A very hectic week started with a delightful barbecue last Saturday at Vicky’s house, to mark her 40th birthday. David and Bridget were there, plus the Streets and the Cumberlands, and of course Vicky’s parents, both sprightly. In fact Derek did most (if not all) of the barbecue meat, which was exceptionally good.
The rain arrived late enough not to spoil things, and the children did a dance in it. Amy and George are growing quickly. Exhibiting similar qualities: Florence and Mabel Street and Emily Cumberland. A further Cumberland was too small to exhibit much growth – a matter of weeks in this world, and not sure what to make of it.
On Sunday we had a special service in the old church to mark the start of world war one, and I read one of my poems, Shadows (available on back2sq1.co.uk). Howard was on the organ. Afterwards Stuart was selling copies of his book They Are Not Dead (manifestly untrue) about parishioners from St Augustine’s who were killed. A couple of people wanted copies of my poem, which was nice. Later Dot and I walked up to our actual parish church, St Matthew’s, to see an advertised exhibition, but this was not as exciting as we anticipated. Still, I bought a CD about the history of Thorpe Hamlet.
The next day we had anticipated taking delivery of our new car, and I had devised a cunning plan whereby we drove down to Caddington in both cars, and then on to Coventry in the new one, leaving David with our old car. This failed because the new car did not arrive; so I had to devise a new, slightly less cunning, plan.
We drove down to Caddington in the old car on Tuesday, catching a last glimpse of the children before their departure for Italy with the other grandparents and their mother. We then continued to Coventry, where we stayed the night at an excellent, friendly hotel called the Old Mill at Baginton.
On the Wednesday – Andrew’s birthday – we picked him up at 10.15 and walked into town, which was a bit of a revelation: it’s ages since I’d been there, and it’s really quite attractive. We bought Andrew a new shaver, some shoe laces, a toilet bag and a coffee. While wondering round looking for the Co-op (Andrew had vouchers) we met a couple of people that Andrew knew.
Afterwards we drove to Kenilworth Castle (via 79 The Chesils and 191 Beanfield Avenue) and spent a couple of hours looking round. I can’t remember ever having been there, and it’s quite spectacular. When everyone started getting tired, we moved on back to the hotel and had a late lunch / early dinner in the attached Chef and Brewer. This was again very good value: Andrew had the full three courses, but Dot and I were more than sated after two (first-class steak and ale pie).
We then returned Andrew to Minster Lodge and sorted him out. They all seem very pleasant helpers there, and well organised. Drove home, leaving Coventry during the rush hour fairly successfully. I did that bit, but Dot drove most of the way. Not a bad journey: brief stop at Cambridge Services.
Phil was happy for us to do the birthday honours, because he is too fatigued and in pain from his legs to be able to drive to Coventry. During the journeys I fielded calls from Elaine, Andrew’s carer, who was trying to set up a meeting about Andrew’s finances (we eventually did so, for early September) and on the way back from Jenny Baxi, who had called on Andrew just after we left. This was tricky because of the poor reception.
At last (Thursday) we could take delivery of our new red Mazda 2. Dot took me to the garage and then left to go to the dentist. It took about an hour to sort out all the paperwork, but I was home by about 11.30, having filled up with petrol at Morrisons. After Dot’s return and a brief lunch we left (in both cars of course) for Caddington. Dot went ahead in the old car, leaving me at the traffic lights, and I also stopped on the bypass to ring David. But I caught her by Thetford – she was moderating her speed – and we continued together, arriving at Caddington just after 3pm.
Stayed for a cup of tea and a chat (Chrissy was on the line) and then drove home – Dot first, then me. Haven’t quite got to the bottom of the satnav/radio/music combination, but it was a nice drive, though the engine is notably less powerful. Still, it’s a light car, and very nippy.
After fish and chips I rang up the Hendersons because I felt bad about not being in Norwich when they were moving in. They had just had fish and chips too; we ended up going round for a glass of champagne: took them a card and a house-warming bottle. Impressive house, but a nightmare to get sorted.
Today has been notably calmer. I’ve caught up with a bit of paperwork, posted some stuff to David and the city council (re our parking permit) and called in at the printer to give the go-ahead on the Oxnead book. David rang to say his garage man said the car needed a new pair of tyres and its rear brake discs fitted, but otherwise fine.
We’ve had the builder round to look at the roof. I climbed his ladder and had a look too, and we agreed it was the valley of death. So he’s going to fix that, as well as replace the felt along the back wall, after which hopefully no water will come in. The cost will be just over £2000; so the water had better not come in.
Naomi Care came to stay with us for one night last week, because she needed to be at the UEA early to see her friends graduate. We managed to supply food that did not irritate her intestines, and she seemed pretty upbeat, or pretty and upbeat. Nice to have a fairly long talk with her about her family.
The next day (23rd) I went to Wiveton to see Godfrey Sayers about the book he wanted me to proof-read. It is basically about the North Norfolk coast and his life there from about the 1950s. I found it compulsive. Before visiting him I walked on Cley beach towards Blakeney Point, and afterwards I discovered the true nature of Roman Camp (or Beacon Hill), which instead of being the entrance to a caravan park as I thought, tuned out to be a beautiful wooded heath.
Eventually I agreed to proof-read an improved version of the book, and I returned it to him today. He still needs to do some work on it, and I doubt if he will get it launched by October, as he wants to. Still, he is good at launching… I spent much of this week working on it, and I got paid £150 and six fresh eggs, which can’t be bad. Godfrey is a big fan of Robert Macfarlane. I am too, and I was delighted Dot found a radio programme of him exploring the Cairngorms. Listened to it this morning in bed.
The next day Debbie House came for lunch, which we had outdoors, and I had a chat with her about her new role as occasional leader of services. I introduced her to Bible Gateway, and we had an interesting chat about meditation and body prayer, among other things.
Speaking of bodies, we had our hair cut on Friday last week, and there next day Dot had a pneumonia jab after I threatened the nurse with dire consequences if she had side-effects of our wedding anniversary the next day. I don’t think the nurse was too amused.
From there we travelled on to North Walsham, where we visited Jessie and the cemetery: both seemed to be in good shape. Then on to the Gunton Arms for a snack lunch, which we ate outside. As we were about to leave, a helicopter landed, carrying a group of young men. Rumours started flying. Was it One Direction? No, it wasn’t. As we left, two of them were standing in the doorway, smoking. Dot, being Dot, commented that it was a good way to make an entrance, and one of them said it was a stag do. Apparently the first part of the celebrations, in London the day before, had been marred by rain. I thought you’d like to know that.
On we went, back to newly discovered Roman Camp, which we explored for a while, finding parts that few others had reached. Lovely day, if a bit cooler than when I’d visited a few days earlier. We ended our day out at the Pretty Corner Tea Rooms, which were rather lovely.
Nicholas, freshly returned from Turkey, spoke at Communion the next day on our willingness not to know, saying that it was only when we relinquished control that God could guide and interact with us. To me it seemed a brilliant talk, aimed specially at me; oddly, most of the congregation felt the same, so perhaps we’re all trying too hard to be in control. Except Dot.
This was our 46th wedding anniversary, and in the evening we went to Jamie’s for our celebration meal, which included Prosecco and steak. Very good, and the waitress was also excellent.
It was so good in fact that I decided to have a blood pressure monitor fitted the next day. That’s not exactly true: the doctor insisted I have it fitted or he would give me another pill, which I didn’t want. It was on for nearly 24 hours, and when it beeped I went into a very calm state. As result, the figures seemed to be quite low. Not sure if the doctor will see it like that.
On Wednesday I went into the garage to sign the finance and insurance documents and discovered that the new car should be ready on Monday. Since then Dot has had the old car thoroughly cleaned (this morning, while I took Godfrey’s book back). Yesterday we went up to Santander to sort out our ISAs and close a couple of old accounts. This went surprisingly well, and we celebrated by visiting Presto, chatting with Kathy and Roberto and having tea and a delicious piece of Sicilian confectionery.
I have also rung Geoff Saunders and discovered he is making reasonable progress. Will try to visit him soon. Meanwhile I think we have eventually managed to come to an agreement with British Gas about the church’s direct debits. They kept sending me letters, but hopefully it’s now sorted.
David, Chrissy and the grandchildren have come and gone. It was a rather unusual visit that seemed to pass too quickly. It opened with a bang: Dot arranged an Arbonne party at the house for Wednesday evening, to which many of her friends were invited. Parking problems were surmounted through the use of chauffeurs (Julia), remote parking (Anne and Bridget) and my positioning the MX5 in Rosary Road to make room for Sue and Judy. Too much detail, I hear you say.
The party seemed to go well, though I’m not sure how financially successful it was: in any case there is a suspicion that most of the friends came to see Chrissy, David and the grandchildren. I can hardly blame them for that. I should make clear that it is Chrissy who is the Arbonne consultant, not Dot.
The weather has been warm, and some of the party was in the garden. On the Thursday Dot and I took the children to Winterton, one of their favourite spots, where we had a late lunch at the cafe and followed it up by some hide-and-seek in the dunes, which my ankle stood up to reassuringly well. Even Dot was able to move about a bit 🙂 We also spent some time on the beach, when all of us paddled.
While we did this, David and Chrissy were doing my Norwich Paston walk, partly as a test for some software he’s writing. They appeared not to get lost. There was also a great deal of table tennis played, with Oliver improving visibly as the three days progressed. In the end he was beating both Dot and me. Amy spent a lot of time watching some kind of drama on her small screen, and did not welcome intruders.
L:ate on the Friday David and Chrissy took my car to Suffolk to visit a cousin of Chrissy’s. Earlier Richard had called round coincidentally and was able to talk to David about websites and similar matters.
The Caddington contingent returned home on Saturday just after lunch, following a visit to Hobbycraft and Morrisons and an unsuccessful search for a Mr Whippy. Sorry, Amy. The journey went well – probably a good time to travel.
After a rest in the afternoon, Dot and I went next door for a meal. Much of it was in the back garden, the weather still being very warm. But it ended in a thunderstorm: we rushed home to take washing off the line when we saw the lightning, but returned for another half an hour. Good food and drink and some enjoyable conversation, mainly philosophical 🙂
But this thunderstorm was nothing compared to the one that hit Norwich yesterday afternoon. We had been to church, where I preached on God being with us, and were sitting watching television when there was a huge, prolonged cloudburst. It wasn’t long before water came into our living room again. It seemed to come down the walls, but there was more on the floor than seemed to be indicated by marks on the walls. We got the towels out again and mopped it up.
Next door had flooding in the bathroom, and are having a builder round tomorrow. He is popping in to see us too.
In the evening Dot and I went to Lowestoft for a Seagull performance. We read a tanka series together and then I read a couple of my other poems which were well received, especially by Kaaren Whitney, who wants me to read at some other place in Suffolk in August. Uniquely, there was a guest poet, Rodney Pybus, who was pretty good, but it left little time for others, and the whole thing didn’t finish till after 10pm, by which time we were pretty tired.
Bird-watching on Cley beach, looking over the marshes.
Seems a long time ago since I posted something. Let me see, what has happened? Oh yes, I have become 69. I am in my 70th year. Three score years and ten on the horizon. I suppose getting this far has been good, but it all went by so quickly, and the more it went by, the quicker it went.
So I was feeling a bit down on my birthday, which was last Saturday, as I recall. Maybe this was partly because the previous four years I had been on holiday when my birthday came round: this one seemed strangely flat. That was until I bought a new car.
We called in at the garage on the way to the North Norfolk coast for a late afternoon visit, and things soon got out of hand. We took a Mazda2 for a test drive – both of us had a go, and it seemed really nice, light and nippy. We sat down to talk to the salesman/general manager, who we know quite well, and before we knew what we were doing we had ordered one.
Things I forgot to check: whether I could get my guitar in the boot. Bit worried too about how I’ll cope with the much smaller engine and loss of Sport boost, but on the plus side it’s much cheaper to tax and insure, and it uses far less fuel.
Afterwards I was driven to Holt by my wife and we had tea and cake there before moving on to Cley, where we visited the beach and then the Three Swallows before ending up at the church for a performance of Caroline’s Pepys extravaganza, which was brilliant and worthy of being seen by many more people. She seemed pleased to see us. The rest of the audience were very weird, so we fitted right in. One of them had bought a dining table for £8500, apparently. I didn’t mention the car.
The next day I had to preach at St Luke’s. Happily Karen was leading the service and Steve was the worship band, so I felt quite at home, and the talk (on No condemnation) went OK, despite a large man on the front row who tried to join in. He was also in the front row at a concert there in the afternoon to raise money for Carrie’s work, and kept trying to draw attention to himself. He tried to engage me in conversation in the interval, but I was giving nothing away (we had already had a brief discussion after the service, where I obstinately refused to agree with anything he said). He brings out the worst in me.
There was a fierce rainstorm during the concert, and water started to get in, but they soldiered on. Very enjoyable, actually, especially Dvorak’s New World symphony. Dot and I escaped by the side door afterwards to avoid encountering Mr Big in the foyer. Also Dot was anxious to get home to continue with a mammoth clean-up that has been going on all week. The garden is now stunning and the kitchen repainted, rearranged and generally just right for a party, should one happen to occur.
Coincidentally, Chrissy has arrived in the country and will be joining us on Wednesday with David and the children. Oliver has a new phone and texts us quite a lot, which is nice. We also get more of an idea what’s going on.
My birthday meal was on Friday evening. We went to Cafe Rouge, and the meal included a free bottle of champagne, as it was for my birthday. This kind of generosity might help to explain why the place is closing down shortly – something we learnt by chance, overhearing a conversation while we were there. Our waitress, who was an opera singer, said that the group was cutting back, which is a pity, because Cafe Rouge in Exchange Street has a very particular kind of charm that I’m sure you don’t get in other Cafes Rouges.
Earlier we’d popped out to Mundesley to see Lucy, who amazingly was able to let us have the ISBN number for the Oxnead book. She seemed quite well, and her house looked very nice. Not sure what’s going on there. The cat and rabbit look innocent.
On Wednesday last week we went to Muspole Street to pick up my other birthday present, which is a picture by Martin Laurance that I’d expressed an interest in and which suddenly became available. Nothing too expansive or expensive, but it looks good on the newly painted wall with the other two of his that we have. I also called in to see Nick Gorvin about printing the Oxnead book. He gave me quite a reasonable quote.
Going way back, a week ago as I write we were at Judy’s enjoying cake and compline, but without the compline, because no-one had prepared it. Lovely evening though, including the Archers, who took us.
Back to today: I’ve been in the city paying in cheques. Weather very warm. On the way back I looked at David Holgate’s carving of Julian on the Cathedral, which is impressive. He has just died, and his funeral is this week. I have been in touch with his assistant, Philippa, who I know a bit. Also bumped into Margaret and Martin on the way home and had quite a long chat about his worries concerning Mairead’s house, which he fears may be sold for bedsits. We agreed that this must not happen, but had no idea how to prevent it.
Oh yes, there was a World Cup Final. Germany won. Nice goal.
Busy day last Thursday: so busy that Dot got confused and ended up doing a presentation at Little Plumstead school instead of coming to the Paston members’ meeting at Bacton, where Susan Curran spoke rather well and then almost had a fight with Lucy about the Pastons’ reputation and origins.
Earlier we had a Chronicle meeting at Rob’s house, preparing the Oxnead event and discussing various other things, including the book. It seems I will be wearing some kind of costume. I may have to leave the country. Afterwards Rob and Penny entertained me to tea, which meant I was pretty full when faced with the fabled Paston refreshments.
Still, at least we all got there, despite signs declaring the Bacton road closed (it wasn’t). Apparently removing road signs afterwards isn’t included in the contract for repairing a road. Not many people at the talk, but a nice evening.
Dot and I missed an extraordinary meeting of the PCC that discussed the parish profile (probably a good thing), but I made some comments beforehand that Howard passed on. I called on him the next day and bumped into Beth, who is looking very well.
On the same day we emerged triumphant in our table tennis encounter with the Robinsons, despite not having practised. It was interspersed with lasagne and a couple of world cup quarter-finals, both of which were pretty dire. Philip went to sleep at one point.
Saturday and Sunday were quiet, apart from a lively Communion service and afters at church. Elvira brought a cake, and there was some jamming with Carrie (using my guitar), Dot and a guy from the farm, who plays the piano by ear.
Today, which has been muggy, Dot visited a couple of schools and continued the task she started yesterday: painting the kitchen. She claims to like doing it; so I let her do it (as if I had a choice). It all makes me feel uneasy, though.
Have had a look at Godfrey Sayers’ book and made him an offer. Haven’t heard from him; so it was probably ill-judged.
Summer seems to be with us: today is bright and warm, and Dot has just left for Metfield for a session with Barbara. Yesterday the weather was similar, and Dot and I had a go at cutting the hedge, with reasonable results. Of course we can’t reach the other side of the top…
Despite the bad weather forecast, we had a good weekend at Blakeney with Julia, Dave, Alan and Rosemary. The promised rain did not materialise except when we were at the hotel, and on the Sunday, when we visited Felbrigg Hall for the first time, it was actually warm and dry.
Interesting place, and more to see inside than I had anticipated. I tracked down the picture of William Paston and his crocodile, though it was hard to distinguish the latter, because the light fell badly. Outside there are lovely grounds that we intend to explore another time, but we did have a long look at the magnificent walled garden, which includes allotments hireable by locals – a great idea.
The previous day, when we’d been expecting rain following downpours in Norwich and on the journey on the Friday, we got away with a dark sky and not much else. We did a walk at North Creake. Halfway round were the ruins of Creake Abbey, which I’d never visited, and nearby some shops and a cafe rather beautifully presented.
After stopping for refreshment we started on the second half of the walk, but Dot was feeling her ankle; so she returned to the shops and cafe while we completed the circle, which included some rough walking over fields that she did well to avoid. After more refreshment, we popped into the rather impressive church and bought some jam, then headed home by way of Big Blue Sky, which seems to have shifted its focus away from books. Still a nice shop, though.
The hotel at Blakeney had been hit by the floods earlier in the year but had recovered well: the food was still good (especially the breakfasts), and as usual we brought the average age of residents down a bit. As usual we started the weekend with tea in the upstairs lounge at the Blakeney Hotel, with its stunning views and first-class scones.
On the Monday both Dot and I had appointments in Blakeney: she had been asked to go to the local church school to assist them in preparation for an inspection, and I called in on Godfrey Sayers, a water colour artist who has written a book on the area, where he has lived almost all his life. He has a house and rambling garden in Wiveton, and the caravan that used to be on the carnser in Blakeney displaying his pictures is now parked there. I have no idea how he got it to the inaccessible spot that it stands in. I asked him, and he said: “Land Rover.” I decided not to pursue it.
He wants me to proof read (by which I think he means edit) his book, and I took it away with me. We talked about it, and about his job as flood warden for Wiveton, and it sounds fascinating. It sits in front of me now, demanding my attention. But so do many other things. I will get to it very soon.
After meeting at the school, Dot and I called in at Cley nature reserve for a scone and drink, plus a short walk, during which we saw a marsh harrier. The scone was a bit of a mistake, because we also called at Jessie’s, where a cake awaited. I was unable to eat much of it.
The Apple picture books I created for our Iona friends have arrived, and have been sent on their way. Quite pleased with them. In sport, a brilliant match between Belgium and the USA (well, the extra time bit, anyway), and a new star at Wimbledon: Nick Kyrgios, a 19-year-old Australian, blew Nadal away.
Had a good – though exhausting – weekend with David and Kristine. The exhaustion was largely because of an ill-advised trip to Brancaster on Sunday afternoon for lunch at the Ship Hotel. The lunch was good, but the service was slow, very much like the traffic on the way there and back. Caravans, motor homes and even cars all happy to poodle along at about 45mph.
That wouldn’t have mattered so much if we weren’t on a tight schedule, racing to get the Coomes back for their journey home. This all followed a rather nice Communion service, where the music went particularly well, despite our not having seen Phil for about a month. Obviously no practice is the key to success.
On the Saturday afternoon we took David and Kristine to Thurne for a short walk that turned out to be even shorter than anticipated when Dot had trouble with her ankle – very similar to the problem she had in Iona. Nevertheless it was a beautiful day, and Thurne was picturesque as always.
In the evening we went up for dinner at Jamie’s (prompted by our good experience in Glasgow). I drove the other three up because of Dot’s ankle problem, then took the car home and walked up. The meal was particularly good and quite reasonably priced, and the waiter was first class (as in Glasgow). The restaurant was very full: I was impressed with the way they had refurbished it to meld in with the Arcade decorations.
Yesterday was still very warm, though cloudier. There were even a few drops of rain as I headed up into the city to pay in some church cheques. Afterwards I walked round the Cathedral close a bit and then through the Cathedral. My ankle stood up quite well. In the cloisters they were removing evidence of filming for a forthcoming film, Tulip Frenzy.
After months of prevaricating, the TSB has now admitted that it can’t/won’t transfer all the church standing orders automatically, and I’ve had to contact all our givers to get them to change their details. It remains to be seen how many don’t bother, and how much we lose.
Today has been much duller, with one thunderstorm. I had been intending to go for a walk, but haven’t made it out, though I have cleared up some other longstanding to-do items, such as putting pictures in frames. I am now about to watch the final England World Cup game, to see if they can avoid a hat-trick of defeats.
<Pause> They did. It was a stunning, not to say boring, 0-0 draw. This was followed (on our TV-watching schedule) by England losing the Test Match – and series – against Sri Lanka with two balls to go. Still, a great century by Moeen Ali.
Just popped up to post a letter and was propositioned by a young woman. Long time since that’s happened.
The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) seen from the train between Oban and Glasgow. Dot and I climbed it on our honeymoon.
After walking over 30 miles last week, I have gone to the other extreme this week and not achieved more than about five so far – though this could increase marginally this weekend, because the Coomes are coming to visit. I have spent a great deal of time at my desk, but achieved a surprising amount.
The Chronicle script and book are both well progressed, and I’ve written a piece for Parish Pump as well as a few poems. Other than that, I’ve attended a PCC meeting, taken the MX5 in for servicing and MOT(at ten years old, it’s now too ancient to be covered by Mazda’s breakdown service) and paid the papers.
What else has happened? Oh yes, a “disgraced” England have been knocked out of the World Cup. Who could have seen that coming? Actually, they looked considerably better than they have in recent years, but still couldn’t take their scoring chances. Very similar to Norwich City, really.
It’s been pretty much a grey week, but today the sun is out; so we’re hopeful for a bit of summer. I saw the doctor yesterday: he’s still worried about my blood pressure. He’s not at all interested in the things I’m worried about, but that’s doctors for you. I felt more healthy in Iona than I do here. Perhaps I’ll go back.
Dot, with our holiday home, Erraid House, in the background and the abbey (deceptively close) behind.
I have just compiled a catch-up list which makes me want to go and lie down. Obviously I have to start here, because otherwise it would spiral out of control, and no-one wants that.
We are back from Iona. It went like this:
Friday 6 June
After an afternoon listening to Ilia Delio at St Luke’s ( I had brought our cases by car, taken the car home and walked back), we departed by taxi for the airport. All went smoothly there, and we flew to Manchester, where the airport was overcrowded, badly signed, muddled and slow. We eventually left a half an hour late and arrived in Glasgow 40 minutes late – too late to get a meal, because the Premier Inn restaurant (about half a mile away) had closed. We returned to the airport after dumping our bags and raided Tesco Express. By now I had discovered that the wheel on our case was broken, which meant I had to drag it. Not easy. Anna left her handbag containing all her money and all our tickets at the airport, discovering what she’d done as we approached the hotel. She ran back, and miraculously it was where she’d left it.
Saturday 7 June
We decided that it was simplest to pay for a taxi to Glasgow Queen Street station, where we had breakfast in Starbuck’s. Caught the 10.37 to Oban after momentary panic when I couldn’t find our tickets. Scenery spectacular – saw the Cobbler clearly. Arrived in Oban at 1.40, intending to get the 2pm ferry, but discovered this did not connect with the bus, so waited for the 4pm boat. Had magnificent mussels from stall on the pier, then Dot and I bought a new suitcase and transferred all our stuff into it, throwing the old one into a bin marked “Black bags only”. Well, it was mainly black. By this time it was starting to rain, and it got worse as we waited for the ferry in a crowded departure lounge. By the time we got off the ferry in Craigmure, Mull, 45 minutes later, it was pouring. We paddled to the bus and travelled across Mull to Fionnphort in heavy rain and a long line of cars, which did nothing for my mood. Walked to the ferry, which took just over ten minutes to get to Iona. Walked about a quarter of a mile to Erraid House, where we met Penny (Sydenham) and Ali (Bonner). Had prosecco and a vegetarian meal. House very pleasant, but no en suite. This worried me, but in fact it turned out fine. Had a short evening liturgy and were quite late in bed.
Sunday 8 June
Slept very badly, but the rain stopped. In the morning it was sunny and quite warm, but rather windy. Went to Pentecost Communion at the Abbey and had tea in the cloisters afterwards. Dot went to a talk about the community, but I wandered round the grounds and eventually went home to the loo. The two of us had lunch in the Argyll Hotel – mussels again, and very good too – then to the shop. Walked to the other side of the island and found the Machair – a kind of meadowland running into a beach of sand and rocks and amazingly saw some minke whales a few hundred yards offshore. For supper Ali cooked some excellent sausage and mash (I mashed). The girls went for a walk, and Howard and I took to our beds.
The highest point on Iona: Dun I
Monday 9 June
Another bad might: got up four times, and felt down in the morning. Fine day, though. Dot and I went to the shop to buy food to cook in the evening. Spent about £60 and contributed £60 to the kitty (plus another £40 later). After lunch at the house (everyone else was out), Dot and I walked up Dun I, the highest point on the island. (I=Iona). Then walked down to the north-east tip of the island, where there was a sparkling white beach beyond a meadow of buttercups and daisies. Bit of rain (lots over Mull), then we walked back, taking the main road behind the abbey, and bought a few more things at the shop for Dot’s recipe, plus some ice creams. Only Howard was home when we got back, and he was running a bath. Had a cup of tea. Dot cooked a lovely meal, and I read my poem, Failure to Connect. I think it failed to connect.
Tuesday 10 June
Got up too late to join the seven-hour pilgrimage round the island, but did our own thing. Walked to the Machair, and came upon Anna and Howard. Walked with them to Columba’s Bay, where we had sandwiches. Saw inuksuk/cairn. The rest of the pilgrimage group (including Penny and Ali) were already there, having come a different way. I climbed a little hill on the beach, then the four of us headed up and along the cliffs. We separated from Anna and Howard as quite heavy rain started, and we sheltered about 20 minutes, then climbed up and across quite boggy ground to the loch we had passed earlier. Met Liso, a woman we had met on the train and bumped into several times. Walked back across the Machair golf course and saw whales again; then back to house. Pretty wet, so had shower, then dozed on bed. Had healing session with Penny, and felt good afterwards – interesting sensations in my head: she said there was a lot going on there. Well, yes. Then had a meal at the restaurant on the quay… fish and chips, then pavlova. All just made it to healing service at Abbey at 9pm. Bed soon after. Walked over eight miles today.
Staffa – a magical island
Wednesday 11 June
Very wet to start with, but by the time the boat left for Staffa at 9.45 it had cleared, and the rest of the day was sunny and dry. Our wooden boat called at Fionnphort, then passed by some seals before heading for Staffa – a 45-minute journey with about 20 on board. Stunning island. Walked across basalt pillars to magnificent Fingal’s Cave, then climbed to top of island and saw puffins quite close up. We were last back to the boat (£30 each for trip, but excellent, informative crew). Had a largish lunch back at the house, then slept for almost two hours, which is unheard of. Meal at the Argyll Hotel in the evening was really good, especially my hogget pie. Talked a bit back at the house afterwards, but I went to bed when the musical talk got a bit esoteric. Played a couple of Pogues tracks as antidote, but not sure it worked, because I had another bad night.
Thursday 12 June
Dry to start with; misty rain from mid-afternoon. Bought postcards and a book on Staffa, then wrote postcards with tea and strawberry tart at quayside cafe. Bought stamps and posted cards, then walked to the Hermit Cell, which we found after one mistake (unlike Howard and Anna, who couldn’t find it at all the following day). Boggy path. When we were nearly there, Dot injured her ankle badly and could hardly walk. She hobbled to the Cell after a reconnoitre by me, and stayed there while I climbed to the top of a nearby hill. After asking for God’s help with her ankle, it improved markedly, and she was able to walk carefully back to civilisation (we saw no-one on the path to the Cell and back). We called at St Oram’s Chapel at the burial ground, the oldest building on the island. I found this very moving and lit candles for Joy and Lucy. Saw John Smith’s grave. On the way back bought ice cream, and banana jam. Back at house, had bath. Howard cooked the evening meal.
Dot paddling on the white beach
Friday 13 June
Rain and low cloud in the morning, but by lunchtime the rain had stopped, and it was still, though the cloud remained very low. Dot and I walked to a craft and jewellery outlet; in the former we discovered our next-door neighbour and had quite a long chat. In the latter we bought Dot an Iona ring – white with green tendencies. We walked on, and Dot bought coffee. At the end of the road (walking north), we turned left to the beach and then walked round the northern tip to the white sand beach, where Dot paddled. It was warm and still, and the tide was a long way out. On the way back we saw Penny and Ali ascending Dun I. Stopped at house, then went on to the quayside cafe for tea and strawberry tart. Watched Americans being ferried backwards and forward to a huge cruise ship, then back to the house. Meal by Anna.
Saturday 14 June
Fog first thing, but it soon cleared, though cloud remained low over Iona. Journey was fine, though, with clear skies for train journey from Oban. Bus trip across Mull revealed things unseen on our outward journey: beautiful countryside – sea and mountain. At Oban we had to wait an extra two hours for our train, because the one we had expected to get didn’t run on Saturdays. By this time I was getting a lot of pain from my ankle, which I had turned over while waiting for the ferry at Iona and was swollen quite badly. Fortunately I could still walk, with the aid of paracetamol. Dot and I had a drink with Howard while Anna walked up to a coliseum-like building overlooking Oban. Train left just after 4pm and got into Glasgow just after 7pm. The Millennium Hotel was just outside the station, shrouded in scaffolding and hosting a raucous wedding party. So that was all right. We all went out for a meal at Jamie’s in George Square, which was first class: started at a table outside, with great views, then finishing inside. Waiter extremely helpful, and food excellent. Anna had a Jamie’s gold card, which meant we got some free stuff too.
Sunday 15 June
Cloudy but dry. We had a day to spare in Glasgow. Anna and Howard had a breakfast meeting (unbelievably) with someone from the International Nepal Fellowship; so Dot and I breakfasted separately and took a 100 bus to the Riverside Museum after a long wait. Very good museum, including a mock-up of a Glasgow street and a Tall Ship moored in the Clyde behind, which we were able to explore. And all for free. Had lunch there before returning to pick up our luggage from the hotel and meet Howard and Anna (after a cup of tea). Bus to airport, and from there everything went smoothly until we reached Norwich airport, where we had a long wait for a taxi, eventually sharing one with two other guys, one headed for the Holiday Inn and the other for Rackheath. We dropped Howard and Anna off, then the Italian guy, and eventually reached Aspland Road, leaving Rackheath to sort itself out.
Monday 16 June
Quiet day, trying to catch up with unpacking, mail and holiday pictures. Also went to supermarket to buy food. Dot did lots of washing. In the evening David, Bridget and Judy came round for cake and compline. Vicky couldn’t come because she had killed a dog.
Chess problem: White to play and mate in two moves
Quite a nice meal at Prezzos on Monday with Angela and Rodney, but a bad night afterwards. As a result (possibly) I’ve been feeling fairly unenergetic all week, or maybe that’s normal. I’m saving all my energy up for Iona. We leave tomorrow.
I had a long list of things that had to be done, and amazingly I’ve done them. Too many to mention here, but one of them was preparing the Chronicle Oxnead book for David to have a look at, and another was putting the final touches to the performance script. There was also picking up pills from the chemist, paying in cheques in the city, buying a small rucksack, finding a couple of poems for the church world war one service in August and writing one myself, going to the supermarket, checking the bank statement and finding my glasses (in the washing machine). To be fair, Dot actually found them, but I took delivery. Amazingly, they seem to have survived intact.
The sun has come out this evening, but the weather over the last couple of days has been pretty miserable, with much greyness and rain. Dot had a hard time at a church school this afternoon trying to persuade staff that being a church school was a good idea, and this evening she is at another school, where she’s governor. Last night she was at orchestra, and today my Broadband went down. There is no connection between these things. As far as I know. It’s back now.
The luggage allowance for the flight tomorrow is rather challenging, but we’ll give it a shot. I shall take practically nothing – not absolutely nothing, because the forecast for Saturday is for heavy rain. In fact there’s rain in the forecast for every day we’re there, but at least it’s going to be warm. Assuming they’re right. Just what we want. Warm rain.
