Tag Archives: cemetery

Vicar surprises us

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Three-handed chess set – a gift from Karen

It’s a sunny, warmer day, and Dot has just been out in the garden (with a little help from me), tidying up. Norwich City are already on the radio, and she is in the kitchen.

The air has been gradually losing its chill over the past week, but last Sunday, when we went to the Seagull at Lowestoft after I had both led and preached in the morning, it was still pretty cold, with a chill wind. Phil was unable to come with us; so Dot and I played a couple of Julian songs in the first half, and I did “I Want to Catch Fire” on my own later. This is a song I wrote many years ago, but I have only just worked out how to sing (and play) it. It seemed to go all right.

On Monday it was still very cold; so Dot and I decided not to walk to the Greens’ for the DCC. We had a longish meeting, with a rather relaxed discussion at the end. The new vicar turned out to be not the one we had anticipated, but everyone seemed happy about him. His name is David Austin, and he is a big devotee of Facebook: he has been posting a great deal this week, not all of it uninteresting.

Next morning I walked up to Archant in murky weather for the monthly coffee morning: Su Lee was in attendance, as was Bob Easter, with news that Alan Atherton was extremely ill and not likely to last long. It was rather a subdued gathering after that, but a new chairman, Eric, was elected (can’t remember his surname: he was a print room supervisor), Alan having stood down.

On Wednesday Dot and I managed to get to the cinema, with two free seats (accumulated points) to see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which we enjoyed tremendously. Intelligent script, good direction and beautiful, relaxed acting. We were smiling all the way through and for some time afterwards.

Thursday was quite busy. We went out to North Walsham to put flowers on the graves (it was Doreen’s birthday) and then called in on Jessie for a cup of tea and biscuits: she seemed in very good form. We had to get back in time to let in Naomi, who came for the night so that she could get to a course at UEA the next morning. Having let her in, we abandoned her and walked to the Greens for an evening meal with them and Vicky and Helen Ward, who was staying for a few days. Typical Green hospitality left us replete and walking back home just before midnight.

The next day everyone except Dot went to UEA. Slight exaggeration – Naomi left early for her course, and  I followed not long after (by bus) for a meeting at the Registry with other Paston trustees and Dr Karen Smyth, who gave me a three-handed chess set. We also spent a long time talking about the Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and continued the discussion after a lunch in Vista (the top cafe). I had fish and chips, which was excellent. Naomi joined us at her own expense and went back to Mundesley with her mother..

I returned home by bus and spent quite a long time catching up with paperwork. Dot arrived home from lunch with Anne shortly after I arrived, and after a bit more work we spent much of the evening watching TV. After the fish and chips, not much supper necessary.

Still managing to keep up with Lent tanka. Just.

Knee-deep in the season’s activities

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David and Bridget Archer – providers of fish and chips

I think Christmas is here. At least, we seem knee-deep in all the activities associated with the Christmas season, and a few others too. Not much time to stop and think since my last post.

On Friday we had the traditional Archant pensioners’ Christmas lunch in the traditional hotel, with the traditional rain outside. Quite a pleasant meal: sat with Su, Brian and Julie Bedson, and we were joined by new EDP/EN editor Nigel Pickover, who was his usual expansive self. I have to admit that I quite like him. I said this to Su, and she retorted that I liked everyone, which is not true but a nice thing to say (I think). I was served tea by my first cousin once removed – Lewis (Kitsune Le’) Lenton, who is Mark’s son, an artist and a bit out there. Still, he was tuned in enough to introduce himself, which was nice.

In the evening of the same day we went to a drinks and nibbles evening at the vicar’s. I spent much of the time talking to Melissa Snell: we are very much on the same wavelength, except that she is in love with Bolivia. Also spoke to her husband Simon and to Margaret Comerford. Quite an odd evening, because there were many people there who I didn’t speak to at all. Dot struck up a conversation with a teacher who may have persuaded her to join a music group where she will be able to play her violin.

On Saturday Dot and I went to see Norwich beat Wigan 2-1. Go0d match, which we deserved to win. Our recent record is now second only to Barcelona in the top five European leagues, and we’re eighth in the Premiership. Ran into Peter Franzen (former EDP editor) for the second day running, which is a bit excessive. Weather was not too bad, but I wore lots of clothes, just in case.

Sunday saw the usual Christmas event at St Augustine’s, designed and organised by myself. We were pretending in a rather halfhearted way to be a radio programme, and there was some appropriate dialogue as well as carols, readings and poems. Everyone was very appreciative, which is the nice thing about St Augustine’s. It was followed by our Christmas meal: most people contributed, and it was very good.

Sue and Roger Eagle came round for lunch on Monday: they are really good company, and we have much in common. Had far too much to eat and have been feeling overfull ever since. As a result decided not to go to the Christmas chess event; flaked out and watched a bit of Battlestar Galactica instead.

It was all go yesterday, and fortunately the weather was fine. We started by picking up Dot’s glasses from Little Plumstead school (her gloves are at Barnham Broom, or possibly Diocesan House by now) and then drove to North Walsham for tea and sausage rolls with Jessie. We then proceeded to Sainsbury’s and bought flowers for the cemetery, from where we moved on to Sheila’s. She seemed pretty well, though a little vague on some matters. More sausage rolls, and a mince pie too. From there we went to Rosie’s, where we had ginger wine. Rosie is in quite a bit of pain with her back but is as determined as ever to carry on doing what she always has: in this instance making 175 wreaths for customers and friends.

In the evening, and far from traditionally, we had Tuesday Group fish and chips, supplied by the Archers but eaten at ours. The usual suspects tucked in enthusiastically. Added excitement was provided by Ian, who had locked himself out and spent much of the evening trying to contact his sister, who has a key. Eventually the Archers gave him a lift to Cringleford, where said sister lives, and deposited him there. It was unclear whether he was staying or whether his brother-in-law was going to be able to (a) find the key and (b) take him home.

Today has been fairly mild. We had our hair cut, and Dot left for Barbara’s. I then almost forgot to pick up Philip to take him for his benefits assessment, but Joy rang and reminded me. This took two trips, because as usual they kept him waiting a long time. In between I posted  a package and sorted out the church cheques for paying in. After picking Phil and Joy up and taking them home (dropping in at Surrey Chapel to leave some cards) I returned home and left immediately for the city, where I paid in those cheques and took a Christmas parcel to Dipples, receiving one in return! Quite chilly by the time I got home. Dot has just rung to say she is on her way back.

Revived by a burial ground

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Notice at Colney Wood
A notice near an exhibition of children's work at Colney Wood. Perhaps it's just me, but it seems to have an element of 1984 about it. Is it possible to be enthusiastic and not be happy?

Very cold recently, though thankfully dry. Opened the month with a Tuesday Group at which I felt strangely lethargic, though I had been feeling quite inspired earlier. Was revived the following day when I took a walk in a burial ground. Dot dropped me off at the junction of the Watton road and the southern bypass, and I walked over to Colney Wood, which is used for burials rather in the manner of the Rosary, but in a more random way and without headstones. I suppose it’s taking the Rosary idea a stage further, and it works really well. Beautiful hilly setting, and natural-looking memorials. I had hoped to be able to walk through and then across the water meadows to Bowthorpe, but unfortunately the burial ground is fenced in pretty thoroughly. So I returned to the entrance and was about to walk down the road towards the university when I got a phone call from Dot, whose meeting at Diocesan House had been cancelled. I invited her to join me in a further walk round the wood. I think she was equally impressed.

In the evening, while Dot was at a governors’ meeting at Brooke, I went to a poetry event at King’s Centre, which consisted of a talk by Lex Loizides from South Africa, interspersed with readings by actor John Carson from some of my favourite poets, including T S Eliot, Dylan Thomas, W B Yeats and Robert Frost. Surprisingly, it included a complete reading of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, which may be my favourite poem. There was also some excellent food, and happily I ran into Mark Ulanowski, who invited me to sit at his table (we took him to Greenbelt a couple of years ago). I didn’t know anyone else there. The idea of poetry as prophecy appeals to me greatly.

Yesterday a visit to the dentist for a filling demonstrated yet again that the  advances in dentistry are a strong argument for living in the 21st century. Despite it being a fairly long procedure, I think I can safely say that there was no pain at any point. Of course it could just be that my dentist is highly skilled. On an unrelated topic, we are now on one of Dot’s diet regimes, which I am joining in on a fairly but not completely committed basis in an attempt to shed a few pounds.

16 September 2007

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A view from the steep road into Pennan, where it looks as if the houses are actually in the sea. They’re not far off, of course.

Dramatic scenery, and drama at North Walsham too today. After calling at the cemetery we visited Dot’s aunt. Fortunately we got the cup of tea in fairly quickly, because we were suddenly all asked to evacuate the house – together with everyone else in the street. Apparently a guy in the parallel street (ie just behind Queensway) had turned all his gas on and was threatening to set light to it. We had to go to the nearby football ground and pavilion, which was opened up for us. There were probably a couple of hundred people there. Police vehicles descended on us from all over the county – or so it seemed – and for a couple of hours we had to amuse ourselves. Happily the weather was warm and sunny, and I had had the foresight to take a photo album with me. (I felt no-one had their full attention on it, though.)

I tried to persuade them to let me drive out, but the road was blocked by fire engines at the end, so we had to wait. The police were actually extremely friendly and not at all officious. I had visions of us being kept there for hours and was thinking about getting a train or taxi home, but after about 90 minutes one of the policemen told me they had taken the guy into custody, and it was just a question of making the property safe. This took a further half hour or so.

On the plus side, people got to meet their neighbours, and Dot got into conversation with someone whose brother – Billy Turner – was very friendly with her father.

Earlier at the cemetery we bumped into Sandra, Dot’s childhood friend, who we hadn’t seen for a while. Even earlier I preached at St Augustine’s to a small but select congregation. First time back there for five weeks.