?
Incidentally, I have recorded my new song, Woman at the Window, and given a copy to Phil. We may use it on our next Seagull visit.
The previous days had also been much concerned with church, of one sort or another. We had one of our visiting speakers at St Luke’s on Friday and Saturday – this time Cyprian Consiglio, a monk and musician from California. I didn’t hear an awful lot of what he said, but what I heard was extremely interesting, and his guitar-playing was brilliant. Phil, who is much more of a technician than me, was extremely impressed.
Phil was actually organising the volunteers for CC, and I gave him a hand on the Thursday (preparation) and nearly all Friday, when I had a chance to chat to the delightful Archie and Cathy Cameron, from Agape, who record the speaker events. Turns out they were born in the Gorbals, Glasgow, at almost the same time as Dot, and they spoke glowingly of the community there, where they also grew up. Dot’s Mum had also said how kind the people were.
Meanwhile on the Friday Dot was leading a Nafpht conference at Mangreen on Philosophy4Children. She had been extremely nervous and spent loads of time on preparation. She did the morning sessions entirely on her own, and Barbara came in the afternoon. Needless to say, it went very well, and she has got some good feedback, plus a possible booking at a Yarmouth school.
On the Saturday I popped up to St Luke’s at lunchtime to see if Phil needed help, and I assisted in clearing away the tables downstairs. I had intended helping at the end (5pm), but suddenly remembered that Dot and I were due to attend a thanksgiving event for Norwich Youth for Christ, of which she was formerly a trustee. This included a buffet at 6pm, much earlier than I had thought. It was at the Gateway Vineyard church in Nelson Street (formerly Mount Zion) and was very enjoyable. Spent some time talking to Don Guyton about Surrey and related things. The service was pretty far removed from the contemplative approach of CC, but was very well done, including contributions from choir and an excellent worship band. Interesting how they used old songs which I knew from my childhood – but in new settings. Lovely atmosphere. NYFC do a great job.
Way back last Thursday I attended a meeting of Paston trustees without Peter Stibbons, and we went through a lengthy agenda which included attracting new trustees and allocating new roles following the departure of Jo Berry and Lin Pearman for health reasons. I am now the secretary, and managed to produce some minutes which approximated roughly to what was said. Not as easy as it might be, as Lucy is difficult to follow at times.
Dot, Amy and Oliver pause for a rest halfway round the Iceni nature trail at Cockley Cley
We are venturing into winter, the clocks are back, and the weather is pretty miserable. But it takes more than that to stop us in our tracks. Last week Oliver and Amy were with us for three days, with David staying for most of the Wednesday before returning to Caddington. The next day we took Oliver and Amy to Cockley Cley, and the Iceni village which she was keen to see for her homework project on Boudicca. The weather was less than wonderful, but at least dry enough for us to wander round the village and its associated nature trail, some of which was quite striking.
We were the only visitors, which was a bit eerie, with Amy rather nervous in case a few stray Iceni had lingered for a few hundred years and were preparing to leap out at her. The figures in the huts didn’t help. Still, she dutifully gather the information she needed. At the end we visited a 17th century cottage and an old church that were even more impressive. As the rain set in we headed for Elveden and a meal at the restaurant there. I had a game pie, for which I paid during the night.
On the Friday we popped up to the Castle Museum to look at the Boudicca section there. I was the advance guard with Oliver, but the other two soon caught up. I cooked roast half-a-chicken for lunch, and we squeezed in yet another game of Dixit before driving them home to Caddington. I drove down and Dot drove back while I thought I would doze, but didn’t.
Saturday was wild, windy, wet and peculiar. I drove to Mannington Hall to help set up the Paston exhibition for the History Day. Seeing no Paston people there, I returned more than half a dozen times, after making phone calls and driving round, before I noticed a narrow bridge at the back that looked private. Sure enough, there they all were, invisible even from the front of the house when I looked through the windows. By then most of the work had been done, which suited me fine, but I helped them finish off.
The next day I picked up Kay and her rather large advertising board from Wood Dalling. We arrived at Mannington Hall shortly after 10.15am to find most people there. The event was rather badly hit by the weather, but the cold and dampness at least drove people into the house to listen to our performance of Margaret Paston – a Medieval Heroine. This was Chronicle (Kay, Rob, Caroline and I) using poetry, dialogue, monologue and songs to portray Margaret’s life and letters. Quite professional: we wore black, and historical hats were provided by Rob’s wife Penny, a serious seamstress. The room was packed for the first performance at noon, and was pretty full for the second at 2pm, by which time Dot had arrived. She had been to church.
Packing up took a bit of a time, and as it included quite a bit of outside work in cold drizzle was rather uncomfortable. Still we managed it and got away not long after 4pm. Sadly, Lucy didn’t make it at all, as she has another infection, but at least she has managed to obtain another £10,000 grant for future events. Don’t know how she does it.
Today I have struggled to catch up with Stuff That Needs to be Done, and managed a trip into the city to put church cheques into the bank (and take money out), and to send off some supplementary money to Andrew. Philip Robinson called in the afternoon to use the loo (!), and Dot has been working hard on her Philosophy conference ideas. I am playing chess tonight, but don’t feel much like it.
