Tag Archives: drama

Hoping the wind is behind them

snow in ontario
Flashback: not the A93, but snow in Palmer Circle, Ontario, last month.

Spent much of the morning editing my most recent pictures, so that they look as good as they can when viewed on Apple TV later today. Yes, son and grandchildren are due to arrive this afternoon. I hope the wind is behind them, because I just got frozen taking some of Dot’s shoes into the city to be repaired. No problem on the way back. I got a hint of the iciness of the wind when I opened the door to the window cleaner at lunchtime and took several steps backwards. Glad to see the recyclists have braved the wind and emptied our brown bin. Nothing to grumble about really: the A93 between Ballater and Braemar is blocked by snow, which is very hard to believe: it is pretty much flat, though not at sea level, of course.

Dot is doing a school inspection today, and it’s 50-50 whether she gets home before David arrives. Yesterday we had our house alarm serviced, and I’ve changed the code so that I can’t get in. Sorry, that should read “so that other people can’t get in”, but I have already put the wrong code in three times. Dot was feeling pretty ropey yesterday until she had a glass of wine, when she suddenly felt better. That was after we’d done a mammoth shop at Morrison’s and she’d spent most of the day working on DSSO stuff and preparing for the inspection.

Wrote a couple of new, shorter Umbrage pieces and sent them to Anne to see if they would be any good for parish pump, but I haven’t heard from her yet. Last time she e-mailed she was not at all well, so perhaps she’s taking a break. Have also prepared the service on Sunday and led the meeting at Ed’s on Tuesday; so I’ve been reasonably busy. I have ideas for three more poems, but they’re just ideas at the moment.

Have now seen the last episode of Married, Single, Other, which is one of the best drama series I’ve discovered on TV for a long time. Beautifully written, acted and directed. Either the director or the actors knew exactly how to put the lines over, which means the writer was very lucky, or very good at telling them what was needed. Lucy Davies was superb, but so were all the others, including the lovely Miranda Raison, ex-Spooks and Norfolk-born. I hope there’s a second series: pity Lucy won’t be in it, unless it suddenly becomes supernatural or has lots of flashbacks.

28 November 2007

My lovely grand-daughter Amy is pictured on the trampoline I tripped over a few weeks ago, injuring my ribs. All OK now, and my trips to the chiropractor (actually provoked by something else entirely) are now down to one a fortnight. Cunningly I have managed to switch chiropractors – not because the one treating me was no good (he did the job well and is quite pleasant) – but because I prefer the other one’s less vigorous technique. Also he’s Canadian.

A very busy few days since my last post. As it turned out we didn’t do a poetry reading at the Open Studios event, but it all went very well indeed, despite the very cold weather – inside the factory as well as outside. Several friends came, and Dot and I bought a few cards and a couple of blocks. Coincidentally, when David visited on the Sunday he picked out the same blocks, not knowing we had bought them.

The family were up for the weekend to celebrate Dot’s birthday. We took a bus into town on the Saturday, and Dot and I walked around the close-to-icy streets with Oliver and Amy while David and Vicky did some shopping. We popped into Langleys, the toy shop in the Arcade, and Oliver decided he would like just about everything for Christmas. After lengthy deliberation he got a coach to be going on with, and Amy got two or three smaller things. We stopped for a drink and then got the bus back. Norwich City had won a football match for the first time for months – 2-0 against Coventry.

On the Sunday I was preaching and playing guitar at church, though not simultaneously. We followed this with an excellent lunch at Prezzo’s, and then David and I went to see how the Open Studios were going. In the evening I went to the Ambient Wonder music event at St Augustine’s and wished I’d made the extra effort to perform, because they had all the right equipment. It would have been difficult though, because there would have been no opportunity to rehearse or tune up. As it was I introduced Jackson Browne’s Fountain of Sorrow as one of my favourite songs.

On Monday I avoided losing at chess by the expedient of not playing. My stomach was a bit upset, or I might have gone up for a casual game, but instead I stayed at home while Dot went to a YFC meeting. I finished my short story entry for the Fish competition and sent it off. It was a bit rushed, but not bad. I don’t think it will win anything. Yesterday I completed the St Augustine’s Christmas drama, including choice of carols and readings. I went to the Tuesday meal at the Archers’ (shepherdess pie) and allocated the key roles to David and Bridget. No messing. Dot was at a head teachers’ meeting at Trowse. Wrote a carol.

I also had my blood tested. Results will go to the hospital, and I’m hoping that the PSA level will be down. Norwich won again last night – 3-1 away at Blackpool. Strange times.