Tag Archives: family

Heat is on in Scotland

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At Linn of Quoich

Between July 10 and 28, Dot and I were away from home. This is just on the edge of what I find comfortable in the area of being away from home, but well within the boundaries of time I feel comfortable in Scotland. There’s a paradox for you. Ah, well. It went a bit like this:

Wednesday, July 10

Drove to Glasgow. Started cloudy and cool but became warmer – very warm on arrival. So warm in fact that Dot backed into a parked van. Don’t ask me why. Van escaped unscathed. Drive up pretty good, the only hold-up being at Elveden, where a car had broken down. Stopped at Cambridge Services, M6 Toll, Carnock Richard and Westmorland Farm Shop, then again briefly so that Dot could drive on approach to Glasgow. Couldn’t see any way to get on to M8 going in right direction (east), so went off and came on again, which worked well. Tried to follow Premier Inn directions, but went astray near the Cathedral; enlisted the help of Google Maps on my iPhone, after which it was a total doddle. Nice hotel with welcoming staff. I had a steak, and Dot lasagne after watching Test match highlights. Brief walk to river afterwards.

Dot back at her birthplace – 24 Waterside Road

Thursday, July 11

After quite a good night’s sleep had a reasonable breakfast, then headed out in the sun to Dot’s birthplace – 24 Waterside Road – which we found without much difficulty about a mile away. The road is still there, bordered by the River Clyde, but the houses look a bit newer, though the area is clearly still less than affluent. Took pix of Dot on her second appearance in the Gorbals, then we crossed Ballater Street (and the river) into Glasgow Green, a beautiful park containing the People’s Palace and the Winter Gardens, where we had an ice cream and visited a museum with some wartime memories of the area.

We then walked across the park and up to St Andrew’s in the Square, where we picked up a tourist bus which took us across town and via many noteworthy  landmarks to the Kelvingrove Museum. Here we had tea and a sandwich and looked at a lot of excellent pictures, plus a Rennie Mackintosh room, and got very tired. Undeterred we headed out again, following directions that surprisingly turned out to be right, up the hill to the university – a very wearing walk in the sun – and the Mackintosh House there, where we joined a guided tour.  This turned out to be very interesting, despite an irritating American who kept trying to turn it into a private question-and-answer session. While waiting for the tour we popped into the adjacent Hunterian Museum, which had pictures by Whistler next to somewhere we could sit down. After the tour we caught the tour bus again (one ticket for two days) and headed homewards. During a convenient break I managed to get some cash from a machine, then we continued to the stop where we originally boarded before walking the last half-mile or so (bit more so, in fact) back to the Premier Inn and some iced fizzy water.

 Friday, July 12

Another hot day, and my 68th birthday. I have been an adult for 50 years, or half a century, whichever seems longer. After breakfast we walked to St Andrew’s in the Square and caught the tour bus to George Square.We then walked to John Street, where we spoke to a friendly guy in the city hall about Dot’s search for her birth details. He wasn’t able to help much, but referred us to the Mitchell Library for voters’ lists for 1945. Dot decided she didn’t want to spend a lot of time doing that, so instead we walked through the city centre to Sauchiehall Street and the famous Willow Tea Rooms, which turned out to be not only famous but lovely and not packed out. We both had tea, and I had a strawberry tart. The design was amazing; great atmosphere. After a couple of purchases in the shop downstairs, we got the bus again and walked back to the hotel from our usual stop.

After a brief respite with iced fizzy water, we got directions from the receptionist to Pollok Park and the Burrell Collection. This didn’t work out perfectly, largely because Dot mistook the end point on the map for the beginning, and vice versa. However with the help of the atlas and Google maps we eventually made it. Pollok Park is stunning, and so is the building housing the Burrell Collection (though the eco-friendly roof doesn’t work and is leaking in places). I was not too impressed by the temporary exhibition, but the permanent exhibition upstairs was interesting (I liked Baudin and Ribot), and there was some lovely work by Rodin, including The Thinker. Good cafe too.

Lasting impressions of Glasgow: the wideness of the roads, the slowness of the traffic lights, the way all the exhibitions are free – oh, and the friendliness of the people, especially those in our hotel.

 Saturday, July 13

Woke latish following a bad night. After breakfast discovered that David and the children were already on the road and ahead of us. Left at 10.40 and got on to the M8 fairly easily. Journey was straightforward despite some slow drivers on the A93, and we met David at Braemar at about 1pm. Lunch in Fife Arms, then drove to Ballater, arriving at The Coyles around 2.30pm. Very big house. From hot in Braemar, it became chilly at Ballater, with very low cloud. Bought food, played cricket in garden, bought fish and chips and watched Test Match highlights after eating it. For my birthday David bought me three books and two films, Amy gave me a lovely key ring she’d made, and both children made me beautiful cards. Dot had trouble with the washing machine, but it made sense eventually.

Sunday, July 14 

David up early to meet Chrissy (and Roger and Barb) at Edinburgh Airport. D and C arrived in Ballater just after midday, R & B half an hour later. After something to eat and various items like shopping and cricket we walked round by the river and spent some time on the stones. Very warm today. C & B joined us by river and we walked remainder of circle. Interesting meal followed by watching England beat Australia (just). All shattered. Bed quite early.

Roger, Barbara, David, Chrissy, Amy at the far end of Loch Muick

 Monday, July 15

“Short walk” (Barbara Murray) round Loch Muick in pleasantly warm weather. Actual distance 7.6 miles. Struggle for Amy and for Chrissy, still battling  jet lag and developing sunburn. My hay fever from yesterday disappeared.  Beautiful walk, in fact. Afterwards drove to Log Cabin for drink and snack – probably a bit too far, but very nice when there, as always. Fish and chips later – I had egg and chips. Spent rest of evening talking and looking at photos, and deciding what we’ll do the rest of the week.

Tuesday, July 16

Cloudier, but warm, though with some light rain in afternoon. Drove to Balmoral, had food then visited ballroom and guest cottage. Sheltered a while from rain then climbed up path, but didn’t get far because Amy was not keen. Dot and I had extra cup of tea while Roger, Barbara, Chrissy and Oliver visited Crathie Church (Amy and David resting in car). All visited Distillery and I bought a baseball cap, then drove home by southern route. David, Oliver and I went up to Monaltrie Park to play cricket. Lovely meal, but I had violent diarrhoea afterwards. Soon got over it. Watched some Twenty Twelve followed by The Trip, with Coogan and Bryden.

Oliver and David on Craigendarroch

Wednesday, July 17

Warm and dry. While Roger and Barbara walked Seven Bridges and the others went to the river, Dot and I went into town and bought me some binoculars (birthday present) for £170,  a top and scarf for her and some meat for supper. Had drink and muffin at cafe, sitting outside! In afternoon I played cricket with Oliver, David and Roger while others went to river again, then – after a brief break – Dot and I, Roger and Barbara and Oliver climbed Craigendarroch. David met us on top, having started later and gone a long way round. We all returned by another route I recommended, despite much doubting by others. But it worked well. After supper watched more Twenty Twelve.

Thursday, July 18

Even warmer. Got up fairly early to climb Craigendarroch again, thinking  I’d lost my binocular lens cap up there. But it was found by Dot in the house while Oliver and I were on the top. Nice walk though, especially during those moments when I could breathe. Later drove to Linn of Quoich, where Amy got stung by a wasp but otherwise things went well. Had late lunch at Fife Arms, then drove home, pretty much exhausted, except for usual suspects, who  immediately went to the bookshop.

Amy gets to grips with the stream

Friday, July 19

No reduction in warmth. Five of our number set off under blue skies at 7.55am to climb Lochnagar but had to retreat from the ridge at about 1pm, feeling exhausted under the hot sun. Meanwhile, Dot, Amy and I played storytelling using Dixit cards, then went to the little bridge off the Corgarff road to play in the stream (at least, one of us did). Idyllic spot. Managed to receive a call from Coventry about Andrew as well as a couple of texts from David to say they’d turned back. We eventually drove back to Spittal of Glen Muick to meet the Lochnagar party as they arrived, rather tired in the sun. Good achievement, though – especially by Oliver. Fish and chip supper.

Saturday, July 20

Still very warm. everyone pretty tired, so had a quieter day. Mooched around town, including Larks Gallery and cycle  and sweet shop before arriving at new corner cafe for very good lunch. Later in the afternoon Barbara, Roger, David and Oliver walked out on cycle path towards Cambus O’May while I took Dot, Chrissy and Amy there by car. Very crowded, boys jumping off bridge etc, and distance was more than I had thought, so Dot, Chrissy and Amy started walking back. I found a layby where path came to road and amazingly proved to be almost exactly where the two parties met. All hot, so I gave lefts home in shifts to all except Barbara, who hurtled back on her own, setting a new world record for a cross between walking and running. In the evening had a fantastic meal at the Glen Lui. Drinks outside followed by meal in room on our own, and excellent service. It doesn’t get any better.

Sunday, July 21

Four left early (6.15am) for Edinburgh airport. Roger’s car had a flat halfway down the road, but fortunately David had a usable pump, and the tyre stayed up for the journey. Hot again, and we did very little except go to the shop for some food – on the way home as David arrived. Later emptied bottles at car park. Not much else: Froome completed win of Tour de France, England hammered Australia in Ashes and Mickelson unfortunately won the Open after Westwood led going into the final day. But he and Poulter came joint third. Dot and I switched to Murrays’ bedroom and a double bed.

Cyclists Amy, Oliver and Dot pause at Cambus O’May

Monday, July 22

A little cooler at first, but sunny and warm later. The five of us remaining hired bikes (£42) and rode down the old railway track to Cambus O’May and then Dinnnet and back – a total of about 15 miles. By the time we got back, Dot and I were quite sore and Amy was flagging (not surprisingly). She did pretty well. Three hours in all – followed by lunch at our favourite corner cafe. Watched bit of Wreck-it Ralph with Amy but kept going to sleep. Managed to keep awake during Dixit, tea and a showing of The Hobbit, but really pretty shattered by the end of the day. Not sleeping too well, for some reason.

Tuesday, July 23

The weather broke, with low cloud followed by rain and eventually a thunderstorm. By that time we had arrived back in Ballater after visiting Glen Shee cafe with a view to taking the chair lift. That proved impossible, of course, but Amy got to touch a cloud, so that was all right. Drove back via old road to Braemar, then over Crathie-Gairnshiel-Ballater road. Played games in afternoon, then Dot and Oliver and I went to La Mangiatoia to book for diiner. Got booking for 6.30 and had another excellent meal.

 Wednesday, July 24

Warm weather returned, and David and the children sadly left. We had a walk in town first, a little shopping, mainly of the window variety, then lunch in our favourite corner cafe. Simultaneously two men arrived to lay vinyl in the en suites, three hours early, so we left them to it. Eventually (after our early lunch and after David left) the caretaker Mr Campbell also turned up, as did a gardener; Dot and I left them to it. We drove up to the Lecht and walked up a path to the top on the right-hand side: great views and a ridge walk with minimum effort. Back to the Log Cabin for a snack and then drove to a layby on the road to Gairnshiel, where we took a pic for a Spanish couple and read a bit, before moving into the valley by the bridge for a further read in the evening sun. Good shelter. Then home: watched Looper (one of my birthday presents from David): very clever and enjoyable film. Followed by watching last two episodes of Twenty Twelve. Still funny.

Thursday, July 25

A bit cooler and with some rain. Got up latish and notified caretaker that the vinyl-layers had left two sliding doors unsecured. He came later to fix them, while I was buying newspaper and a present for Oliver. He, his father and sister were meanwhile making good progress homeward and arrived at 2.30pm. By this time we were in the Fife Arms, having travelled to Aboyne in the hope of happening on some 3G and checking where the Boat Inn is. But it was very wet and dark east of Ballater so we headed for Braemar. Got free WiFi in the Fife Arms, so Dot caught up with her e-mails at some length.

After a snack we looked round some shops and then drove up to the duckpond, staying for a while before heading home. On the way stopped by forbidden bridge near Keilloch and saw a deer by the river’s edge, also three heron(?) in the air. In the evening met Ella and David at the Boat Inn at Aboyne and bought them supper. Ella in good spirits, but David didn’t look well, though he was bright enough. They knew many of the people there, of course, but the landlady asked me if I was local, which is a first. She had only been there three weeks.

Dot under a cloud on Capel Mounth

Friday, July 26

Mainly warm and dry with some showers. Had breakfast at cafe in high street, then drove to Loch Muick, making a picnic first. Walked up the path to Capel Mounth and reached a plateau after two miles. Sat down to eat lunch and it started to rain. Black clouds, so finished quickly and retreated fast, but still got fairly wet. Not cold, though, and quite fun. Drove back to Ballater and did some packing before getting fish and chips (I had egg, bacon and chips). Then watched a DVD we’d seen before before finishing tidying up.

Saturday, July 27

Started warm and bright blue, and remained so for most of the drive south to Killington Lake, near Kendal. Dot drove to just south of Glasgow (including a brief return to Ballater when I realised I’d brought a house key with me), then I took the wheel the rest of the way, popping in to Gretna to refuel. From Ballater to Scottish border was just over 200 miles. Diverted briefly to Shap, but having found nothing of interest returned to M6 and stopped at Tebay, “the best service station in the UK” – an accolade I would not disagree with. Had meal and lingered in shop and with ice cream, then continued to Killington Lake.

Here it soon started to thunder and lightning quite enthusiastically, and eventually rain poured down extremely heavily, confining us to our room. We took advantage of a brief lull to go and get a muffin and tea, despite finding the restaurant largely flooded. Returned to room with umbrellas and extra tea bags, awaiting promised accelerated downpours overnight. This was our 45th wedding anniversary, and one of the most memorable.

Walking in the city

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Dot and Barbara discuss the next Philosophy4Children session

Another longish walk today, as the air gradually gets colder and the weather people warn us of a weekend of snow and ice. Dot really wanted to walk on the beach, but was dissuaded by tales of bitter winds retailed by her aunt Jess who, at North Walsham, is more than halfway there. To the coast, I mean.

So instead we walked into the city, had lunch at the Forget-me-Not Cafe (pâté and toast) and then proceeded to the bank to pay in a cheque, then on to St John Maddermarket, where we happend to meet Kevin Maddams driving a van – a coincidence made sharper by the fact that I had a cheque for him from St Augustine’s (for a Developing Consciousness ad in his magazine, Outline).

After a spot of reminiscing Dot and I proceeded up the hill to Pottergate and on thence by an unusual but interesting route to The Avenues, where I put a cheque for St Luke’s through Nik Vitkovitch’s door. By this time Dot was showing signs of tiredness, so we made for Unthank Road, and a bus home. About four miles’ walking in all.

For those worrying about my eye (see last post) I can reveal that the sore has miraculously vanished, or dropped off, as we light sleepers tend to put it. Meanwhile Dot is in the midst of Philosophy work. Last Sunday she and Barbara drove to Dudley, stayed the night and then put on a session for a local primary school, from which the feedback was uniformly brilliant. They got back to Norwich at around 7pm on Monday, and by tracking them I had managed to cook them a meal which was almost on time.

Barbara stayed the night, and the next day they were off again, this time to Thurton (a bit nearer home) for one of a series of sessions there. Our weekend with the Coomes will extend to Monday because they are meeting in North London to do another session at a school in Leyton. I will probably leave for Norwich earlier in the day and then pick Dot up from Metfield in the evening, snow permitting.

I have been slightly less mobile, managing only a trip to Paston to look at Pater Stibbons’ new (supplementary) Paston website and learn how to work it. Lucy took notes which she was going to send me but hasn’t yet, perhaps mainly because she has been to Papworth today for a technical medical problem. Instead her daughter Naomi has been in touch, asking if we know anyone who could accommodate a friend at UEA. I passed it on to Nicholas to announce at church on Sunday.

At a smaller-than-usual Tuesday Group I assayed toad in the hole, which was very well received. I quite liked it myself. Meanwhile I have written to Maureen Basford, keeper of the Harlestone burial records, giving her more details of the Archer family. She seemed interested. I must get back into looking at my family history and sorting out what I’ve discovered, which I believe is quite a lot more than I remember.

I should also mention that I have now responded to all the Christmas messages I can find, be they small remarks on cards or parts of much longer and more detailed epistles (with pictures, in some cases). I am also participating with Joy McCall in a tanka series, which is not so full of liquid as you might imagine.

On the battlements with different views

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Jane, Libby and John on the battlements of Norwich Castle

Full day on Sunday, which started with a Communion service at which a happy and contented young George Myers was dedicated. Vicky’s parents came down from Lothersdale, and various other family members and friends boosted the congregation to around 35. There was cake, and the weather was warm. Later Dot and I went to Cinema City for a private showing of Rüthli – the Little Dynamo. This was a film put together by Rüthli’s husband Douglas and a photographer friend to celebrate her life and her final few months (she died of a brain tumour last March). Very professionally done, but I would like to have seen more of her work and her earlier years. I only knew her for a few months, really. I collaborated with her for a show called Voices and Visions – I wrote a couple of poems to go with two abstract pictures that she produced following a visit to the Arctic – and it must have been around that time that she got the diagnosis. She was bubbly and full of life, whereas in some of the shots from the film that had all gone. We have been round to their house in Eaton – called Asgard – which is full of pictures and sculpture. Dot has struck up a friendship with Douglas recently: they have a shared interest in gardening. He is about as eccentric as Rüthli was, though not as tiny. Both art teachers and keen motor-cyclists!

In the evening we went to a fund-raising event at the Workshop – a cafe on Earlham Road – put on by Matt, our former “lodger”, who will be leaving for Palestine in three weeks’ time. There was some guitar-and-singing which would have been better with some coherent or even interesting lyrics, but was sort of entertaining anyway. However the main event was a quiz, which was won by our team, mainly because it was the biggest and despite our knowing almost nothing about 90s Britpop. Dot and I got a £10 book token, and our other team members, Debbie Sands and her husband Neil, got the Cinema City tickets. Matt brought his American girl friend Lorie, who isn’t going to Palestine but we hope will be waiting for him when he gets back. Looking promising, I have to say – she’s very sweet. Will he be moving to America? Watch this space.

(This is a false alarm – see later posts) Some time around now I seem to have discovered that my grandfather was not only in the Army from 1900 to 1903 but got married in 1905 in Mansfield to someone other than my grandmother – a woman called Annie Mary Steele. He would have had to get unmarried to her fairly quickly, but whether through death or divorce or something else I know not. It merits further investigation, as they say.

Shortly before noon on Monday the Redgraves arrived, complete with children Libby (11) and Archie (9), who I have to say were delightful. We spent most of the afternoon in the Castle Museum, including a battlements tour. The guide was full of information I didn’t know and really excellent at putting it across, though I suspect it was a bit much for the children in the party. They had evening meal with us and stayed till about 9.30pm before heading back to Kessingland, where they are renting a holiday chalet. The weather was good, but deteriorated sharply yesterday. It was great to see them: we met in Crete 17 years ago, when they were on their honeymoon. We’ve visited them in Brighton and they’ve been to Norfolk two or three times, and we get on very well despite the gaps.

Yesterday I wrote two or three more poems about the Waveney and spent a lot of time trying to work out whether our Tuesday Group were going to North Walsham for a Molten Meditation event, as suggested by David Archer at the Workshop on Monday. After many phone calls and e-mails we ended up having our usual meal here, and even David decided not to go to North Walsham, partly because Bridget was under the weather. Turned out to be a smallish group, augmented by Adrian, an alternative gentleman who comes to church occasionally, and his dog, who had tagged on to Harriet in her trek across the city. This made it a bit different. I ended up sitting in the garden with him and the dog while he gave me his viewpoint on life.

Bears walking off the shelves

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One of the two award-winning dens, with its creators

Delightful week, despite the chill wind for much of it. Son and grandchildren visited, and Philip and Jane and their two children camped nearby in the Premier Inn; we spent most of the time together, and I even missed an Archant agm, I was having so much fun.

Our family arrived on Monday. I was due to play chess against Yosif in the evening, but typically he didn’t show up, and I returned for a quiet evening. On Tuesday the Coomes arrived, and we organised lunch and supper for nine. In the afternoon most of us walked into the city by way of the Cathedral Close (leaving Dot fixing the evening food) and then went to the Museum, followed by the Norwich City shop, where I bought a Canaries bag for Oliver and two teddy bears for Amy – one pink and one a traditional yellow. Apparently the NCFC teddy bears are walking off the shelves in the current climate of optimism. As I write City are 2-1 up against Nottingham Forest, being watched by Dot, who got a free ticket from the Robinsons.

On Wednesday we all went to Bewilderwood and survived the chill quite well, considering. Ended up in a den-making competition, with Dot spearheading one, and Phil and David leading the other. Both did exceptionally well, I thought. Another meal at ours in the evening, but the trend changed on Thursday, which was a bit warmer, in a relative sort of way. Everyone except me went to Cromer (Dot by train), bercause I had to wait for the alarm to be serviced and then go to the dentist to have a crown fitted. Not an actual crown, though that would probably have been cheaper. The process (with earlier preparation) left me with little change from £1200, which is about £1000 too much for any tooth work, in my opinion. Of course, I wouldn’t tell the dentist that. They have drills.

Owing to an earlier blunder, I had booked Dot and me into the Maddermarket in the evening, so instead of enjoying a leisurely meal in the Premier Inn with the others, we had a quick starter and then hurtled up to the theatre for an excellent performance of Alan Bennett’s 40 Years On. Sat next to James Goffin – to whom I owe my four years’ teaching at UEA (I took over his course) – and afterwards had a chat with David Newham, another former colleague and long-established Maddermarket actor, who said he was hoping for a part in the forthcoming Under Milk Wood.

Today was much warmer, but it was also the day of departure for our visitors. In the morning we took them up to Mousehold and had a game of football which I feel may take me several days to recover from. Good fun, though. Oliver is dead keen, and very skilful too. Amy organised a party lunch with some assistance from Dot (or should that be the other way round?), and I said goodbye early to meet Anna at the Castle. We were supposed to proceed to Dragon Hall for a meeting on Paston plans, but Sarah at Dragon Hall postponed twice within 24 hours, so I had to spend almost an hour with Anna, which was of course a real trial, not to say very pleasant indeed. Someone needs to get an armlock on Sarah, though.

Blunder after the sandwich break

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Amy with picnic in the living room

Very little time in the past week to do anything very constructive in the way of writing. Not sure why that should be, since Dot was away for a day and a half at Dudley, doing her P4C thing. I did manage to write a poem, just in time to make the deadline for entry to the Norwich Writers’ Circle competition, which I won last year. In fact I entered seven poems and walked them up to the secretary’s house the other side of Colman Road to make sure they got there in time. It was also an excuse for a decent walk, and happily the weather was sunny, though cold. Managed a similar-length walk (just under four miles) the next day – Tuesday – after I dropped the car off for £500 worth of work (service, brakes, bodywork, MOT, European Assistance).

The following day Dot and I had a lie-in, watching a tape that Phil had lent me some time ago. During this I began to feel pretty ill, with a bad headache and sore eye, plus tiredness. Strange. Took several doses of paracetamol, which meant I had recovered sufficiently to drive to Diss in the evening for a chess match. Got a good position but blundered and lost following the sandwich break. Together with my draw on Monday, this brought to an end my unlikely run of five wins. Sad, but not as sad as the death of Phyllis Todd, the oldest member of our congregation, who was 100. Glad I saw her last week.

Oliver entirely without picnic in the living room

Happier times earlier in the past week, when David and the children came up to see us on Saturday and stayed overnight. The children came to church with us, and Oliver sat next to me and took it all in – or as much of it as he could. Not a tremendously child-friendly sermon, and he was the only child there, apart from Amy, who was upstairs with Dot. Afterwards we went to Prezzos for lunch. And the previous day we had a visit from Glenda and Peter, with whom we shared the train holiday in Switzerland two years ago. Lovely to see them again. Apparently not one of the four of us had changed a bit.

Later that day I went to a Paston trustees’ meeting at which it was decided – with some prompting from me and Jonathan – to demand an answer from the PCC and Trunch team about our potential lease of the church. They have spent huge amounts of time contradicting each other and dithering. We are now threatening to withdraw, which we hope will concentrate their minds.

Yesterday Dot and I went to the Assembly House for afternoon tea – a Christmas present bought for us by the Archers. Lovely food in a nice setting, though the service was a little slow and there was a great deal of rearranging the room while we were eating. Still, we really enjoyed it. I had previously visited our financial advisers to sign papers for a surrender of a policy which I thought I’d already surrendered, which means we will receive some unexpected money. Not a huge amount, but worth having.

Today we bought some paint and have spent time painting one of the walls in preparation for the new bookcase. Hope to finish tomorrow – in fact will have to, because I’ve just remembered we’re having people round for a meal tomorrow evening, a fact that had somehow got omitted from my diary, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have started on the painting. Ho hum. Wish I felt a bit more lively.

Sing what you always sing

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Vicki and Dot
Another picture from the recent celebration of Joan's 70th birthday: Vicki Ellis and Dot

Have seen quite a lot of my family recently. Last Thursday Dot and I called in to see Aunt Josephine, who was her usual lively self and revealed that my mother once heard a talk she gave and asked her: “Did Frank write it?” This received the indignation it deserved, because Josephine is still talented and much in demand in the talks department, but it does reveal my mother’s attitude, which is typical of her generation, that the men were top dogs. Sad, because she herself was talented both academically and in sports when she was younger. And from what I know of my father, he wouldn’t have dominated her in any way, except possibly to assume that the man is responsible for the family.

The next day we had an evening meal (fish pie) at Joe and Birgit’s, which is a hard thing to write as I am very hungry at the moment, and my lunch pie has half an hour to cook. Dot is at Stibbard, doing a church school inspection. We had a good evening at Joe’s (or should I say Birgit’s? ;-)) and then I saw them again the next day as I had taken away Joe’s anorak instead of mine by mistake, so had to drive round and exchange them. And yet again on Sunday, when we were at Phil and Joy’s preparing to listen to a CD by Eleanor Mumford that came highly recommended by Phil. It was good too, but there was definite sense of déjà vu about it. Or déjà écouté, possibly. Joe and Birgit called round and listened too.

Another family connection: my cousin Pat, who lives in Stamford, wrote out of the blue inquiring about our ancestors. (Strange that Phil is not in the least interested in where he came from.) I was able to answer one question in the negative and confirm the preponderance of Lentons in the Yaxley area, near Peterborough, going back to before 1840 and possibly into the 18th century. Am now working on a theory about how my paternal grandparents met. It hinges on my grandmother’s mother dying shortly after she was born, but this is far from certain. Very difficult to track down her parents in census returns , which suggests that something odd may have happened.

On the literary side, I’ve reworked a TV play I once wrote for a competition (unsuccessful) and entered it as a stage play for another competition. We’ve also done a bit of shopping, mainly for Amy’s birthday: she’s six on Wednesday. Dot and I scoured the toy shops (well, looked in a couple) for zhu zhus, which are toy hamsters with accessories. We bought a couple of accessories, only to find that she was getting one of them from someone else (my fault: David had said) and so I returned it today. Bought a few other things too. On the way back from the original trip, on Saturday, we called in at Dipples, which has been revamped, and spoke to both Rodney and his son Chris. We have earmarked a bracelet that Dot wants for her birthday. We also called in at the Cathedral Hostry, which is hosting a quite small exhibition on the EDP’s first 140 years, which end this year. Some speculation among the usual suspects as to why they are making such a fuss of the 140th, and we’ve concluded that there is a risk that it might not reach 150. However, I feel this is unduly pessimistic.

Just realised we’re going to be away every weekend in November, which sounds exciting. I have recently finished reading The Last Resort, by Douglas Rogers, which was recommended to me by Sandra, my cousin in Cape Town. It’s an account of the recent years in Zimbabwe – much of it quite chilling and tragic but with many humorous elements, as well as some heart-warming accounts of friendship between black and white Zimbabweans. Made the whole situation much clearer and revealed just why the country seems doomed. Many of the white Zimbabweans have been in Africa for generations. Loved the bit where someone representing a black choir rang up another black guy to ask what they should sing at the funeral of a white farmer’s wife. He said: “She’s an African. Sing what you always sing.”

Married at Mansfield

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dotsy and babs
Dot and Barbara exit the Maltsters Arms prepared to deliver P4C to 45 teachers

Did a bit more family tree research today, and discovered my grandparents on my father’s side were married at Mansfield towards the end of 1905. Not many people know that. Also discovered my great-grandfather was a cordwainer, as indeed was his father: I have come from a long line of shoemakers. Well, up to a point. My grandfather was a window-cleaner and a railway lampman, among many other things. My great-great grandfather had more children than I thought too. Yes, I’ve been on Genes Reunited.

Yesterday we visited our friend Phyllis Todd, in hospital, recovering from a sprained muscle in her back. She’s 100, which is a bit much if you ask me. Very lively, given that she has a sprained back.

On Monday drove over 300 miles, taking Dot and Barbara to Henley for a P4C event. They were speaking to 45 teachers from six schools and had to cram it into half an hour less than they thought. We had a delicious lunch at the Maltsters Arms pub in Rotherfield Grays and while the girls were talking I drove into Henley and strolled briefly by the river before returning to Harpsden (near the school) for a woodland walk. Also finished Kate Atkinson’s Behind the Scenes at the Museum, which is a brilliant novel. Have also recently read Zima Blue, by Alastair Reynolds – a collection of short stories with some exceptional ideas. He handles huge time and distance really well, though I’m not so keen on the alternative worlds ones, because I don’t believe that if something is 1000-1 against, it will happen at the 1000th opportunity. I think it’s still 1000-1 against. But I expect that’s just me.

Drove home afterwards by way of  Caddington and knocked on David’s door, but he was out swimming. Got home around 10pm after dropping Barbara at Scole, to be picked up by Andy. Weather has been dry and bright, but now it’s getting noticeably colder.

Man is Man are women

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In memory of our friend Rosemary: mementoes in the church hall

Have been looking back again – well, glancing back. Discovered a Lenton Priory of Cluniac monks founded around the 12th century in the Nottingham area. Also a connection with Buckinghamshire, and there are a Scottish branch of Lentons from the Peebles area. I wouldn’t mind a Scottish connection, but the furthest back I can reasonably go is still Peterborough-Northamptonshire and the 17th century. All those agricultural labourers.

Back in the 21st century, and time keeps slipping by, far too quickly for the most part. In 16 years I shall be 80. How scary is that? I shall have to make the most of the present day. Last night spent three hours of it watching Man is Man by Brecht at the Playhouse. Fascinating stuff, beautifully put together on the whole,and yet an audience of only about 60. I can only put it down to having no-one famous from TV in the cast. Is that all people want nowadays: either famous-from-television or high culture like Shakespeare, ballet and opera? There doesn’t seem much room for cutting-edge theatre – even cutting-edge theatre that’s over half a century old. The cast was entirely female, as it happens – the kind of joke Brecht would have enjoyed. At least I imagine he would: I have my own image of him.

Earlier in the day I had some blood removed from my arm – part for the hospital to test my PSA level, and part for a research group looking at prostate cancer. For them I also had to fill in a lengthy questionnaire packed with unanswerable questions like “How many x-rays have you had, and how old were you when you had the first?” Really! I also discovered I didn’t know what hardly any of my relatives died of. Even my mother… On the way home I kept giving way to other traffic and stopped for a woman crossing the road very slowly. Got a very pleasant feeling from being in harmony with my fellow-humans. Am I cracking up?

We had seven at Tuesday Group, which is a nice number. I revealed a little of the research I had done on the Amalekites and Dot revealed her cooking expertise again. The latter was probably  – and quite rightly – appreciated more. She has been quite busy in the educational world this week. On Monday she spent a whole day on Philosophy at a Norwich school, while my contribution to the day was yet another loss at chess. Sunday was a good day: controversial sermon by Howard in the morning, followed by enthusiastic discussion about self-esteem and the nature of sin. Some frightening ideas on the latter (not from Howard). In the evening we went to an Ambient Wonder social event at the Workshop cafe-bar on Earlham Road which turned out to involve a certain amount of planning, which I was unable to put a stop to. Good time, though.

One thing I forgot to mention: yesterday a guy from the Statistics Office called and interviewed us for about 20 minutes about our lives, work, health and so on. Part of a random survey. Very pleasant guy – just right for the job. Today I finished The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, which is a beautifully written and poignant book which left me once again despairing at what my fellow human beings do to each other. Same sort of feeling from Dances with Wolves, which we watched a few nights ago. The Guardian typically described Barry’s book as an attack on the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, but it’s actually a revelation of what happens when small-minded people get power they shouldn’t have. And there are too many small-minded people about.

Going back

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Fish on Cromer pier on Sunday: no sign of loaves
Fish on Cromer pier on Sunday: no sign of loaves

My major achievement this week has been to retune the TV for the new digital set-up. Rather more accurately, I pressed a few buttons, and the TV retuned itself. Now we can get some new channels, as if we needed them. Tonight, for instance, I can’t find anything at all worth looking at. Not that I’ve been trying very hard. I’ve just had my hair cut, and Linda and Dot are discussing the pitfalls of teaching (Linda teaches hairdressing at City College). These pitfalls seem to be (a) the students and (b) the staff.

Earlier today I visited my aunt Kathleen (88) to show her some pictures that an Australian guy had sent (see earlier post) of his father and an anonymous farm scene. His father had visited the Lentons at Caistor Lane towards the end of the war, and Kathleen does remember him, but she hasn’t been able to help with any of the pictures. However, I did persuade her to tell me about her own life, during which she has lived in various parts of Africa,from the former Bechuanaland to Zimbabwe. She married twice, and both of her husbands died tragically young. Now she is back in one of the less exciting parts of Norwich and really hankering for Africa, I guess. I discovered that she looked after me when I was 10 and my father had just died. Apparently I was indignant when I discovered from the death notice that my father was 42: he had always told me he was 21 and a bit. She also revealed that she let me take my brothers on the bus to meet my mother from Coventry station, a move my mother did not much appreciate. Kathleen is going strong, with only one brother remaining: Paul, who is 86. His wife Thelma is now very ill in hospital with severe complications from Alzheimer’s Disease, but he seems as fit as ever.

During my chat with John on Sunday he mentioned that there was a site that gave distribution of surnames in the UK. It’s hosted by the National Trust, and it reveals that Lentons were roughly where I had imagined they would be – in the Peterborough area and more to the west, around Coventry and Northamptonshire. In fact the biggest concentration is in the Coventry area, but I have this theory that they originated in Nottingham, where there is a Lenton district, and moved south pretty quickly, then spread out from there. It would be fascinating to be able to go back further. In 1881, there were virtually no Lentons further north than Linicolnshire, none in Norfolk, and none in Scotland or Wales. Of course statistics can be misleading. In 1953, for instance, our family were in Coventry, but in fact my grandfather was born near Peterborough and my father in Norwich: we moved to Coventry when he got a job there as assistant education officer. All fascinating stuff. The Cousens – my wife’s maiden name – were mainly in the Southampton area in 1881: nothing in east Norfolk at all, whereas the Beales (her mother’s name ) were solid Norfolk.

The other thing I have achieved today is to book flights with British Airways to Toronto in February next year (and back in March). Always makes me a bit nervous: what if… what if…   On the down side I have discovered my god-daughter is getting married on June 5, when I am in the middle of an Italian holiday. What is she thinking of?

2 February 2009

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Snow arrived just too late to spoil the big day yesterday, when relatives converged from far (Wolverhampton) and wide (Portsmouth) for Auntie Ethel’s 85th birthday celebrations at her niece Angela’s house in Dereham. David and family were up for the weekend and came too. An awesome buffet defeated everyone, and goodwill was everywhere. Oliver and Amy were on best behaviour, and Oliver spent much of his time looking after Maddie, who must be some relation; let’s think – it’s his father’s mother’s cousin’s son’s daughter. That sounds fairly close. Anyway, she’s two and having fun. Justin and his friend Heidi drove up from Portsmouth (and back), Donna came from Wolverhampton with her friend Andy, and Rosie came from Buck Brigg with her friend Roger. Sadly Peter (Maddie’s grandfather and Ethel’s nephew: are you following this?) is in hospital with pneumonia. I am reading his autobiography and have just reached the bit where he went into hospital with pneumonia and hoped that he would never have to go through that again. Well, it would have been nice.

I have just discovered that you can generate primes by the formula x2 + x + 41, which is neat, and what’s even neater is that I worked out how to include superscript in that by using html. Very satisfying.

Anyway, David and his family arrived on Saturday. We looked after the children while David and Vicky went into the city, and had a generally pleasant day, culminating in a game of bridge, which Dot and I lost conclusively. It was the cards, you know. That and superb play from our opponents.

After the Ethel extravaganza they went straight back to Caddington, because snow had started to fall and it was bitterly cold. They got home safely, but today Oliver’s school was closed, and there was heavy snow over much of the country, especially the London area, which was pretty much crippled. It snowed here too, but nowhere near as much, and tonight it was above freezing and soggy rather than slippy. Nevertheless we felt it prudent not to go the PCC meeting…

On Saturday evening we went to the Eagles for dinner and met Roger’s brother Tim, who works at Hansells and knows Jonathan, who he described as “very good”. He was with Jackie, who was Scottish and knows all the places we do, plus a good many more. So there was plenty to talk about, and we didn’t leave till well after midnight.

Today I wrote an article on the Paston book with the hope that Eco Echo might like it. I also attempted to book Blakeney for our reunion in June, but found that their single rooms were booked up. Will try again tomorrow: Maureen has agreed to accept a double room if necessary. Dot is busy over-preparing her stuff for tomorrow – her big day.