OK: we found the missing photographs for Jessie – old ones with nurses on them, among other things – but Jessie wasn’t able to identify much when we called in on Sunday afternoon. Roger was also there, and we gave him a lift up to Ray’s on our way home (he was delivering something and then walking back).
The concert on Saturday was extremely good, and we had excellent seats. Colin Dowdeswell was conducting, and we had a chat with his wife, who vouchsafed the alarming news that the Hendersons are moving back to Norwich when Paul retires next year. We knew this was a possibility, but it seems to be firming up.
Visited Geoff in hospital on Monday: pushed him in a wheelchair to the quiet spot over the road and had a longish talk, partly while Sophie was talking to an authority figure (not sure who she was) about arrangements for Geoff’s discharge, maybe in a week or two. He is much, much better, but they are both stressed about what will happen when he has to leave.
Busy day yesterday: I was at Cromer just after 10am for my appointment at the hospital, which took place on time. It turned out to be a minor operation: a more major one (sigmoidoscopy) is due to take place fairly soon in Norwich, but this is purely precautionary: the doctor said he didn’t think there was a problem. Feeling more or less OK.
Got back to Norwich in good time, though the weather was so beautiful I wished I didn’t have to. But I wanted to hear Karen Smyth talk about merchants and medieval literature, and I’m glad I did. Had a longish talk with Angela, who is now in charge at Dragon Hall, and a quick exchange with Karen, who embarrassed me slightly by calling on me as a Paston expert when someone asked a Paston-related question afterwards. Fortunately, I was able to answer it (it was about Bromholm Priory), so perhaps I am. Hard to believe.
Had to go to Morrisons afterwards to buy food for the Tuesday Group in the evening, where David A played a talk by John Donoghue about beauty, which was inspiring.
Dot has been out and about a lot, and is “fighting off something” (not me). She was coughing a bit in the night, so I hope her fight succeeds, and includes me.
After trying to find a way of sending my steam train video to Dave Evetts, I have had to admit defeat (file too large). Pity. While waiting for my appointment at Cromer, I wrote most of a poem called Age of Steam, which I have now finished and am pleased with. Have just finished reading a superb book called The Misogynist, by Piers Paul Read. Beautifully written, with a nice ending.