Tag Archives: oliver

2 May 2008

Uncategorized, , ,

Another photo from our day out in Walcott with Oliver: here Dot and grandson face the awesome prospect of excavating some water from the sea without getting wet. As I remember, discretion triumphed.

This has been a very odd week, especially since receiving the news about my prostate. It’s as if reality has slipped off to the side somewhere and I’m only remotely attached to it. However, my energy is returning, and I am sleeping well. Got lots of support from everyone who knows and am feeling very positive. Most of the time. Yesterday I went up to the city to meet Dot after she went to the dentist’s, and we had lunch in John Lewis’ cafe, which is nicer than the full-blown restaurant and rarely very full. Afterwards she tried on a dress while I chatted to someone whose daughter was trying to find a dress for a wedding, then I left her to go to Marks and Spencer while I wondered home via Ottaker’s / Waterstone’s, where I bought an Explorer map of Norwich which I discovered later I already owned. So that’s one for each reality, then.

Dot arrived later with several items of clothing that she had bought at Marks, and we watched a couple of episodes of Battlestar Galactica, making a total of six this week. No wonder reality is seeming strange. Is Dot a Cylon? Am I? The Greens, who are almost certainly Cylons, got in at Thorpe Hamlet in yesterday’s elections and won two or three other seats, so reality is certainly not going to get any less strange.

I have a couple of poems in the latest Norwich Writers’ Circle anthology: about 840 were entered and fewer than 70 chosen, so I guess that has to be good. But I didn’t win anything with my Fish entries this year, although I got on the long list with my pre-biopsy short short story, Three-Minute Child:

THREE-MINUTE CHILD

“Do you read books?”

The old Norfolk boy looked at the paperback in my hand as if it were an alien artefact. He had come in from Dereham by bus, and clearly spent all his spare time ploughing, digging out ditches or dealing with cows.

“What else is there to do in bed?” I riposted.

“Aren’t you married?” he chortled – a Norfolk joke. His wife, a substantial pensioner spread out next to him, laughed sportingly.

Every three minutes (yes, I was counting) a man propelled a screaming child in a pushchair the length of the hospital waiting room. I guess he was trying to keep her quiet. It didn’t help.

Personally, I was feeling great. I had just lost a stone and felt full of life. The blood test, however, said I was full of death. My blood and the rest of my body disagreed at a pretty basic level. Reality was falling apart, and the child on wheels kept screaming.

I do read books. The doctor was running way behind, the nurses would not look at me, and time was distorted, spiralling down. Reading kept my mind off the black hole that was surely waiting. But there was another reason. Someone said the difference between fiction and real life was that fiction had to make sense. It was good that something made sense; so I carried a book everywhere.

The nurse looked at me hard and called my name. I felt good. The blood must be lying. But the three-minute child was still screaming, refusing to be soothed.

12 April 2008

Uncategorized,

Grandson Oliver shows skill with a frisbee on Walcott beach on Wednesday, as the few drops of rain faded away to give us a pleasant hour there – even a little sunshine. We had just taken Jessie back to North Walsham after a “pub meal” (Oliver’s request) at the Town House in Thorpe. Very nice, but slow service. Jessie had been to see Frank at his new home – Overbury House in Wroxham – arriving by bus from North Walsham. I picked her up to transport her back to Norwich. All a little more complicated than it might have been, because the electrician was fitting our new sidelights and study light, and Dot needed to supervise the operation! But it all worked out very well. Oliver also did a lot of construction work on the beach involving sand and flint, and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

The same day Dot had a blood test for cholesterol, which meant she had to be at the doctor’s by 8.30am. No need for an alarm clock – nor on Thursday, when Oliver woke before 6am. We went to see Aunt Ethel in the morning (Oliver declining the offer of a bus ride), and headed back to Caddington at about 3pm. We stopped for a drink just over halfway, and I managed to block the PIN on my Goldfish card at the petrol station. (Unlocked today at a machine at Reepham). Lots of traffic on the approach to Caddington, but not as much as earlier, when David had rung to say he had been stuck in traffic twice on the way to pick up Amy from nursery. Apparently the M1 had been shut for a couple of hours, and everything was spilling off it. Shutting motorways should be illegal.

Returned home after evening meal and bath (grandchildren, not us), arriving back in Norwich about 11pm. Never felt more like going straight to bed. Oliver was a lot of fun to have around, though. He has developed a lot of skill at chess, and his drawing and computer handling are both exceptionally good. He can also read really well for a five-year-old.

Yesterday spent serious time sorting our the NCMC website, as well as catching up in other areas. Watched quite a bit of television in the evening. This morning we went to Reepham to get our hair cut and had lunch as usual at Kerri’s. The chain and flex for the light in the kitchen has been lengthened, and Dot is even now knocking on the ceiling to see where we can insert the screw. Don’t ask.

4 March 2008

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Granddaughter Amy turns on the charm – something she’s extremely good at. Meanwhile her brother Oliver has learned to swim underwater. I personally have no problem getting under water, but I can’t swim there. I can sink quite well. Oliver has also started e-mailing us, so it’s clearly just a question of time before he has his own website.

Dot has pretty much finished the living room, and all the pictures have been rearranged, because some of the frames didn’t suit the new paint. All looks good, I have to say. We’re just back from the city, where we ordered new insides for our sofa cushions to try to stop them falling forward. I wonder if I would stop falling forward if I had new insides. We also put some money in Dot’s ISA, so of course we got the hard sell about switching to an online one. I really can’t be bothered arguing any more, so we’re going to do that. Needless to say, we’ve heard nothing from the insurance company. What would it take to get them to react? A pile of manure on their doorstep? No, I’m not going to do that. Oh, I don’t know. It’s an idea.

Bought some food from M&S and then had a look at some lights in John Lewis. Weather is very cold and windy, as it was on Sunday (Mother’s Day), when we went to North Walsham cemetery and also to the Rosary, where we found that my parents’ grave had been totally refurbished, with a new headstone and words. Looks really terrific. I haven’t had the bill yet.

It was cold yesterday too, when I played for my club’s A team at The Goat, Skeyton, which is so in the middle of nowhere that I suspect the home team were hoping to pick up a few points from defaults when opposing players couldn’t find it. Well, we all found it (I know it well, of course), but we might as well not have done because only our captain managed to avoid losing. I played weakly again after my momentary resurgence in February.

Saw the nurse again this morning, who repeated her usual mantra that my blood pressure was just below the level where they would start prescribing things. I’m amazed it’s not higher after this last week, but even if they do prescribe things, I have no intention of taking them.
Instead I have an olive oil spray to get rid of some of the wax in my ears. How romantic is that?

I’ve submitted a couple of poems and short piece of fiction for the Fish competitions. I think the piece of fiction is really quite good, so it clearly has no chance. That’s the way competitions work.

1 March 2008

Uncategorized, , , ,

Another picture from last weekend, showing grandson Oliver shortly after an attack by a giant ball, which he eventually defeated. It’s roughly how I feel at the end of a week when I’ve slept badly for three nights and failed to get anywhere with the insurance company. I’ve now written to the chief executive (recorded delivery), but no response yet. Feeling so out of sorts that I had a go at the guy in the building society yesterday when he suggested I wouldn’t have to queue for the one till that was open if I had a different account. On the plus side, I didn’t punch him in the mouth.

March has come in like a lion, with huge storms last night – hail battering at the windows and high winds from the north. It’s calmed down a bit this morning, and the sun is out, but it’s still turbulent, and colder weather is promised for next week. Despite this, it will turn out to be a warmer month than normal. It always does.

On Thursday it was calm and sunny, and while Dot visited her aunt in Hethersett, I went for a four-mile walk from Hethersett to Ketteringham Hall and back. This was a delightful walk over open country that’s quite high for Norfolk, but it did have the drawback of crossing the A11 dual carriageway – and we’re not talking bridge here. I resisted the temptation to thrown myself in front of a truck (not very strong, actually) and was patient enough to cross quite safely. Not something I’d like to do with my grand-daughter Amy, though. Oliver is a different matter: he would be very careful and do exactly what I said. Still, a bit hairy standing in the central reservation waiting for a gap.

Afterwards had lunch at Park Farm with Dot: extremely civilised, with lots of well-behaved elderly people like us (!) . The ancient gentleman before me at the counter had trouble ordering two drinks: he got two halves of lager and then decided he really wanted one half of lager and a glass of wine, which turned out to be white when he wanted red. He was then asked what food he wanted, which threw him completely, and he started looking vaguely towards the restaurant section and muttering to himself. Fortunately, someone else served me at this point, or we might have had the first ever incident of Park Farm screaming.

Dot has been painting a lot over the last week, and is still doing it as I write. The ceiling in the living room is finished, and so are a few walls – I’m not sure how many. I have been trying to get some stuff ready for Paston, but have found it hard to concentrate. Yesterday I went up to have a blood test and forgot the paperwork, which is very unlike me. Happily I knew what the test was for (PSA, of course), and she did the test, allowing me to return later with the correct form.

Lack of social events in the past three days has enabled us to catch up a little with a huge backlog of recorded TV, but we’ve really been sitting in front of the screen too much. Still, my weight is down to under 12 stone, which is encouraging.

4 January 2008

Uncategorized, , , ,

It’s a new year, and here is Oliver putting on a show, despite his broken arm, on New Year’s Eve. Shark meets squid, with the inevitable result. Convivial evening which left me entering 2008 with the usual otherworldly feeling. Oliver was most put out that we had had a party without him: the poppers all over the floor were a bit of a giveaway, together with people crawling into the kitchen about 10am. Or later, in some cases.

In the afternoon we visited Wollaton Hall, a 16th century Tudor building set in a deer park. The weather was misty but not too cold. It would be more accurate to say we visited the park, but the building made a lot of itself, and we did circumnavigate it. Lots of people wandering around, and quite a few deer too. Oliver got a close-up when a small group crossed the path in front of him (he was way ahead of the bunch with Daddy).

On the way back D & J took us past the Hemlock Stone, an impressive outcrop on Stapleford Hill seemingly unrelated to its surroundings. Many myths and legends about its name, but I like the Danish one: apparently many Danes settled in the Nottinghamshire area in the 9th century, and the old Danish word hemmelig means a cover or overhanging.

David and Vicky and family left late on New Year’s Day , and the rest of us were planning to go for a walk on January 2, as well as drop in at Ambience Art and then get some food from M & S. But before we started out Julia got a call to say her eye operation could be scheduled that day, and we persuaded her to go for it. So we missed out on the walk and Dave dropped us at Ambience Art while he took Julia to the hospital. Amazing place (AA, not the hospital). Some wonderful art work, clothes, jewellery and other things, plus a pleasant cafe, which we patronised when Dave returned. Dot and I bought a necklace and ear-rings (she’ll probably wear them more than I will) and a tall wooden vase, with some artificial flowers. Impressive stuff. M & S was quite good too.

We had a good journey home, and Julia’s operation went well, although she was last in and had a painful injection at the end. Snow came to Nottinghamshire the following day, but omitted Norfolk. The M & S food was intended to feed a visitor from South Africa – my cousin once removed, Beverley (Howard’s daughter), who was scheduled to arrive the next day – or so I thought. However, I contacted her halfway through yesterday after a couple of visits to the station and discovered she was at her brother-in-law’s at Bexleyheath. She is now due to come here on Saturday, with her daughter and brother-in-law, and I have added to the food in the fridge.

Tonight we are going to Heather and Sam’s for a meal, and we are being picked up at 6.30pm. This is so that we can both have a drink and get a taxi back. I have a feeling there was something else…

Oh, yes. My eleven years and three months as an EDP columnist have come to an end. I had a phone call from the deputy editor this morning when I was in the bath, and he said they were “making some changes”. This did not come as a big surprise, since I had suggested to the editor that I should be paid a little more than the derisory amount I have been paid the last five years. I have written a “farewell” page, but it may not go in. Either way, it will go on my website (back2sq1.co.uk). I have tried to include all the characters I made up over the years, but probably forgot some.

I now feel a strange mixture of disappointment and relief, as Quentin Tarantino might say. It will be odd not having an outlet for my outrageous opinions and esoteric humour, but maybe I will get down to writing something more substantial. Dot has taken it badly…

23 December 2007

Uncategorized, , , ,

Oliver again, who has just broken his wrist in a fall at a friend’s house. We are travelling down to see them all tomorrow and spend Christmas and Boxing Day there. He will not be able to play with the Christmas present we brought him for a while, but we hope to make sure he has a lot of fun anyway. Amy will have to be persuaded to be gentle with him!

Today the temperature has hovered around freezing, and there has been quite thick fog around most of the day. I hope it lifts by tomorrow morning. On Friday the north Norfolk run went very well, except that we ate more than we should, starting off badly at Rosie’s with two mince pies and a beef pasty (me) and 1+1 (Dot). Later we had a salad lunch at Sheila’s, including a pork pie, but I resisted sweet. Also featuring were the cemetery at North Walsham, a present drop-off at Paston and a visit to J & F. All this was done in the MX5 while my car was getting a service, during which they took a seat out to find one of Dot’s earrings.

Yesterday was fairly quiet: I ventured out to pick up a parcel from the sorting office, but the rest of the day was spent catching up and writing most of my column. Today we went to church in the morning and dropped in at Phil and Joy’s for a present exchange. Dot has injured her neck wrapping presents, which should make playing with the grandchildren interesting.

I’ve got a bit further with the family tree following Friday’s tour and will get back to it after the festive season.

5 November 2007

Uncategorized, , ,

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

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

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

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

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

3 November 2007

Uncategorized, , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 October 2007

Uncategorized, , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 September 2007 (b)

Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Terrible trio at the Braemar Gathering. Front row, of course. Left to right, Dot, Ella and her husband David, complete with kilt.

Holiday was followed of course by a huge rush to sort out post and e-mails and write my page for the EDP (www.back2sq1.co.uk). Also squeezed in visit to dentist before travelling to Caddington late on Friday evening for a family party – Oliver was 5 on the 11th. The other grandparents and uncle, aunt and cousin arrived midway through the following morning, while I was taking Oliver out on his main present from his parents -a rather impressive scooter. He got the hang of it very quickly.

Later in the weekend he watched a mountain bike downhill sports event on TV and got very taken by it. He had to go out and demonstrate technique on his bike: he’s very confident.

His other grandparents bought him a train set, which necessitated a trip to the DIY shop to obtain chipboard to mount it on. I left this to the experts – Dave and David. Lovely party – Oliver and Amy were on good form. We returned late on Sunday, having got diverted on to our old route because of a roundabout being shut on the A505.

On Monday Dot and I went to John Rayner’s memorial service. Lovely man, and a packed Surrey Chapel. He was 74. Stayed afterwards and spoke to his wife and daughter, both of whom I know quite well. In the evening played first game of chess of the new season at a new venue – -the Gas Social Club! Won knockout tournament game against Colin Payne.

On Tuesday Phil and I went to Coventry to take Andrew to look at a possible new home for him – The Langleys in Stoke Green. He reacted very well, and I liked the people in charge. Now it seems he will be moving in on Monday, which is pretty fast-moving after months of doing nothing much. Got back in time for our regular Tuesday meal – six of us.

Dramatic new haircut on Wednesday. Number four razor. Quite amazingly short on top, but I think I like it. Most people have made favourable comments, but they may be afraid I’ll hit them, as I look a bit hard. Also on Wednesday a church meeting at Horsford which went very well – oh, and England beat Russia 3-0.

Went to Bally on Thursday to meet Annette and Rupert to discuss InPrint matters (www.inprintartsandpoetry.co.uk) following the relaunch of the poetry vending machine. It seems that something concrete may be about to happen. In the evening we went to the Archers to give them some information on Normandy, whither they are hasting in a fortnight. In return they gave us a meal, which is more than fair, especially as they had to look at our pictures.

On Friday I wrote some of my sermon for Sunday and generally caught up on my in-tray and other things. Walked into city to pay in a cheque and almost went to the cinema, but instead stayed in and watched England lose 36-0 to South Africa at rugby. Could easily have been 50-0.

And now today, here I am finishing my sermon, catching up on my blogging and scanning in some photographs. I shall shortly install some new software. Meanwhile Dot is visiting her gang down at Metfield and is having such a good time that she is staying longer than she meant to. I am about to check the football results.