Tag Archives: autumn

Brown bin full of fallen leaves

Oliver in his den in our garden

Not exactly a seamless move into autumn. We had our hair cut in preparation, and then bought a fridge, while wondering where the extra hour went. The first brown bin full of fallen leaves was left out on Monday, and now the road is covered with golden confetti. I have just taken Joy to the dentist’s – and fetched her again. Bit of an ordeal for her (the dental work, not my driving).

Dot went to London on Sunday and stayed with her colleague Barbara at David Coomes’ place in Walthamstow. Handily, this was five minutes from the school in Waltham Forest where they were doing a day’s P4C on the Monday. Kristine was absent in Kabul (some people will do anything…) but DC made them welcome. My radius has been much narrower over the past few days, the highlight being a visit to Paston to see Lucy and obtain some exhibition material that could be photographed for publicity for the Dragon Hall event. I should mention that I had to tackle a vampire on Hallowe’en, but only a small one: Phoebe, from two doors down.

Also on Monday I had to open the church hall for repairs and found myself assisting guy who was replacing a broken window, checking the starter on a light bulb and repairing some guttering. The heaters have also been serviced in my absence, and I was surprised to hear that two are broken. We knew about one of them, but the other was working very well on Sunday, so I can’t help being suspicious. Now there’s a big debate about whether we should install a better heating system.

In other news, Ian Fosten dropped in the 42 poems submitted for the Waveney and Blyth competition, from which I have to select a winner and four or five commended. Boot-on-other-foot situation. Dot has gone off for lunch in the city with Becca from NYFC, followed by a meeting with Anne, and I have a long list of things to do, largely because I’ve spent much of my time this week (a) preparing a sermon for Sunday and (b) preparing a one-day session on our relationship with Creation for a St Luke’s group. Also taking antibiotics for suspected infection in the lower abdomen area, but I think that’s on its way out. Either that or I am.

10 November 2008

Autumn has arrived with a vengeance. The leaves started falling with some determination towards the end of last week; this tree is in North Walsham cemetery, where Dot and I went last Friday on our way to visit Jessie. Not a bad day, with a stunning sunset that I couldn’t quite get in a position to photograph on the way home. Huge numbers of leaves have fallen since then, and it has turned very damp, with a quite a strong wind overnight. Dot and I stayed in today – seemed odd, slightly removed from reality. I am still not back to health, though going in the right direction, and Dot has a stomach upset, which I hope is just that.

We have got out a bit over the past few days. Saw two films on Thursday and Friday – Burn after Reading (Coen Brothers) and Quantum of Solace, the peculiarly named new Bond movie. Both were worth seeing without being mind-blowing. The first was funny and the second vigorous, though I do think covering Gemma Arterton with oil was a shocking waste.

Went out for an evening meal at Birgit and Joe’s on Saturday. Had been feeling rather ill all day, but improved during the evening. Joe cooked an excellent Indian meal, and we had a long talk. Then to church yesterday for Remembrance Sunday – so traditional hymns not much suited to guitar. This evening I’ve agreed to play chess for our club team in the Norfolk and Suffolk Cup, so hope I don’t get too tired.